ABOUT
Choke Clinch Crank Combat (or CCCC) is a book that features real stories from Singapore’s local combat sports scene - not just about fighting, but about people figuring themselves out. The book features 25 fighters, from professionals to everyday people, as well as coaches and gym owners. They come from different backgrounds, but they all share one thing: a passion for doing what they love, and strengthening their confidence, discipline, mental health, and resilience. For many of the people in CCCC, combat sports helped them handle stress, believe in themselves, and find a sense of purpose.
Through the programmes on this page, schools will get a chance to learn and appreciate the experiences of some of the featured fighters in CCCC.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
2022 - Andrea Yew and Alvin Ang. Choke Clinch Crank Combat (Singapore)
ABOUT THE FIGHTERS IN CCCC
Photo credit: David Ash (@singaporemaven_photography)
Syafiq ‘The Slasher’ Samad is a striking coach and former national boxer and Muay Thai fighter, as well as a former professional boxer, Muay Thai, and MMA competitor with over 40 fights. He began training at age 15 and made history as the first Singaporean to win gold at the IFMA Asian Muay Thai Championship (2010, Tashkent, Uzbekistan). He competed professionally in organizations including Pacific Xtreme Combat and Rebel FC. Now a National Assistant Boxing Coach and founder of Team Slasher, he runs boxing and Muay Thai programs and leads workshops through Choke Clinch Crank Combat.
Originally from Bahia, Brazil, Silvano Santos (Contramestre Tucum) has over 30 years of experience instructing Capoeira classes for all ages in Brazil and Southeast Asia. He actively runs his own business, Flowartes, and partners with other organisations and schools to teach, perform and promote Capoeira in various institutions and events across the region. His belief in the benefits of Capoeira towards a healthy and holistic lifestyle has motivated and inspired hundreds of students to take up interest.
Silvano started Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 2012 training under the tutelage of Alexsandro “Leke” Machado and officially earned his black belt in 2025 from Professor Leke under supervision of Mestre Ricardo Vieira. He has been teaching the martial art for a decade. Armed with this versatile and multidisciplinary approach, he also conducts MMA programs for schools and tertiary institutions, including schools for students with special needs.
TALKS
BEHIND THE GLOVES - FIGHTER PANEL & MEET AND GREET
For: secondary / tertiary; can accomodate a school assembly
Availability: 1 / 1.5hrs per session; single session
Description: A panel discussion and meet-and-greet featuring fighters from Choke Clinch Crank Combat. This program can be held at your school, offering students the opportunity to hear diverse perspectives from Singapore's top combat athletes. The session includes moderated discussion, audience Q&A, book signing, and informal interaction time with the fighters.
Students may meet fighters such as:
Radeem Rahman
The session includes moderated discussion, audience Q&A, book signing, and informal interaction time with the fighters (where logistically possible).
Note: The fighters above can be invited solo or as as a group for a panel discussion. Please indicate your preference when reaching out to Book A Writer.
Learning Outcomes:
(1) Explore different pathways to pursuing passion and purpose
(2) Understand the mental and physical aspects of competitive sports
(3) Learn about perseverance, handling defeat, and celebrating success
(4) Gain insight into balancing athletic careers with other life roles
(5) Engage with role models from Singapore's athletic community
Radeem Rahman is Singapore's pioneering professional MMA athlete in the prestigious ONE Championship. A believer in cross-disciplinary training, Radeem balances his fighting career with fatherhood, offering students insight into managing multiple life commitments. He holds championship titles in Thailand Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and with the Universal Boxing Organisation.
Jed Foo is a martial artist trained in disciplines like Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiujitsu (BJJ) and wrestling. Born with aniridia, a condition where one’s irises are absent in both eyes, Jed chose a path not many would take, to pursue martial arts, despite his visual impairment. He is a brown belt in BJJ, has fought in Muay Thai and BJJ and is a coach at Trapeze Rec. Club.
Gabriel Huang is a Coach and Administrator with the Wrestling Federation of Singapore (WFS), where he supports national team development and the federation’s sport operations. His work spans athlete preparation, programme planning, and pathway development across Singapore’s wrestling ecosystem. Under his coaching leadership, Team Singapore delivered its best-ever SEA Games wrestling performance in 2023, including Singapore’s first-ever wrestling Gold medal, along with multiple podium finishes across women’s freestyle and Greco-Roman events. He is passionate about building sustainable systems that support both performance excellence and community growth.
ABOUT OUR PROGRAMME / OUR WRITERS / OUR WORKSHOPS / OUR CAMP / F.A.Q.
Book A Writer is Sing Lit Station's workshop-for-schools programme, featuring a roster of Singapore's most important writers at work today. *Do you want to Book A Writer? For enquiries on Choke Clinch Crank Combat's availability and workshop rates in Sing Lit Station's Book A Writer programme, do fill in the form below.