That was fourteen years ago. Today , the 31-year-old uses his sense to assist troubled teens yesteryear teaching them self-discipline inward the octagon; the eight-sided band used inward Mixed Martial Arts (MMA).
Yeoh , who teaches Geography in addition to Sports Science inward a schoolhouse inward Johor , has been the caput charabanc at his father's MMA gym since 2006.
"I used to care a lot inward schoolhouse in addition to oft got penalised. Because of this , my granddad enrolled me inward a martial arts school.
"At get-go , I idea that learning martial arts would brand me a meliorate fighter inward school. Instead , it taught me self-discipline. And I realised contest is the best house to channel all that angst ," he told the New Lord's Day Times.
Born inward Perlis , Yeoh was thirteen when he get-go picked upwards taekwondo in addition to after progressed to muay thai , where he competed inward many tournaments in addition to won a few titles.
However , his martial arts days were set on concord when he pursued his studies at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.
Upon graduation , Yeoh was posted to Johor Baru , but every bit at that topographic point were no MMA gyms at that topographic point in addition to hence , Yeoh decided to start his ain yesteryear gathering to a greater extent than or less troubled teenagers in addition to taught them basic MMA.
"The lessons were conducted at the dorsum of my house. But every bit the publish of students increased , my manlike someone nurture in addition to I started the Ultimate MMA Academy JB.
"We merely desire to acquire these kids out of problem in addition to to channel their aggression into the sport.
"Slowly , to a greater extent than in addition to to a greater extent than parents sent their kids to our gym."
Aside from self-discipline , Yeoh also teaches his students to hold upwards independent yesteryear doing to a greater extent than or less part-time piece of job to earn steal money.
"It is meliorate to laissez passer on them a direct chances to discovery a operate inward life. If they are neglected , they may terminate upwards inward a life of criminal offense in addition to acquire a nuisance to the community."
Some of his students , aged betwixt xi in addition to xviii , receive got taken part inward several MMA tournaments inward Kuala Lumpur in addition to Johor.
MMA is the fastest growing sport inward the basis alongside large events such every bit the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) , K-1 World Max inward Nihon in addition to Singapore-based One FC.
Unlike boxing or muay thai , MMA is non tied to i fashion of fighting but is a mix of 2 or to a greater extent than styles such every bit wrestling in addition to Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
In Malaysia , MMA is relatively novel , although Malaysian exponents , such every bit Adam Shahir Kayoom in addition to Peter Davis , receive got competed inward international tournaments.
Yeoh volition himself hold upwards fighting inward the upcoming One FC effect inward Kuala Lumpur adjacent month; he fifty-fifty got a personal telephone phone from One FC principal executive officeholder in addition to possessor Victor Cui.
With half dozen wins in addition to i loss , Yeoh's latest care was during the Gods FC MMA Team Championship; where squad Kuala Lumpur went caput on alongside squad Singapore.
Yeoh , who fights inward the 64kg weight shape , had to appear upwards an opponent who was a shape heavier.
"He was bigger than me in addition to I gave it my all during the care ," said Yeoh , who won the the agree yesteryear a mounted triangle , choking the huge Singaporean into submission.
MMA comes across every bit a tearing sport but to to a greater extent than or less , martial arts tin alter a someone for the better.
"There are a lot of ways to educate people. Youths hither are exposed to negative influences in addition to when immature people are lost in addition to try attending , they tin easily hold upwards led astray yesteryear the incorrect crowd.
"As a instructor , I'm aware that well-nigh of them desire to hold upwards a hero. I was similar that also , once. So , I brought them over hither to develop hence that they tin care inward the octagon in addition to brand a advert for themselves.
"It's a win-win situation. They acquire to care , legally in addition to they acquire the attending they seek. Most of them turned out to hold upwards to a greater extent than disciplined after training.
"Some of my so-called 'bad' students are currently overseas pursuing farther teaching in addition to to a greater extent than or less are really successful inward life now."
To hold upwards a adept fighter , i needs to hold upwards fit in addition to this agency having a proper diet in addition to strict training.
Yeoh sets a adept illustration to his students both at the gym in addition to schoolhouse alongside his tight grooming regime. He starts his twenty-four hr menses alongside i hr of jogging from 8am in addition to and hence does weight grooming till 11am.
"My schoolhouse session is from noon till 7pm. After a brusk residual at dwelling , I locomote dorsum to the gym for to a greater extent than or less other grooming session till 11pm. That is my daily schedule.
"It may audio tiring but inward actual fact the grooming keeps me warning inward school.
"Low carbs , high poly peptide in addition to fibre is what fighters involve to fuel their torso in addition to I believe that alongside this strict government , troubled teens volition hold upwards disciplined.
"Without dependent area , they mightiness every bit good laissez passer on upwards earlier entering the octagon."