| Professional Testimonials |
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"I have worked with Vince for the past few years, both in personally coaching him as well as been hosted by him to conduct seminars for his clients. Vince is the consummate professional. This is represented by how professionally run his business is and his excellent relationship with his clients. In one word Vince 'cares'.
I would recommend anyone looking to get in shape and fit, who would like to learn a modern martial art program, that transcends the physical into an expression of mind, body and spirit- to train with Vince.
I am proud to have Vince as part of my International Team of Martial Art Life Performance Coaches! "
(Oct 09)
Rodney King,
Creative Monkey |
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"Vince is an outstanding trainer and runs an excellent academy, with not only KB training but also a very well rounded S[trength] & C[onditioning] and M[artial] A[rt] program...[KDT Academy has] a very strong and talented group of kettlebell trainers in Malaysia. "
Steve Cotter,
IKFF Director
Read Steve Cotter's Blog >> click here |
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"Personable, Expert, High Integrity"
“Vince is a thorough professional with no exceptions.He is extremely knowledgeable and gives %110 in every aspect of his work.I highly recommend Vince. "(Oct 09)
James Woodfield-Jones
CMD Trainer (Australia)
Website link |
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"If anyone gets a chance to visit Malaysia, don’t pass up the opportunity to call in to the KDT gym and meet Sam and Vince – wonderful hosts and great training partners. "
John B. Will
BJJ Black Belt/ Head of Will-Machado Australasia
Read John Will's Blog >> click here |
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"Vince, if there's one thing this [CKT] certification course has shown is that you taught us all very well! Kudos to you and thanks for organising this."
Chui Lee, CKT
(Fizfit Trainer, CKT Level 1 & 2 Teacher) |
| Client Testimonials |
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"Trepidation. That's what I felt a few hours before. As a CM beginner, there's much I do not know and was clueless on what to expect. I was worried about how much I would have to remember and how much I can actually remember. Being the sole female participant didn't help. But as the seminar went into full throttle, trepidation was replaced by pure adrenaline and analytical interest as Rodney explained and demonstrated the techniques.
The seminar was conducted in a systematic escalation of learning. My fear of falling behind was unfounded as Rodney relayed a clear trail of bite-size information and seamless flow of movements and options.
I joined CMD, seeking practical martial arts. So I found it particularly comforting when Rodney shared a parallel take about his programme. The seminar covered a good balance of 'real-world self-defence techniques vs. the sporting aspects', including a healthy discourse on the many states of martial arts today. Plus, it was good to watch and partner with CMD practitioners/trainers from the region, and of course, the ever-obliging training partners from KDTA.
After 3 days and 8 hours: physically-spent, mentally-sated. Or as my instructor/KDTA's pro-trainer/owner/comic, Vince, described CMD in his website - functional training." (August 09)
Ms. Sherry Koh
CMD Malaysia Team Member |
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Crazy Monkey Defense: My Experience Thus Far
"I have always been an enthusiast of mixed martial arts. Even though I started getting really serious about following the sport in 2006, but I’ve always found something uniquely intriguing about two fighters going into a ring or a cage and doing what they do best: Putting on a great fight and entertaining the fans that throng arenas and stadiums around the world for MMA events.
Coming from a journalism background, I also love writing my opinions in regards to the state of MMA today and the fighters that live and breathe this beautiful sport. However, I realize that there is more to MMA than two men slugging out in the ring, throwing punches, kicks, knees and submissions on the ground. There’s a whole lot of processes involved in just winning a fight and that’s the beauty of it. Every fight begins standing up and this is where the fighter starts thinking, “What do I do? Pull out my kickboxing skills? My karate strikes? Work my boxing on this guy?” Then when he starts clinching, the fighter will start thinking again, “Okay. I’m in a clinch. Should I try to work a Muay Thai clinch? How about if I use my wrestling background to take him down?” Then when the fight goes to the ground, the fighter asks himself, “Okay. We’re on the ground now. Let me see if my wrestling could work on this guy. Or how about my judo skills? Better yet, I did some Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and this would work wonders. What if I put those skills to good use then?” Of course watching the fights maybe exciting, but what about going through these ordeals? That was when I realized that I had to start training in MMA. Before you ask, no, I don’t intend on becoming a pro fighter. I wanna get the feel of MMA fighting and go through what every fighter goes through when they spar or compete in a match.
Having done a little bit of shootfighting over at The Academy of Mixed Martial Arts Western Australia, my thirst for MMA training kept on coming and back then while I was studying in Perth, I didn’t have a car and getting to Mirrabooka from my university located in Murdoch is not an enjoyable thing considering how far away the gym was. So I started looking for MMA gyms in Malaysia and by typing out “MMA”, “mixed martial arts” and “Malaysia” on Google, I stumbled upon a humble gym located in the Bangsar Puteri condominium near Bangsar Shopping Center.
The gym was called KDT Academy and it featured FizFit, Kettlebell and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes. More importantly, it also featured Crazy Monkey Defense, which until then was something I’ve never heard of. Having viewed videos of the classes on YouTube, I soon realized that this was what I wanted to do. So I saved up money and finally, about a few weeks before my birthday, I headed to KDT and signed up for their Crazy Monkey Defense Programme. I had a light chat with the owner of the gym, Vince Choo, who is a BJJ purple belt and the CMD pro trainer and from that chat, somehow we immediately clicked and I told myself, “I definitely came to the right place cause this is probably the one guy I’d definitely love to train under.”
I signed up for the programme’s beginners classes and there were a lot of people also taking it up, aside from some of the more advanced students who also joined in on the beginners sessions. During the first few months of doing CMD, we did a lot of boxing and of course, my level of cardio has never been up to par, so I constantly gassed out everytime we work the gloves. In recent times however, I haven’t been able to gas out as much as I used to in the past and that made things look up for me. I guess all the boxing really did wonders to my cardio level.
What I also learned from this is that CMD is more than just a form of MMA. In fact, it’s a martial art of its own. There were so many technical aspects of it with terms that sounded Greek to me when I first started (the Fight Compass and MMA Matrix to name a few) and techniques which made CMD what it is. In fact, this isn’t just any martial art. It is very modern and it does keep up with the times, especially when mixed martial arts has become the fastest rising sport in today’s world.
While majority of the stuff I learned during my time was boxing, there were also times when we did Monkey Jits, which is BJJ incorporated into CMD to turn us CM Monkeys into well-rounded fighters. There have also been kicks and clinches taught to us by Vince himself and recently, he started teaching us the ground game aspects of the programme. As I continued learning, I realize just how hard it is to fight on the ground. Professional MMA fighters make it look like a piece of cake, but it really is that tough. I’m so used to fighting on my feet that it became a whole new ordeal fighting on the ground. Learning how to make transitions, apply submissions and defending in guards are strenuous and took a lot of my energy away, but it was great fun and a great learning process.
Which also brings me to something which I find almost after every CMD class I intend. Perhaps it’s due to the stressful and hectic nature of my work, but I always have this sense of satisfaction and absolute bliss after each and every CMD class. Those on my Facebook and those who follow me on Twitter would realize that I would update my status by saying something really positive about the night’s class, whether it was something new I learned or the fun atmosphere on a whole of the class. And that of course brings me to my fellow CM Monkeys who are an awesome bunch to train with. These guys are very helpful and they would always look out for each other, helping everyone out by polishing techniques and strikes and generally making the classes (and also open mats sessions every Saturday afternoon) a fun experience. They’re also people I’m very proud to consider not just sparring and training partners, but friends as well.
Last weekend, the man who started CMD, Rodney King, came over to the gym for a three-day seminar consisting of Monkey Jits, CIA (Combat Intelligent Athlete) techniques and of course, a full-on MMA seminar at the end. Rodney taught us a lot about CMD, especially to newbies like myself. His techniques were fun to learn and he was very helpful as well. Most inspiring were the talks he gave during the seminars where he told us about his life as a martial artist, his times spent as a bouncer back in his hometown of Johannesburg, South Africa and many more. Those three days spent at the seminar was one of the most fondest times I’ve ever gone through in my life and if anything, it was something I’d love to go through all over again. Of course I’ll have to wait till next year when Rodney comes down to KL again for another action-packed seminar.
It’s been about four months or so since I took up CMD as a hobby and since then, I never look back. Aside from performing on stage whether as a singer, actor or even a dancer, practicing a modern form of martial art like Crazy Monkey Defense has been a healthy addiction for me and a fun one as well at that. It shed me a lot of light as to how hard and intense it is just to practice MMA and it made me strongly believe that yes, like a friend of mine said, mixed martial arts is a beautiful game." (August 09)
Johan Yusof
CMD Malaysia Team Member |
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"Great Results, Personable, Expert
“Vince is a great trainer and good friend as well. I first encounter KDT gym in Bangsar around 2004 to train BJJ, and last visited last April 2009. Vince has run the gym professionally and along the years, I have seen that he is constantly looking for innovation and also helped a lot of people gets good results from the programs he runs in the gym. It was definitely one of the great things that I experienced during my stay in Malaysia " (Sept 09)
Yulius Soewito (Indonesia)
B.J.J. program member |
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"Great Results, Expert, Good Value
““Vince is the closest thing we have to a celebrity trainer in M'sia.. highly experienced and professional.. he's the goto guy if u want to be whipped into shape! :)” " (Sept 09)
Jordan Khoo
Kettlebell Workouts program member |
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"I had always being training in different sports and feeling so competitive about improving myself, but I never thought I was able to get in good shape just playing as a kid. Vince has opened a new way of training with the body at the highest level. And the best of all is that I have so much fun in every session."
Ferran Moreno, Certified Rolfer
What's Rolfing? >>> Read more |
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"First and foremost when you join KDT you don't join a gym you join a family; a family you can rely on to push you, when you don't feel like carrying on, a place where everyone looks out for one another other, a place where no man is left behind.
Vince Choo's philosophy is simple and if it's one thing you take away from him it should be this; "you get what you want". Five simple words that hold so much meaning and the power to get what you want. I joined KDTA because I needed to lose weight and increase my stamina, and over the years I got so much more than that, I've made friendships that will last me a life time and wonderful people I would have never had the opportunity to meet. Since joining KDTA in June 2005, my life has changed immensely. Vince makes you believe in yourself and makes you do things you don't want to, he makes you want to "change" to make your life better.
The Fizfit workouts have done wonders for me personally, I've lost weight, feel healthier and I have increased stamina, in my books he's done more than his job to get me fighting fit and healthy. Vince is never one to sit on his laurels and is constantly looking out for new ways to improve his classes and make them interesting for everyone in all levels of the fitness spectrum. His approach to teaching method of the class in my opinion, should be made into a standard operating manual to all gyms all over the world; Vince Choo is truly a rare breed of trainers in the world who cares about what they do, how they do it and most of all, he has a genuine interest in his clients and the welling being of his clients at heart.
To my coach, teacher, mentor and friend, I thank you." (May 08)
Mr. Fidael Yusof
Fizfit, Kettlebells, CMD and BJJ program team member
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"I am back in Sydney and am now attending a bi-weekly bootcamp nearby. I must say though that I don't believe I have been worked as hard as I did during our individual sessions. My feedback is that your one on one program is the only solution for the non-self starters of this world that have fallen into an abyss of inertia (like I had when I came to you!). I genuinely felt great after my sessions (apart from the first few) and noticed a marked improvement in my fitness."
Ms. Premelaa J.
Cisco Systems Australia |
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"The best thing about KDT classes is that they are fun. I was a devotee of the Core Training classes two years ago and thoroughly enjoyed them but work kept me away. Now I’m back at Kettlebells classes and having a total blast. Vince just makes it all so easy and so much fun. And you get into shape!"
Mr. Iqbal Abdul Rahim |
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Click on image to enlarge
One of my athletes, Mr. KB Gan, 56 years young when he joined, started the workout program a few months after his two sons joined because he saw their fantastic stamina gains, weight loss results, positive mindset and healthy lifestyle practices they took home. Encouraged by this and also because of his slowly rising cholesterol levels, Mr.KB Gan took the plunge and joined the regular classes. He has an excellent work ethic, pushes himself and never complains, quietly and steadily working his way to a whole new, fitter and healthier lifestyle. I want to share a letter which he wrote that he passed to me recently. After surprising his doctor who was impressed by the lowered cholesterol, much improved cholesterol readings, Mr. Gan continues to be a regular face at our workouts and is steadily maintaining his overall health. |
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"For me, being ‘fit’ means being able to physically keep up with my daily activities as a mother to 2 active young boys while still having a career and pursuing my own personal interests. I guess that one of the biggest challenges for most working mothers is to be able to find time out from work and home to exercise.
Fortunately, I am married to a wonderful person who is always supportive when it comes to fitness. He introduced me to Vince and his core strength boot camps at KDT Academy. My early weeks were tough. Just imagine from hardly ever having to do any sort of push-ups or squats in my life to doing reps of 20’s or more in a session. I never knew that there can be so many variations to a push-up until then.
What's amazing about these exercises is that there is a minimum use of equipment. We were trained to use our own body weight as resistance. This gave us an overall range of motion for each part of our body. My days then were often filled with muscle aches from the previous day’s workout.
Nowadays, I make it a point to workout at 2-3 times a week at the KDT. Vince’s recent introduction of kettlebells had brought in new and exciting challenges for me. Personally, I have found this new item amazingly challenging and effective. The fats really do melt off with kettlebells training. I’m pleased to say that I can now fit into my jeans worn 15 years ago.
I now realize that I am able to run after my boys with better stamina and flexibility at the kids’ gym, to carry the market basket with better strength and of course, to be able to function more effectively at work. I noticed that my confidence in handling various situations also grows along with my fitness and endurance level. I guess this is what they mean by functional strength. These are the things that really keep me going each day and that encourage me to keep myself fit and healthy.
Thanks to Vince’s professional training methods and support as a trainer and good friend, I dare say that I have never been fitter in my life than I am now."
Janice Phong (Solicitor & Advocate) |
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"Anyone who is interested in getting fitter, in a safe and highly effective manner. Please save yourself the hassle of gym hopping. Head straight to Vince. Anyone who wants an activity that can be done together with others, and reap lasting benefits in their health. Save yourself the hassle of dabbling around and head straight to Vince.
Until I find a better option, and believe me, I am always on the look out, I wholeheartedly recommend Vince and KDT."
best regards,
Dr. Lawrence Ng MD |
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"Metabolic Profiling Works!
My clothes no longer fit and I need new clothes. Metabolic Profiling and Fizfit Workouts - it's simple, it works and you carry it for the rest of your life wherever you go.
Thank you Vince.
Train hard, eat well, live life."
Mr. Thong Weng Hon (Solicitor & Advocate)
UPDATE:
"3 years and counting... I'm not an exercise junkie or gym rat, simply going to the gym to exercise for exercise's sake, preen and pose and socialise" >> read more |
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"I have strong background in physical conditioning, including some grueling training I went through in the special forces (Finland Military). But I have to say that what Vince brings in to the table just takes my training to the next level. He'll help you to reach your goals faster than you would have ever imagined possible. And not only that, KDTA is an awesome gym, and I always look forward to heading for my sessions here."
Mikko K. (July 08)
Personal Training client |
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"Thank you very much for your hospitality. I enjoyed training today. It is
always good to train some positions and different ways to control your
opponent before going for the submission, so I enjoyed that part. The people were friendly as (from my experience) bjj people often are. They seemed to have a good level, and comparing to my gym, about the right level for their belts. What I enjoyed most was that they had a very soft and flexible bjj using techniques rather than mussels. So all and all I liked your gym, the people, their practice of the sport and I felt very welcome. Thank you and maybe I'll drop in on saturday as well."
Magnus Larsson
Sweden > Oct 08 |
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"What I have found in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is, no disrespect meant towards Karate or any Traditional Martial Art (TMA), something that works. It’s that functionality which first drew me in – and this is the kind of realization that usually only comes with getting choked out. If, as John Keats said, truth is beauty…then beauty is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu"
Albert Lim
Read Albert's Blog >> click here |
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"I've started BJJ at KDT for about a yr and a half. I was 76kg when I first started. Over the course of my training, my strength, endurance & physique have improved. I've also lost about 8kgs. At 30yrs of age, I feel that I am at the best shape of my life. I always wanted to learn a martial art minus the "mumbo jambo" usually associated with traditional martial art BJJ brought me the confidence that my techniques actually work under duress situations. What's amazing about it that it took so little time to learn! It is straight forward, no flashy moves and most of all, fun! Finally, the members that make up KDT provide for a fun and safe environment to train... "
Sheikh Mohd. Rizan
Read Rizan's Blog >> click here
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I began my BJJ training at KDTA and it has transformed my life. It is an amazing art and is exceptionally good for women due to the fact that it promotes the use of leverage and technique as a means of defending oneself again bigger, stronger opponents. BJJ constantly challenges you, and learning BJJ at KDTA provides a relaxed and safe environment within which to explore new techniques and sharpen your skills. BJJ is certainly one of the most effective Martial Arts around, and it is a total blast not to mention a ripper of a workout!"
Jemima Wright Kayoom
April 08
Read Jem's Blog >> click here |
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"I am really starting to enjoy the Kettlebell classes. Slowly getting the hang of it. However, I still have some work to do before i can say, " I can do kettlebells." I never realized how unfit I was until I joined KDT. Thanks for all the pain, Vince! I appreciate it. KDT is good for the masochist. Cheers! "
Eu Jin Sim |
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"I realised that my MA training has helped me in more ways than acquiring a few rudimentary fighting skills. It has given me a completely new healthy lifestyle: both mentally and physically. I've become fitter and stronger than most guys my age (still lotsa room for improvements) and it has been SUPER training with a bunch of like-minded fine folks.
KDTA coach Fitness & MA training from an empowering approach: encouraging people to discard their fear and worries by adapting a healthy lifestyle and developing a positive mindset. Learning functional self defense skills is simply a natural by-product from our gym."
Charles Wong
Visit Charles' blog >> click here |
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"Before I joined CMD or KDT, I came from a traditional martial arts background which emphasis more on katas, dummy sparring (opponent has a set of predetermined moves which they will perform and attacker will execute a set of predetermined moves) and 'mock' sparring where areas of contacts are limited and techniques are control to a bare minimum, no pushing, shoving, grabbing, takedowns, hooks, low kicks etc which makes the simulation very unrealistic.
After a long many years, I stopped my traditional martial arts training as I feel that I was not progressing and I seriously doubted the practicality of my training. Nonetheless, I was still interested in martial arts, and since I had lost faith in practical martial arts, I ventured into the other side of martial arts and dedicated a few more years learning the performance/artsy fartsy stuff which has no practical use whatsoever except it looks good. (eg. capoeira, aerial cartwheels, flips, butterfly kicks etc)
Anyway, to cut a long story short I then started actively looking for a form of martial arts that can actually work in the gym and on the streets. this actually led me to a few schools, and amature/hobbyist fight clubs. I participated in a couple of fights, and the fights I won I realised I won because of my attributes only, I was stronger, faster, or I hit harder. and the fights I lost or gave up were because of... well, I just lost I suppose... but all I can conclude from the fights that I lost was it was chaotic, messy and had no direction/game plan.
I stumbled across CMD and KDT from a website and was doubtful at first but did a trail period to 'check it out'. To be honest, after the first month I went back to one of the amature/hobbyist fight club to put what I learned to good use. Frankly, I did win some, and I lost some too.... however that was besides the point, most importantly, by employing the CMD techniques I felt more safe and secure and most people found it hard to get through to my defense.
With that thought, I continued my training in CMD and KDT. with more training, I gained more self confidence and faith in my own fighting abilities. the CMD course is very well organised and the course materials are suitable for fighters be it beginners or veterans. the classes have a good mix of theory and practical which eases the learning curve a lot, as you are able to understand via listening, seeing, note taking, drilling, practicing and sparring. the CMD program encourages an open forum where participants are able to question or pose any fight scenarios which all will be addressed openly without any secrets.
Since, joining the CMD program, not only have I brought my skills and game to a higher level, I have learned to put myself beyond my own comfort zone, push myself harder and humble myself and finally, I must say Vince is a coach that is actually not afraid of his students learning too much or even surpassing him in terms of knowledge or skill. not that there is anyone at that level at the moment, but if it happens one day, I am 100% sure Vince would say 'Yes, you are now better than me and I am happy for you.'"
Adrian Tan, April 08 |
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As a regular competitor in Thai Boxing I cannot begin to express the gratitude I owe to Crazy Monkey! I have gained so much in both my competitive life and life in general. It is refreshing to train in an environment with like-minded people that will push you, guide you, help you and be there for you no matter what. This is what the Crazy Monkey program is like at KDTA, you don’t have to worry about anyone ‘taking your head off’ here! I have also found that the goals you set for yourself in the gym can also extend beyond the gym. One can learn a lot about themselves when (gently) pushed just beyond their comfort zone!
I recommend the Crazy Monkey program to anyone. From the professional athlete to the budding MA enthusiast, to the person that wants to arm themselves with greater knowledge on self defense – the Crazy Monkey program fits your needs and your desires and will inspire greater confidence and self reflexivity. Crazy Monkey is not just a ‘style’. It is a way of life.
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Jemima Wright Kayoom, April 08
Read Jem's Blog >> click here |
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"Growing up skinny and looking like a girl did wonders when I picked martial arts at a ripe old age of 20. By then I was a hot-blooded, albeit cowardly, practitioner of numerous forms – TKD, Capoeira, Muay Thai and even some dodgy backyard MMA. The big picture was simply getting to know my fist from my foot in some random, often haphazard and even worse – routine – training programs.
Then I discovered the KDTA website while on a working stint in KL.
At first I was still quite happy to attain that coveted big picture – did a little bit of BJJ, then the new CMD program and eventually the core strength program.
Soon it became evident that my body was changing. Despite the fact that I had been in the army, my core-CMD-core-CMD weekly trainings (with some weights in between) were making me amazingly fit.
At my peak, I went from fat-bloated-afro-haired-loner to 10%-body-fat-Spartan- on a ridiculous dating spree.
Needless to say, Vince’s rationalistic approach to fitness, combined with the practical structure of the CMD program not only constructed photo-ready-toplessness, but a confidence that only served to accentuate the physical transformation.
But what truly is the clincher in this deal, has got to be the friends I’ve made since being a KDTA member. Members of a fitness fraternity that have bonded from sweat, tears and that defining ache the morning after. We all have a love-hate relationship with Vince – we hate his seemingly unrealistic demands but we love the progress he delivers.
In CMD, I now have boxing brethren for life – brothers who bang with controlled force, consensual brutality and utmost respect. I’ve got to thank Vince for all this.
KDTA REPRESENT YO!"
Imran Johri, March 08 |
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