They say the most powerful force in existence is the human soul on fire, and that a life without passion is not a life worth living.
For Singaporean Noah Lim, life wasn’t always so bright and colorful. There was a moment growing up when, like most of us, Noah just went through the motions. He was directionless and often unmotivated. But when he discovered the ‘gentle art’ of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), that’s when everything changed.
BJJ changed Noah Lim’s life.
Noah finally found something he was immensely passionate about, and from that point on, he embarked on a path that would lead him to greatness — becoming one of the top stars of BJJ in Singapore.
“I felt quite directionless because I wasn’t really doing what I wanted to do. I was conforming to other people’s expectations of what I should be doing. I wasn’t really happy. I wasn’t really going anywhere. I wasn’t passionate about anything,” Noah said.
Martial Arts Helped Him Unleash His Greatness
Training martial arts under the World Champions at Evolve MMA helped Noah Lim reignite his passion for life and win a SEA Games gold medal for Singapore!
Posted by Evolve MMA on Thursday, March 19, 2020
Although Noah was quite an athletic child growing up, initially being a competitive swimmer, he never really fully committed to the sport. His heart just wasn’t into it. When he and his older brother Paul decided Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was something they wanted to experience together, the two became instantly hooked to training.
“About five years ago, I competed a lot in swimming. But I felt like I didn’t really like swimming. It was such a burden to train. Every day, my mom would force me to train, and I would hate it. We would argue,” Noah said.
“I wondered how I was so lazy before martial arts, to suddenly become so hardworking. I used to hate training. I wouldn’t even train swimming at all if I could. But I would train martial arts twice a day, every single day, because I’m so obsessed with it.”
Martial arts training, particularly BJJ, has profound effects on an individual’s physical and mental health. From strengthening the body and mind, to improving focus, there are a host of benefits to be gained from the consistent practice of the discipline.
It’s more than just a sport — it’s a way of life.
Noah embraced BJJ and everything it had to offer, and it changed his life forever. It transformed Noah from being a ‘normal’ kid growing up in Singapore into an elite athlete.
“It made me so much more focused. Whereas before that, I would do less work, even though I had more time. Every day, I look forward to coming to train, because it’s very fun for me,” Noah said.
Noah’s passion eventually materialized into an amateur competitive career. In the 2019 SEA Games in the Philippines, Noah competed among Asia’s best martial artists.
It takes a special kind of athlete to excel on the world stage. The SEA Games allowed Noah to discover what he was capable of, and because of this experience, Noah gained invaluable confidence in his abilities.
More importantly, his passion for training and competition manifested itself in the form of Singapore’s first-ever SEA Games gold medal in BJJ — one of four BJJ medals brought home by Evolve MMA students.
“I used to worry so much, like what other people would think. Like, what happens if I make a mistake, what happens if I lose. This pressure really messed up my performance whenever I competed (in swimming), and I never really did well,” Noah said.
“Winning the SEA Games was a huge honor. But then, I told myself that, even if I lost or won, I would still love myself the same way. Martial arts really gave me a direction in life, and a new passion.”
Shortly after the SEA Games, Noah’s coach bot at Evolve MMA and on the Singapore National Team, BJJ World Champion Teco Shinzato, promoted him to purple belt. It was a proud moment for Noah, one that he says he won’t forget.
Noah trains BJJ almost every day.
Shinzato is all praises for his prized student, who he believes can achieve so much more and is just barely scratching the surface of what’s possible.
“I am so proud of Noah for what he’s accomplished. He’s an incredible young man with a bright future ahead. I don’t think there is a limit to what he can do because he just works so hard and is so passionate,” Shinzato said.
“It has been a pleasure to witness his progression. He started out with so much enthusiasm, and it hasn’t stopped. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu really changed his life and gave him a clear purpose. His constant thirst for self-improvement and desire to bring honor to Singapore in international competition is what drives him, and I’ll do everything that I can to guide him in his career.”
BJJ is a martial art for everyone, no matter the age, race, or gender. It’s a discipline that will unlock physical and mental capabilities you never knew you had. Book a trial class today and discover the life-changing benefits of martial arts training!
Book your complimentary trial class with our World Champions below!
If you have any other questions regarding Evolve MMA and the programs we offer, you can get in touch with our membership executives at the following locations:
Evolve MMA (Far East Square)
26 China Street
Far East Square #01-01
Singapore 049568
Phone: (65) 6536 4525
Evolve MMA (Orchard Central)
181 Orchard Road
#06-01 Orchard Central
Singapore 238896
Phone: (65) 6536 4556
Evolve MMA (KINEX)
11 Tanjong Katong Road
#02-52 KINEX
Singapore 437157
Phone: (65) 6288 2293
Evolve MMA (Clarke Quay Central)
6 Eu Tong Sen Street
#04-18 Clarke Quay Central
Singapore 059817
Phone: (65) 6226 2150
