Martial Arts: One of My Best Corporate Career Decision

Exactly three years ago, on the 4th of July, I walked into a Muay Thai class—completely by accident.

I didn’t plan to start a martial arts journey that day. In fact, I was just looking for a good workout, maybe something different from my regular routine. What I found instead was a new identity, a reset button, and one of the best decisions I’ve ever made—not just for my health, but for my personal and professional life.

Searching for the Optimal Fitness Framework

I’ve always considered myself an active person. Whether it’s hiking, sports, or weightlifting, I like to move, sweat, and push my limits.

As a product manager and an investor, I’m trained to think in terms of return on investment—and that applies to how I spend my time, including fitness.

I wasn’t just looking for a workout. I was looking for a system that could:

• Be a progressive learning experience with measurable growth
• Build a real-life skill that could actually help me someday

Trial and Error: What Didn’t Work for Me

Before discovering martial arts, I evaluated several popular fitness options. Each had its merits—but also limitations.

Running

The most obvious choice—and the one most people gravitate toward first. But to me, running felt like an inefficient use of time:

• It puts excessive stress on the knees, especially on hard surfaces
• Progress is linear and repetitive: run longer, run faster—but the skill doesn’t evolve
• It doesn’t translate into any practical ability beyond endurance

Weight Training

I’ve been lifting weights since high school. It taught me discipline and gave me strength. But over time, I realized:

• Chasing a low body fat percentage and bulging muscles isn’t sustainable—or healthy long-term
• It lacked functionality; I wanted to be agile and versatile, not just look a certain way

Yoga

I practiced yoga consistently for two years, including Hot Yoga. It was transformational in terms of flexibility and body awareness. However:

• It lacked the intensity and resistance training that I craved
• It was restorative but didn’t challenge my strength or mental grit the same way other forms did

Dance Fitness

Yes, I even tried dancing. I took an 8-week Salsa program at The Get Down in San Jose—totally outside my comfort zone. While I respected the rhythm and community aspect of dance, I soon realized:

• I wasn’t enjoying it enough to make it part of my long-term fitness framework

Discovering Martial Arts

That’s when I turned to martial arts. I tried a few disciplines:

• Krav Maga: The Israeli military self-defense system. Practical, powerful, but not deeply technical in terms of movement mechanics.
• Jiu Jitsu: A ground-based grappling art. I liked the cerebral chess-match element of it. But a dislocated shoulder during sparring sidelined me—and the fact that most fights start standing up made it less appealing as a self-defense skill.

And then, I found Muay Thai.

Why Muay Thai?

Muay Thai is often referred to as “The Art of Eight Limbs.” Unlike:

• Boxing (which uses fists),
• or Kickboxing (which uses fists and shins),

Muay Thai incorporates punches, kicks, elbows, and knees—eight striking points that turn your entire body into a weapon.

It’s a beautiful balance of power, speed, endurance, and technique. It’s not just physical—it’s mental. Every strike, every block, every combo requires presence, timing, and discipline.

What I loved most? The complexity. The challenge. The fact that I was learning to use my body in a way I never had before.

From Hobby to Habit to Healing

What started as a casual workout quickly evolved into an anchor in my life—especially in my work.

As someone working in high-pressure, high-performance environments, stress is inevitable:

• Demanding deadlines
• Ambiguous project scopes
• High expectations
• Tough stakeholders

And when stress peaked, Muay Thai became my reset button.

There’s something therapeutic about putting on your gloves, stepping onto the mat, and focusing on nothing but the present moment. No Slack notifications. No endless Zoom calls. Just you, your breath, and the next move.

After a grueling session—exhausted, drenched in sweat, yet mentally refreshed—I could return to work with new clarity and calm.

The Unexpected Professional Benefit

Ironically, Muay Thai turned out to be one of the best professional decisions I’ve made.

Why? Because when your mind is sharp, your body feels strong, and your stress is under control, everything else improves:

• Better focus in meetings
• More resilience during tough conversations
• Greater emotional control under pressure

Martial arts didn’t just make me fit. It made me more patient, strategic, and self-aware—skills that pay dividends well beyond the ring.

It’s wild to think that a random decision three years ago—to walk into a gym and try something new—has shaped so much of my life since.

Muay Thai gave me a skill. It gave me a sanctuary. And most importantly, it gave me a way to reset—every single day.

Tonight, regardless of the chaos swirling around me, I’m sleeping like a baby!

P.S: if you need recommendations for the best Muay Thai gyms in the South Bay Area leave me a comment!