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name: Tei Jiawei (@tjw_box)
Year: 28
height: 1.71m
weight: 69kg
Profession: Boxing personal trainer/coach
situation: single
food: I don’t follow any special diet. I’ve tried many different types of diets, and the one that works best for me is eating everything in moderation. However, I try to stick to a high protein diet.
exercise: I train 4-6 times a week, primarily mixed martial arts (MMA) and strength training.
Q: You started boxing at the young age of 14. How did you get started?
A: I used to get into a lot of fights at school and wanted to learn martial arts to protect myself. My original goal was to start MMA, so I started with boxing as a striking discipline. My coach at the time thought I was doing well with it, so I decided to stick with it.
You are now representing Singapore in boxing. At what point did you decide you wanted to take boxing further and compete?
From the day I started, I had a ‘give it all or give it all’ mentality and ultimately wanted to represent Singapore on the international stage.
What is the highlight of your boxing career?
He won a silver medal representing Singapore at the 2015 Southeast Asian Games. Apart from that, I competed in many high-level boxing tournaments and gained a huge amount of experience and knowledge.
What challenges did you face as a national athlete?
Having to juggle school, work, and training has always been difficult for most athletes. Apart from that, boxing requires you to “cut weight” for a specific weight class and can be very physically demanding.
In addition to this, I had to give up much of my social and family time, which meant I had less fun with the people around me.
When did you decide to retire from competitive boxing?
In 2020, my late grandfather became ill and the COVID-19 pandemic hit, so I took this as a sign to take a break from fighting and spend more time with him. As my personal career progressed, I decided to end my boxing career.
You are currently competing in amateur MMA. Why did you decide to try MMA?
I started MMA right after I stopped competitive boxing at the end of 2020. But then I got injured and had to take a long break. I decided to start taking it more seriously in 2022 and compete in 2023.
Martial arts have always been in my life and I wanted to improve myself as a lifelong martial arts practitioner. It felt like going back to school, choosing a new subject, and trying to excel in it. However, I don’t want to turn it into a job right now. It takes the fun out of work.
Did you experience anything that made you feel insecure about yourself when you were younger?
I was a chubby kid, so I was often teased at school. Apart from that, I have always felt misunderstood and “different” from my peers. Over the years, I’ve learned to accept that feeling “different” only means I’m with the wrong people. Re-aligning with people creates a sense of belonging.
When was the last time you felt least confident?
It was probably when I was a kid and early teen. I was overweight and had low self-confidence, but I overcame that through martial arts. The rigorous boxing training and challenging aspects of competition helped change my life, body image, and outlook on life.
Are you satisfied with your body now?
Yes, as I get older, I become less conscious of my body. We are all born with different body types and characteristics. As long as you feel fit and healthy, it will eventually show through your body.
Do you have any comments about your body?
For me, being comfortable and healthy is more important than external recognition. I sometimes get compliments, but I try not to pay attention to it.
If you could change anything about yourself, would you?
I strive to improve myself as a person, not externally but internally. A healthy mental and spiritual state manifests itself physically. I strive for a healthier mind, body, and spirit. It is a continuous work in progress.
