#mkmuaythai

[warfareincclothing]

A little #teeptuesday from our newest athlete @dwayneholman135 fighting July 28th in Woodside, Queens , NY Let’s go!!!! #war #MkMuayThai #queens #newyork

[prep-era]

"BACK TO BUSINESS"

[Video shot & edited by: Dan Eric Photography IG: @MKMuayThai]

On Monday 04/15/2014 J. Morales [@j_prep_era IG] Interviewed Ramon Maldonado a few days after his winning match for Friday Night Lights presented by Mohegan Sun.  Video was shot by Dan Eric to capture the everyday training, hard work and focus in the life of a fighter in the days leading up to a match and the decision.

Q. Whats your full name and Team you represent? 

A. My name is Ramon Maldonado, MK Muay Thai Gym out of Hawthorne, NJ.

Q. What attracted you to Muay Thai? 

A. I wanted a new challenge after I stopped playing baseball and basketball.  

Q. Why that fighting style specifically?

A. It's beautiful but very deadly at the same time. 

Q. Who is your biggest inspiration when it comes to Muay Thai?

A. Tyrong Spong, guy is a warrior, I try to really taylor my skills to things that work for him. 

Q. On average, around how many hours training do you put in per week not having a match? 

A. When I don't have a fight coming up I train about 15-20 hours a week about 3 hours a day 5 days a week.

Q. How about when you have a match lined up?

A. When I have a fight coming up I train about 20-25 hours a week 3-4 hours a day 5-6 days a week and we raise up the intensity. 

Q. What does it mean for you to be a fighter?

A. Means a lot to me, theirs nothing like it, it's a mental and psychical test not many people are willing to take.

Q. What was your focus the day of the match?

A. Just to try to stay calm and relaxed, think about how I want the fight to go, what I want to do, then I turn the switch on in my head as fight time gets closer.

Q. Where do you see yourself in the world of Muay Thai within the next 5 years?

A. I want to stay active fighting, rack-up wins win a amateur title and try to go pro. 

Q. After a year of not being able to get in the ring, how did it feel to get your hand raised at the end of the decision from the judges?

A. It was great! 2013 was a very rough year for me I had a fight lined up and I hurt my shoulder very bad in the beginning of the year, then when I thought it was healed I re-injured it worse then before.  I couldn't train for weeks at a time during rehab.  Finally once I was better I had 2 fights fall apart due to opponents pulling out last minute.  I really hit a low where I thought about giving up fighting all together and just focus on trying to teach and train just to stay in shape, but the thing about fighting is once you do it you never truly let it go it comes back to you like a bad itch you need to scratch.  So I had the itch and told my trainer to get me a fight but not an easy fight.  I wanted to test myself in one of the top promotions in New York City.  He made the calls got me the fight and the rest was history.

After, sitting down and speaking with Ramon I saw the passion he has for Muay Thai, the glint with the light of fire in his eye as he spoke.  I was truly taken back and proud of the amount of determination and focus he has.  Most fighters focus just on fighting, Ramon juggles a regular work life and still manages to get W's. 

J_PREP_Era

[jjc]

#muaythai #fighter #combat #mkmuaythai