Singapore #Fitspo of the Week: Isaac Kwok

Life goes beyond the digits on the scale and your body is capable of so much more. Yahoo’s #Fitspo of the Week series is dedicated to inspirational men and women in Singapore leading healthy and active lifestyles. Have someone to recommend? Hit Cheryl up on Instagram or Facebook.

Name: Isaac Kwok (@ijaac)
Age: 28
Height: 1.8m
Weight: 60kg
Occupation: Co-founder of Uppercut Boxing
Status: Single
Diet: No real diet; I try to make sure I get the nutrients I need
Training: I do boxing and strength training twice weekly and squeeze in Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) or any other activities I can, like wakeboarding.

Q: What kind of sports did you do as a kid?

A: I joined rugby in primary school when every kid was still about the same size. In secondary school, I joined the band to play the saxophone but started skateboarding outside of school hours. Generally I would be running around.

What sports did you dabble in as you got older?

Just out of army, I started rock climbing and really got into it while I was living in Australia. I came back for holiday and competed in Singapore Management University’s Gravical (bouldering competition) and won the novice title back in 2011.

After that, I returned to my love for board sports and went on to take my instructor certifications for surfing (2014) and snowboarding (2018). However, these sports are difficult to do in Singapore, so I found martial arts to be a more accessible outlet for fun and fitness.

Your fitness regime now consists of BJJ, boxing, skateboarding.

Yes, I’ve always had a love for board sports, but I needed to find something that I could do on my own time within Singapore. I was introduced to boxing and Krav Maga (Israeli martial art) by a bodyguard friend and soon I was on the road to the appreciation of combat sports.

I’m still really new to BJJ but I love the technicality and philosophy of the art (in Mandarin, BJJ literally translates to gentle art). I’ve definitely enjoyed the process and I think that’s the beauty of it all – the learning.

You seem to enjoy keeping active and doing a bit of everything. Why do you believe so strongly in keeping an active lifestyle?

Well, I’ve never quite been able to sit down as a kid. It was to the extent that I used to have to do my homework on a balance board. In general I enjoy movement and exploration, I want to consistently be at a physical condition to be able to travel and move at my best at all times.

You co-own Uppercut Boxing. Tell us more – what made you decide to start this?

Well my business partner and I realised there wasn’t a boxing outlet for people to learn in comfort. We just wanted to make boxing more accessible to people and share the sweet science without the intimidation of burly men combating each other in a ring.

We label ourselves non-combat boxing, so unlike Boxfit or Boxercise, we still emphasise heavily on technique. Boxing isn’t just about hitting a bag or throwing punches, it’s a whole philosophy and science that can be applied to life. Punch with your fists, fight with your mind.

What are your fitness goals now?

I have a “30 before 30” list (laughs), but for 2019 the three main fitness goals are: Competently perform a handstand, compete in either boxing or BJJ, and learn more about the Macebell.

When did you feel the least confident about yourself?

Growing up, I’ve always been skinny/scrawny. I still think that’s something that bothers me every now and then. I’ve tried bulking and taken supplements but they never really worked the way I hoped.

How did you overcome it and become more confident?

I figured the nature of the activities that I do meant that it’ll be difficult for me to bulk up and I shifted the focus of wanting to fit a perceived standard to setting my own. I told myself that, as long as I could perform and enjoy the activities to a level I am satisfied with and be healthy, that would be enough. I came to realise how I looked didn’t determine how I performed.

Are you satisfied with your body now and why?

I think it’s a continual process and as long as I’m healthy and in a physical state that allows me to surf, snow, skate, box, flow and move; that joy has more weight for me than my physical appearance. I’m secretly still hoping I’ll start to put on some kilos as I get older!

Do you get any comments about your body?

Every now and then I still get asked about how or why I’m so skinny, so I just tell them being an entrepreneur is hard.

What are some misconceptions of fitness in today’s society?

There’s an image of what we as a society and culture define as an ideal body. However, that changes from person to person and although it’s great to set a goal and try to achieve the “perfect body”, form should not outweigh function. Instead the question is, “Can my body do what it needs to in order for me to enjoy the life I want to live?” If the answer is no, then make the changes necessary.