Ye Xiaofei showed reporters photos of overseas competitions. Photo by Yu Jing
Zhongxin Network Nanning, May 10 Title: Chinese warriors who went to Thailand alone to break through: "Shan Liwa" counterattacked and became a messenger for the promotion of Muay Thai
Author Yang Chen Feng Shumin Ban Xiu
"Going to Thailand to learn martial arts is with the determination of 'not making a name for itself and not repaying it'. I want to change my fate through my own efforts, give my family a better life, and let Muay Thai get better promotion. Muay Thai coach Ye Xiaofei was recently interviewed by a reporter from China News Network in Nanning, Guangxi Province, and shared his path from "Shanliwa" counterattack to Muay Thai promotion messenger.
Ye Xiaofei, a "post-85 generation", was born in a remote mountain village in Dahua Yao Autonomous County, Guangxi. "When I was a child, my family was very poor, and I could only make a living by eating corn paste. The village is in the mountains, with no lights and no roads. Our parents had a very difficult time raising us. Remembering his childhood, Ye Xiaofei's eyes were red.
Ye Xiaofei (front row left) leads his disciples to practice Muay Thai. Photo by Yu Jing
In order to change his fate, since the age of 15, Ye Xiaofei has traveled to many parts of China to work and learn martial arts, practicing traditional martial arts, taekwondo, sanda, boxing and other kung fu, and finally attracted by the charm of Muay Thai, and went to Thailand to practice boxing hard.
"At that time, I just wanted to go to the birthplace, learn the original Muay Thai, and teach the Muay Thai skills to my disciples after returning home." Ye Xiaofei told reporters that what fascinated him most about Muay Thai was the combination of fist, leg, knee, elbow and other techniques, which was more comprehensive in technology and more open in rules, "Muay Thai is very polite and very bloody, and has a spirit of never accepting defeat." Thailand's high-level boxers are also very low-key and friendly. ”
Ye Xiaofei (right) instructs his disciples to practice Muay Thai. Photo by Yu Jing
More than a decade ago, Ye Xiaofei, who could neither speak English nor Thai, traveled to Thailand alone and studied Muay Thai in more than a dozen boxing gyms in Bangkok. "After training, when I walked through all the boxing rings in Bangkok, I found that basically every arena had the flags of the United States, Britain, Japan and other countries, but there were very few five-star red flags. At that time, I made up my mind that one day I would wear the Chinese flag and walk into the Thai boxing ring. So when he went to Thailand for the second time, Ye Xiaofei deliberately installed a five-star red flag in his suitcase.
In Ye Xiaofei's Muay Thai studio in Nanning, a photograph of himself wearing a national flag standing in a boxing arena in Bangkok, Thailand, is hung in the most prominent position. "In the 55KG final of the 2012 Thai International Boxing Championships, I played against a Thai player and finally broke two ribs to win the Muay Thai championship." After many years, Ye Xiaofei still remembers the pride and pride of standing in the boxing ring for the first time when he won the five-star red flag, "At that time, he felt that he had really done it, and he was very excited to call his family and friends in China to share his inner joy." ”
Ye Xiaofei (second from right) poses with foreign boxers. Courtesy of respondents
Alone overseas for three years, Ye Xiaofei has boarded many boxing rings in Thailand, Laos, Myanmar and other boxing stadiums, broken the bridge of the nose, broken ribs, sewn several stitches, and also won the 55KG champion of the 2012 Thai International Boxing Championship, the 52KG level of the 2014 LAO FIGHT Muay Thai Championship and other awards.
But when he returned to Guangxi, he was given a cold reception when he planned to promote Muay Thai in the country. "Around 2010, the development of Muay Thai in Guangxi was just beginning, and many people didn't know much about Muay Thai." In order to promote Muay Thai, Ye Xiaofei has issued advertising leaflets, performed public welfare performances at large-scale events, and was also invited to participate in variety shows such as "China Dream Show" to perform.
It is precisely with the spirit of never accepting defeat learned by practicing Muay Thai that Ye Xiaofei has always insisted on it. Over the years, more than 6,000 disciples have practiced Muay Thai with him, all over Guangxi. Among the students, there are 6-year-old children, middle-aged and young urban white-collar workers, and full-time personnel such as special police public security.
"Through Muay Thai, we want to teach a martial artist who is both internal and external, strong and independent, and positive, not a martial artist who only knows basic movements." At present, Ye Xiaofei has opened a number of Muay Thai studios in Nanning and Yulin, Guangxi, and a slogan is posted in the middle of each classroom: Be a martial artist with a soul!
After years of training, many of Ye Xiaofei's disciples have made small achievements in Muay Thai competitions at home and abroad, but they still insist on participating in the promotion of Muay Thai. "In the future, we hope to use what we have learned and continue to contribute to the promotion and development of Muay Thai and exchanges, so that more people can know Muay Thai, understand Muay Thai, and fall in love with Muay Thai." Ye Xiaofei said. (End)