Singaporean uncle spends his day doing 200 splits and backbends for 20 years to stay healthy
As Singapore becomes a super-aged society, staying active is becoming increasingly important for seniors.
Many are finding different ways to keep fit, from tai chi to even parkour.
But Ang Mo Kio resident Mr Soh has opted for a more flexible alternative instead.
Image by MS News
In recent years, Mr Soh found newfound popularity through viral clips of his splits on social media.
Netizens are taken aback by the septuagenarian’s ability to bend and stretch despite his age.
While most might think the uncle has a martial arts background, Mr Soh truthfully said that he only began stretching exercises when he was 58.
Started training after he quit smoking
Prior to being a viral sensation, Mr Soh worked as a painter at the old racecourse in Singapore, where he retired shortly after, in his late 30s.
In an exclusive with MS News, Mr Soh shared that his goal of achieving a healthy body began after he quit smoking at age 58.
“After I stopped smoking, my belly grew a bit big. I was not content with it, so I started training with chairs,” he said in Mandarin.
Video provided by Mr Soh
“When I mastered the chair, I tried other things like kicking…a lot of other stuff, more than ten,” he said.
When asked how long it takes for him to learn a new move, he surprisingly said it takes him between one and three days.
The hardest trick to pull off was actually his viral stunt, which took him about a week to master.
Image by MS News
“If you can do it, you can do it. If you can’t, then you can’t.” Mr Soh commented. “You work on it little by little.”
Trains 200 splits a day to stay flexible and healthy
Despite achieving a healthier body and slimmer belly over the years, the grind never ends for Mr Soh.
As an early bird, Mr Soh wakes up at 5am and training begins around 7am to 8pm (after letting his breakfast digest).
While each session typically takes around two to three hours, Mr Soh trains from morning to night.
Image by MS News
But when it comes to mastering flexibility, the void deck is his stage.
His training routine typically encompasses 200 splits, using his nearby HDB void deck as his training ground.
Image by MS News
When asked for the reason behind the huge number, he said: “The more you do, the better it is.”
Apart from splits, Mr Soh has done backbends along the kerb, kicked baskets from high places and even performed a horizontal split while lifting a chair.
Image by MS News
When he gets tired, he heads home for a rest. If he has some time to spare, it’s back to training once again.
“I get good sleep after training,” Mr Soh said. “[The training] can be quite tiring.”
He adds: “I don’t really fall sick nowadays, and [I] feel much more relaxed. And my belly became smaller too.”
Road to mastery comes with injuries and fire
The journey to achieving mastery comes with bumps and falls, and Mr Soh is no stranger to injuries.
Speaking to MS News, Mr Soh said that when doing backbends on a smoother, more slippery surface, he would sometimes slip and accidentally hit his head against the ground.
Once, he even sprained his leg during a split, and it took him a while to recover.
Image by MS News
Although most people head to the doctor after an injury, Mr Soh prefers to treat his physical injuries by himself — using fire.
“I wipe alcohol on the area and then set it on fire [and put it out],” Mr Soh shared. “This is something I learnt from the people of China.”
While setting fire to one’s own body may sound irrational to many, it is actually a real wellness practice in traditional Chinese folk medicine, known as Chinese fire therapy.
Image by MS News
“You can actually walk really well after it,” he said.
Upon recovery, Mr Soh continues with his daily exercises.
People have challenged him before
Occasionally, passers-by may cast a judgmental look at Mr Soh during his training, with some accusing him of “showing off”.
However, he sees their reactions as nothing more than a form of jealousy.
Some even claim that others can perform the same stunts as Mr Soh.
He recounted an incident in which a man challenged him to a contest, wagering S$3,000 on the outcome.
The two were to perform three different stunts, but Mr Soh said his challenger was unable to complete them.
Image by MS News
“I know they cannot do it,” Mr Soh smiled. “I said it on purpose because I wouldn’t need to pay a penny.”
Shares the secret behind achieving a flexible body
Though he is not as energetic as before, Mr Soh continues to train every day, mostly focusing on his legs.
However, it does not seem that he would be stopping his regimen any time soon.
When asked if he is open to teaching others how to be more flexible, Mr Soh said that they are welcome to come and learn.
Image by MS News
As for the secret behind his prowess? Willpower.
He shared with MS News: “Without willpower and a fear of pain, how are you able to learn [the skill]? Even when I am injured, I continue to train and push through the pain.”
Also read: ‘Uncle leg very good’: Netizens marvel at S’pore uncle splitting legs vertically against pole
‘Uncle leg very good’: Netizens marvel at S’pore uncle splitting legs vertically against pole
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Featured image by MS News.