‘I Chose A Way That Nobody Would Dare’ – How Yu Yau Pui Bucked Tradition And Became A Muay Thai Star
Surging atomweight Muay Thai contender Yu Yau Pui has enjoyed a meteoric rise through the world’s largest martial arts organization.
After reeling off five straight wins at ONE Friday Fights in 2023, the Hong Kong native earned a six-figure contract and a spot on ONE’s global roster. This past April, she made her U.S. primetime debut in sensational fashion, earning a gritty decision victory over Lara Fernandez at ONE Fight Night 20.
Yu will next look to keep her unblemished ONE record intact when she battles Scottish star Amy Pirnie on August 2 in U.S. primetime at ONE Fight Night 24: Brooks vs. Balart on Prime Video.
Before that pivotal atomweight Muay Thai tilt goes down at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, fans are dying to know more about the KF 1 representative and her unique journey to the global stage.
‘Why Shouldn’t I Give This A Try?’
As a child, Yu did not consider the possibility of becoming a professional athlete – much less a world-class Muay Thai fighter.
Consistent with Hong Kong’s culture of clearly defined gender roles, she was pushed into activities that are typically viewed as more feminine in nature.
She told onefc.com:
“I never thought I would be a sporty person one day. When I was a kid, my mother, she just told me to go play piano, go do ballet. That’s what she thought a girl should do.
“Because in Hong Kong, we really consider these kinds of resumes will help get you into college. These are the kinds of useful things. So sports, [especially] Muay Thai, I didn’t have any chance to learn.”
With an innate urge to buck tradition, Yu jumped at her first opportunity to try Muay Thai when she was 18 years old and done with high school.
She said:
“After I finished my secondary school, I had a chance to decide what I wanted to do during some holidays. I said, ‘Why shouldn’t I give this a try?’ So I went to a local Muay Thai fitness center and gave it a try.”
Taking The Road Less Traveled
Initially, Yu had no aspirations of competing in the ring; she simply wanted to get in shape.
Before long, though, she realized Muay Thai had ignited her passion, tapping into feelings that she couldn’t experience in piano or ballet.
Following that passion, Yu decided to veer off the safe path of college and a full-time job in favor of pursuing a career in professional combat sports:
“I [felt] satisfied when I punched people in the face. If I really had time to dedicate to this sport, I thought I would have some kind of achievement, the kind of achievement that nobody saw as a possibility.
“In Hong Kong, you know, sport isn’t always profitable. People just consider sports as hobbies. You can’t make money when fighting Muay Thai. I just thought, ‘Why not? Why can’t I make money when I compete and do something that I like?’ I chose a way that nobody would dare to choose in Hong Kong.”
Yu hasn’t regretted her choice to take the road less traveled.
As she explains, the typical college-then-work journey mandated by her culture simply didn’t appeal to her:
“In Hong Kong, it’s a very stressful culture, especially when you’re doing your studies. I remember at that time I dedicated all of my time to studying and getting into a college. Once I got into college, I just felt like, ‘Oh, this is endless.’
“When you’re in college, you need to study very hard and get good grades. After that, you need to find a well-paid job, work hard to earn a living, and get a [comfortable] life. I think this is endless, you know? You don’t know when this will end. You’re just doing it to satisfy the culture, to satisfy other people’s expectations. But it’s not what I wanted to do.”
Overcoming Hard Times
Yu threw herself headfirst into the world of Muay Thai, taking any and all fights she could find while establishing herself as one of Asia’s top strikers.
Her rise through the ranks wasn’t without adversity, though. She recalls one particularly debilitating injury that left her frustrated and impatient:
“I hurt my lower back. You know, your lower back is the core muscle. If you hurt your hand, you can practice kicking. If you hurt your whole leg, you can practice other stuff. But if you hurt your lower back, you almost can’t move with your hands and your legs.
“It was very difficult for me. I was so motivated at the beginning, and I was so frustrated then because I saw other people at my gym who had so many opportunities. They had so many competitions, and they had the chance to improve their skills. But, ‘Oh, what am I doing? I’m just sitting there and watching people grow.’ I was so frustrated.”
Yu powered through that injury and returned to full health, but she soon found herself back on the sidelines – this time due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Unable to compete under Hong Kong’s strict lockdown restrictions, Yu kept her nose to the grindstone and continued training in hopes of one day returning to the ring.
Eventually, her signing with ONE marked a dream come true and the light at the end of the tunnel:
“During that COVID period, I just kept training, and I didn’t know what I was training for because there was no competition. I just kept hoping that there was a rainbow after the rain. I just kept hope that this is not useless and I kept training thinking this would be useful one day. I never felt that I could really fight in ONE Championship.”
Tuning Out The Negative Voices
Yu’s determination to succeed in Muay Thai – going against her culture, overcoming serious injuries, and outlasting the pandemic – carried her to the ONE Friday Fights event series in 2023, where she found incredible success and established herself as perhaps Muay Thai’s most electrifying rising star.
At the same time, her ultra-aggressive, rough-and-tumble style of striking has brought her plenty of criticism from Muay Thai purists:
“People had a lot of comments, even now. Some people don’t like my style. They say, ‘Oh she’s like a street fighter. She just ruins Muay Thai.’ And then I faced a lot of disagreements and negative comments. But I just keep moving and keep training in my gym.”
Regardless of her style, the 31-year-old’s accomplishments speak for themselves.
Now aiming for her seventh straight win in the world’s largest martial arts organization, she’s tuning out any negative voices.
As always, Yu is proud to be her unique self and sent a message to other women considering a life in professional combat sports:
“I just want to say don’t be afraid to be yourself. That’s all that matters.
“No matter what your style is, no matter how you perform, just be comfortable to be yourself because even though there are many comments, people like you, or people don’t like you, what makes you happy is yourself.”
