Kai Ting Chuang's Rise From Abandoned Baby To The Brink Of History
Kai Ting “Killer Bee” Chuang is making the final preparations for the biggest match of her career.
This Saturday, 7 July, the 23-year-old will stand toe-to-toe with multi-time Muay Thai World Champion Yodcherry Sityodtong in the main event of ONE: BATTLE FOR THE HEAVENS, which takes place at the Guangzhou Tianhe Gymnasium.
The winner of the bout will become the inaugural ONE Super Series Kickboxing Atomweight World Champion, and the first female titleholder in ONE Super Series.
Before she steps into the ONE ring for the most important bout of her life, learn about Chuang’s inspirational life journey.
Grandma To The Rescue
Chuang has defied the odds since birth.
When she was a baby, her parents abandoned her, leaving her in an orphanage. Fortunately, her grandmother went to the children’s home and officially adopted her.
Though “Killer Bee” would occasionally interact with her parents in the future, the relationship was permanently damaged.
“My mother had a new family when I was less than 1 year old,” she states.
“Even now, I cannot remember things clearly, other than how irresponsible my father was to leave me without saying a word. After that, we did not talk or speak about it anymore.”
Despite having a meager income, Chuang’s grandmother was able to provide for her beloved charge.
She single-handedly raised the future athlete, instilled life’s most important values into Chuang, and encouraged her to be a strong, independent woman.
“My grandma taught me to be a responsible girl,” the 23-year-old says.
“She made me realize I do not need my parents, I only need only myself to live this life. She taught me to be kind and nice to people, and to be generous.”
A Prodigious Road To Kickboxing
Chuang was grateful to be raised under her grandmother’s roof, but during her teenage years, she realized there was an economic strain within the household. To help ease the financial burden, she got a part-time job at a night market selling fruit.
Also, she picked up boxing at the age of 16 in the hopes of winning a university scholarship.
“I just wanted to get the money from the scholarship so I could help my grandma, and make her not feel so much pressure,” she reveals.
“After I started to learn boxing, I felt like I was more focused, and it made me think more clearly. I became tougher than I ever was, and I could feel how it changed me every day by adding more and more strength.”
Chuang excelled in the sport – she joined a famous high school team in Chinese Taipei and then earned the scholarship she had chased.
She trained under famed coach Wang Chung Yaun, a former competitor in K-1, who introduced her to kickboxing, and then Muay Thai. Despite some early challenges, she grew to love the kicking arts.
“I think they are very unique sports,” she says. “I like to try something different than what other girls like to do.”
Following the conclusion of her freshman year, she launched a professional kickboxing career, and was ready to show the world just how talented she truly was.
Fulfilling Her Destiny
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“Killer Bee” has developed quite a reputation.
Chuang, who trains out of Iron Boxing in Taichung, has compiled a 16-5 professional record. She is a three-time WAKO Kickboxing Champion, and even holds a victory over multiple-time Muay Thai World Champion Ayaka “Little Tiger” Miyauchi.
That inevitably led her to ONE Championship, where she will challenge the world-renowned Yodcherry at ONE: BATTLE FOR THE HEAVENS.
Not only will the winner be crowned the inaugural ONE Super Series Kickboxing Atomweight World Champion, the victor will also get the honor of being the first women’s titleholder in ONE Super Series.
For Chuang, this is a dream scenario.
“ONE Championship is very famous. Everyone knows about it. But to me, the most exciting part is the fight itself, because I am achieving one of my goals,” she explains.
“Being a World Champion has been my dream. This match means so much to me. I can leave my name in history as the first woman who won a World Title in ONE Super Series.”
Inspiring Girls Around The World
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Now, since Chuang will be competing on the global stage of martial arts, she wants to use her platform to encourage young women all around the world to fearlessly pursue their goals.
“I want to tell girls that if I can make it, so can you,” she says.
“Do not run away from your dreams because of fear. The sweat and the pain you have been through will be nothing compared to the result you will get from it. The most important thing is you need to take the first step.”
Chuang hopes they can find strength and courage from her own life story – overcoming tremendous circumstances to challenge for a World Title in the world’s largest martial arts promotion. If she can achieve her dreams, then she believes anyone can.
“I want to let people see that even a girl like me can stand on the world’s stage and succeed,” she says
