“Overcoming life’s challenges is harder than knocking out an opponent in the ring.”

For Sai Lao Nguen, those words are not merely motivation for his students — they reflect his own life story.

Originally from Lashio in northern Shan State, the longtime Muay Thai fighter has spent more than two decades in the ring, competing across Thailand before eventually opening his own gym in Chiang Mai. Today, he trains students from around the world while seeking to pass on more than fighting techniques: discipline, resilience, and the determination to overcome hardship.

His journey began far from the spotlight of professional boxing arenas.

Sai Lao Nguen developed an interest in Muay Thai at the age of seven. While many children spent their mornings playing games or going out with their parents, his days began before sunrise.

By 5 a.m., he was already running along the roads.

“I used to love playing football. But playing football costs money. If you fight, you get paid,” he said.

For his family, poverty left little room for childhood luxuries. Toys and game consoles were out of reach. Instead, the heavy punching bag became part of his daily routine.

Over time, hardship became his motivation.

What began as a way to earn money gradually evolved into a career that earned him recognition in Muay Thai rings across Thailand. After leaving Lashio, he spent many years living in Mae Hong Son before eventually building a life in Chiang Mai.

During his years as a fighter, Sai Lao Nguen built a reputation for being nearly unbeatable in the ring. At one point, he went on a lengthy undefeated streak.

But success, he admitted, also changed him.

“I thought I was great and highly skilled, so I stopped training properly. Because of that, even though I won a particular fight, I broke my knuckles and had to rest for a year,” he said.

The injury became a turning point.

It taught him that success can disappear quickly without discipline and humility — lessons he now strives to pass on to younger fighters.

Over the years, he has endured repeated injuries, including dislocated shoulders, broken knuckles, and split eyebrows. Yet he says the physical pain was never the hardest part.

“Every job has its problems. What matters is whether you face those problems or run away from them. If you run every time you encounter a problem, it will never end,” he said.

Now based in Chiang Mai, Sai Lao Nguen runs his own Muay Thai gym, where he trains students from China, South Korea, Europe, and Myanmar, including Shan youth seeking to build new lives abroad.

His approach to teaching reflects his own experience growing up in poverty.

Students are required to pay tuition fees upfront, but after completing three matches, the full amount is returned — regardless of whether they win or lose.

“I take the money initially so they have the motivation to work hard. In reality, it’s the same as teaching for free,” he explained.

The system, he says, is designed to encourage commitment rather than profit from struggling students.

For many young migrants living far from home, the gym has become more than just a training center. It has also become a place of belonging and discipline amid uncertain lives.

Having spent years building a life outside Myanmar, Sai Lao Nguen understands the emotional and financial pressures many young migrants face in countries such as Thailand, China, and Singapore.

His message to them is simple:

“Don’t feel discouraged by looking only at those who are better off than you. Gain strength by looking at those who are suffering more than you. Work hard with the mindset that ‘one day I will succeed,’ and be grateful to yourself. Rest if you are tired, but never give up.”

For Sai Lao Nguen, Muay Thai was never only about winning fights.

It became a way to survive poverty, overcome setbacks, and build a future beyond the limitations of his childhood.

And now, inside a gym far from Lashio, he is teaching others how to do the same.

This article was originally written by Sai Harn Lin for the Burmese Section and translated into English by Eugene.