Once a kindergarten teacher in Lai Chau highland, Lo Thi Phung surprised many people when deciding to turn his career: Leaving teaching, going to Ho Chi Minh City and pursuing a professional martial arts path (MMA).
Lo Thi Phung said her journey to martial arts was not easy. Graduated from preschool education and teaching time at home, but Phung always felt that he had not found a real passion. “When I was a child, I would like to watch martial arts, but never thought I would be the one who entered the stage,” she said.
In 2022, she made a bold decision: quit her job, alone in Ho Chi Minh City with a luggage of only a few million dong and the desire to pursue MMA. Initially, she did a lot of manual work to maintain her life: From serving the restaurant, washing dishes to cleaning. “I do anything to stay and study martial arts,” Phung recalled.
She was fortunate to meet coach Pham Van Nam – founder of MMA Brothers Club. Realizing the potential and strong will from the small but brave woman, the male coach received Phung to practice and support the full cost.
After just over a year of training, Lo Thi Phung began to attract attention in the martial arts world. In Lion Championship 2023, she won the debut and continued to show his bravery in the following matches. Bloody hit, good tolerance and the spirit of “not backing down” made her like “the female warrior from the Northwest mountains”.
However, the journey of Lo Thi Phung is not only a ring story, but also a story of sacrifices. She had to live away from her family, accepting her children to focus on her career. Every time she called home, her son asked, “Do you fight?”, Phung just laughed and encouraged me to study well.
Currently, she is aiming to fight against the championship in Lion Championship and beyond international competition. She also wants one day to return to her homeland, open a martial arts class for ethnic minority children – to inspire and energy for them.
The story of Lo Thi Phung is a lively proof that: There is no limit for dreams – no matter who you are, where you come from, or what to do. From a preschool teacher in a remote highland, Phung is writing his own extraordinary journey – on the MMA floor, where only the most stubborn people can stay.