Within the fighting arena, Johan “Jojo” Ghazali operates as a relentless finisher — dynamic, courageous, and destined for memorable moments. Outside of it, the 19-year-old Malaysian-American flyweight Muay Thai sensation has discovered an entirely distinct pursuit: golfing.
What began as a strategic professional connection strategy evolved into an intense passion that accompanies him to Thailand. In that location, he undergoes training with ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Superbon.
On weekends, he leases a collection of golf clubs and discreetly departs from his training camp by himself. Furthermore, he dedicates several hours on the green with his mobile device powered down and his thoughts unburdened. For an athlete recognized for constant aggression and powerful elbow strikes, this serves as an improbable rejuvenation — yet it’s a practice Ghazali ardently endorses.
The pastime captivated him nearly instantly, right from the point he agreed to a spontaneous invitation to join a professional acquaintance for a relaxed game. What he anticipated as an easygoing afternoon transformed into an awakening regarding the true complexity of the sport.
“My engagement with golf began because a vast majority, 95 percent, of accomplished individuals participate in it, and everyone I aspire to network with also plays,” Ghazali stated. “Therefore, on my initial occasion, I was scheduled to meet this gentleman, and he was golfing that particular day, so I thought, ‘Why not? Let’s go hit the links.’ Subsequently, I gave it a try and truly became enamored with it. I authentically adore the game.”
Johan Ghazali achieves mental sharpness on the golf course during breaks from Muay Thai training
Golf possesses an inherent capacity to modestify even the fiercest competitors, and Ghazali demonstrates this principle. He approached the golf course anticipating a straightforward period. However, he departed with a newfound admiration for an activity he had earlier dismissed as being suitable only for elderly, less agile individuals.
The challenge of synchronizing one’s head, torso, stroke, club striking surface, and concentration into a singular, seamless action — free from external demands, save for personal aspirations — proved more formidable than he had foreseen.
Nevertheless, beyond its inherent difficulties, Ghazali has uncovered a psychological advantage that directly enhances his combat performance. The capacity to fully concentrate, exclude all outside distractions, and rely on the methodology precisely reflects the requirements of high-level Muay Thai within the fighting circle.
He perceives these two activities as mutually beneficial. His Muay Thai regimen develops the physical strength that propels his golf swing. Golf hones the mental precision he brings to each training camp. This represents a symbiotic relationship that the young athlete has wholeheartedly embraced, and one he intends to maintain throughout the subsequent phase of his professional life, long after the bright lights of competition fade.
“There are instances where one performs akin to Tiger Woods, and then the following day brings a subpar performance that causes you to lament having played at all,” Ghazali remarked. “Despite that, I genuinely continue to find pleasure in it. I do not envision myself practicing Muay Thai far into my later years. However, golf, being a sport reliant on muscle memory, allows one to naturally engage in it for a considerably extended period.”
