So, first up and with no further ado, the co-owner of Leverage Combat Academy and one of the biggest influences in my decision to start and continue with BJJ - Aaron Goh. Take it away Aaron!
Could you just briefly introduce yourself - name, age (if you want to!), job, nationality and anything else you would like us to know about?
Aaron Goh, and I just turned 30. I co-own and manage Leverage Combat Academy, a training facility that focuses primarily on Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and its applications in various forms (Submission Grappling, Mixed Martial Arts).
How long have you been training BJJ?
I started in late 2008. I didn't do too well in maths while I was at school, but I’m guessing that makes it more than 3 years.
Please tell us a little bit about what got you into BJJ and how you met Marcos.
Well, like every hot blooded male who was a product of the 80s, I grew up watching action movies and I have always had a fascination for martial arts. I didn’t believe that anything I saw was practical though, so I always thought that fighting and martial arts was just for the movies. Until one day, I sat in the cinema and watched a Donnie Yen movie called ‘Flashpoint” (now regarded as one of the best and most realistic action movie ever filmed). It was like a spark was ignited within and I told myself “Hey, this actually looks like it could work in real life”
At that point I was already 26 years old, and I have always been into keeping fit and I was an avid gym goer. I didn’t really want to pursue anything that is close contact physically, unless I thought it was practical and could actually work in real life. So I researched more and found out that Donnie Yen used “Mixed Martial Arts” to choreograph the fight scenes and that it was a combination of various martial arts, one of which was Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I was extremely intrigued and I told myself, “I must learn this!” It so happened that 2 weeks later, The Star ran an article on Malaysia’s very first pro MMA fighter, Adam Kayoom. I got in contact with the gym that he was affiliated with at that time, but was told he was no longer teaching there. Undaunted, I went for a trial class, was immediately hooked and signed up on that same day!
The classes had a mixed bunch of practitioners, most of whom had already been practicing BJJ for a few months or a few years. I felt out of place as most of the techniques shown were beyond my comprehension and ability. It was no fault of theirs, but I was a complete newbie and so I began searching for a place that could fit me and my need to learn the basics. I mean, it’s no point learning a spinning back kick if you can’t even stand properly you know what I mean?
I remember searching for BJJ in Malaysia almost every day, constantly refreshing the search page, until one day I found out an ADCC champion and a Brazilian Black Belt was teaching here in Kota Damansara! I couldn’t believe my luck!
I went for the trial class that very week, and I still remember there were only 5 of us or so. One of them was Kenneth Lam actually! Hahaha! And that’s how I met Marcos and have not looked back since.
What's your favourite submission and position?
The back take is my favourite position. Favourite submission guillotine (No Gi) and the bow and arrow lapel choke (Gi)
Gi or no-gi?
Man, this has been and still is an ongoing debate. I’m no Black Belt but I firmly believe both Gi and No Gi complement each other. If you want to get better at the Gi, you must train No Gi. Without the Gi, you must keep your game tighter and you cannot be loose otherwise you will lose position. And if you want to get better at No Gi, you must train with the Gi. With the Gi, you are forced to be more technical with your escapes and submissions. You cannot just muscle your way or slip out of bad positions. I enjoy the intricacies of both, and I honestly feel training both Gi and No Gi has helped my jiu jitsu tremendously.
Obviously you are now the co-owner of Leverage Combat Academy, what was it you did before opening the gym and going full-time with BJJ?
I was in the car customization industry for 8 years and I was the pioneer for a lot of stuff that are staples now in the local aftermarket industry. I was the first to commercialise airbrushed graphics for cars and I was also the only person to have successfully brought the king of car customization to Malaysia, the world famous West Coast Customs.
Not many people are prepared to give up their jobs and do their hobby professionally, what was it that made you decide to go for it?
It’s not an easy decision to make for most people. If they are not sure about their passion or hobby, and they just make the jump without careful consideration, that passion can quickly become a burden once it becomes a full time venture. I decided to go for it because I really believe in jiu jitsu, and I really believe in the relationship I have with my instructor and partner, Prof. Marcos. We both shared the same goals and we both are very passionate about BJJ.
I was also feeling burned out by the long hours with my car business. It was extremely stressful, and jiu jitsu was my constant outlet. So after some careful consideration, I decided to pursue my passion.
Can you tell us a little bit about how you felt when you decided to take that plunge?
Nervous. Worried. Not so much for how things might turn out for me financially, but more so for how my relationship with my instructor will pan out. I’ve been involved in numerous businesses since the age of 21, and I can honestly tell you that a business relationship is just like a romantic relationship. It’s all fun and laughter when times are good, but when times are bad; that’s when you know for sure if you can really work with and count on your partner. I have lost count of the many friends I have lost due to business misunderstandings and dealings. My own childhood friend whom I have known for 10 years even screwed me over, all in the pursuit of wealth.
I took those lessons to heart, and I really didn’t want to lose my instructor over business. It also helps that we train together, so for the most part if there’s any misunderstanding we can always sort it out on the mats. Of course he kicks my ass, but you can be damn sure I’m gonna at least try to not make it easy for him!
You are obviously very committed to spreading the word of BJJ throughout Malaysia - could you give us a few words about what BJJ means to you?
BJJ to me is a lifestyle. It is one that I personally feel many should adopt. It is a great tool to release stress. So many people go through life with a chip on their shoulder. They work a job they hate and for a boss that they hate even more. Everyday there’s the stress of traffic, deadlines, bills, appointments and family commitments. That’s why there’s so much road rage. These people are looking for an outlet. The majority of them are ticking time bombs, just waiting for that one incident that will set them off.
My advice? Try a month of BJJ. You will be so tired after training and rolling, you won't even have the energy to get mad at the idiot that cuts into your lane.
I like to think of how similar BJJ and life actually is. In jiu jitsu, if you don’t sort out certain grips or if you ignore certain positions, you’re gonna get submitted! You learn to look at life’s problems similarly, without all the mental anguish that typically accompanies it. You become analytical. You start to think strategically. And when you get better at BJJ and as you get fitter, your self confidence increases and when that happens, it changes the way you carry yourself. Because you’re more confident, you’re willing to take chances and ask for that salary raise. Or demand that promotion. Your quality of life actually gets better through jiu jitsu, and that is why it is a lifestyle.
Obviously you have decided that BJJ is your life now, do you think it is suitable for everybody - why would you suggest that someone take up BJJ?
BJJ is absolutely suitable for everybody and I am living proof of that. I wasn’t the most athletic, or strongest or biggest or fittest in the class when I first started. I wasn't even a fast learner. I didn’t take to it as easily as I have seen some people take to it. My first 6 months, all I was doing was just tapping. And every night I would lie awake and wonder, 'can I really one day understand how jiu jitsu works?' But I stuck with it and I persevered. And I am glad I did. You do not need any particular physical attributes to take up BJJ. You do not need to have a background in any form of martial arts (I certainly did not). A person can literally get off the couch, put on a Gi and a belt, and start that very second.
The Academy is obviously going through a lot of changes in 2012, with a new training facility, could you say a few words about what you're planning for the coming year and beyond?
The new academy would not have been possible without the support of so many individuals. I always like to say that a gym is only as good as its members. Other than that, it is just empty space and walls. It is the individuals in the gym that make our academy unique and I am proud of this, more than anything else. With the new facility in Solaris, Mont Kiara we are hoping to be able to broaden our reach and encourage more Malaysians to take up BJJ.
We've also got an exciting competition coming up in March and a few seminars planned. With the ever growing popularity of Mixed Martial Arts in Malaysia, more and more people are discovering BJJ and we hope to be at the forefront of that. We’ve put in our dues and we have spent years building a strong foundation, so I really hope that this year we achieve our goal of 100 active students.
With a large influx of MMA fighters coming to the gym, could you please talk a little bit about how you see Leverage switching focus towards grooming potential MMA fighters, is that the plan at all? Will the gym be providing more MMA-focused fight training or will it remain a place where MMA fighters can come just to brush up on their jiujitsu?
Our core has been, and will always be BJJ. So the modalities will be Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with the Gi. Submission Grappling (No Gi). And Grappling with Striking (essentially, MMA). I think the vast majority have no idea what it truly takes to be an MMA fighter. They don’t know that you MUST have at least some form of stand up (striking) and ground work (grappling/ wrestling/ jiu jitsu) before you can call yourself an MMA fighter.
Most of these guys just put on a Dethrone or Tapout t-shirt and think they are a fighter. It also doesn’t help matters when some gyms market MMA as something glamorous and cool, when the reality is that it takes a lot of hard work, dedication and training to be an MMA fighter.
I want Leverage to be known for our jiu jitsu, first and foremost. And that is what we will focus on at all times.
Looking at things from a wider perspective, we saw in the first UFC that BJJ beat everything, however, in the modern MMA game, wrestling seems to be the dominant art. Is BJJ still essential for MMA? Will it rise to dominate again?
Wrestling, in my opinion, is the best companion to BJJ. If you have good wrestling and BJJ, you can dictate where the fight goes. Wrestling has the best takedowns for MMA, and BJJ has the best positions and submissions for MMA. In the first UFC, no one had a clue what ground fighting was.
But BJJ is constantly evolving. Look at the recent Mundials and ADCC. I believe it is not the case of BJJ rising to dominate again, it is a matter of fight strategy and using one’s strength to win the fight. No one will expect Roger Gracie to display the striking prowess of Anderson Silva, and expecting him to do so and win fights is ludicrous. His strength is his jiu jitsu. Similarly, no one will expect Alistair Overeem to grapple like Roger and dominate his opponents with superior positioning and submissions. He is a kickboxer and he will use that to win fights.
MMA is a complex sport, and it is not easy for any single martial art to dominate like in the first UFC. I do believe jiu jitsu fighters will continue to dominate with their jiu jitsu, and I cannot wait to see some of the champions of our sport take up MMA in the future (Rodolfo Vieira comes to mind).
Apart obviously from Marcos, could you talk about any figures in sport or otherwise that have inspired you on your BJJ journey?
Marcelo Garcia comes to mind. He’s always smiling. And he’s such a great grappler. I hope to one day be half as good as him, and as humble as he is. I want to be a great ambassador for the Malaysian BJJ scene. Leo Vieira. Such a legend and yet so down to earth and friendly. I was very fortunate to have met and learnt from him. I enjoy watching Rodolfo Vieira’s guard passes. I like the Mendes Bros too. Caio Terra. Andre Galvao. If I keep going on, I would probably list almost every great BJJ athlete there ever was! I just keep an open mind and I take inspiration from everywhere and everybody.
Do you have any final words for anyone that might be reading this?
I’d like to thank everyone with whom I have had the opportunity to slap hands and bump fists with. There are so many people who have been so supportive of Leverage and I cannot thank them enough. Most importantly, I thank God for giving me the ability to do jiu jitsu and I hope this article inspires someone enough to try BJJ for themselves. Osss!
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