Singaporean Mixed Martial Artist fights off armed attackers in Bangkok
On the evening of January 19, Singaporean mixed martial artist Nicholas Lee was attacked by two men in a botched robbery attempt. Lee, who competes for ONE Championship in the flyweight division, sustained small cuts to his lip and neck, but was able to fight the attackers off using his martial arts skills.
“I was walking to the 7-11 five minutes away from my apartment complex in Din Daeng, Bangkok,” Lee said. “While I was on my phone texting, I heard a motorcycle pull up behind me. I could tell it was on the pavement instead of the road, so I got suspicious right away. As soon as I looked back, the first guy attempted to punch me, however I was able to knock him out within three strikes.”
The second attacker was armed with a small knife and slashed at Lee’s face. Lee was able to defend himself, but not before getting cut himself.
“Any closer or deeper and I think I would have lost my life,” remarked Lee on the knife attack.
Heath Sims, Head Coach of the Evolve Fight Team at Evolve MMA, attributes Lee’s quick thinking to his training. “The awareness and skills you learn from picking up martial arts can potentially save your life when you find yourself in a dangerous situation when confronted by a would-be attacker.”
“Your first line of defense is awareness - recognizing the signs of a dangerous situation before it happens is the most vital. If you have to use force to save your life, having martial arts skills will give you the edge you need to protect both yourself and your love ones when such a threat arises,” he adds.
Darren De Silva, Owner of Fight G Singapore, has another take. “While self defense training can save your life if it is in danger, it’s probably wiser and safer to give in to a robber’s demands otherwise.”
“There’s no point fighting merely for the sake of material possessions. There’s nothing in your wallet that’s irreplaceable and worth risking serious injury or death over.”
As for the city of Bangkok and the attack, Lee said that the city is mostly safe, but people should still be aware of the danger—not everyone is a trained martial artist.
“Who would have thought after staying here for a year and thinking that the city is very safe, that such an incident could happen to me”, he said. “I hope this can be a good reminder to not just people living in Bangkok, but around the world to always stay safe and be vigilant.”
Following the attack and a vicious bout of dengue fever, Lee posted on Facebook about how difficult the first three weeks of 2016 have been for him. Despite the setbacks, he is alive and well, eagerly awaiting his next fight for ONE Championship.
