We have many amazing people with interesting stories that walk into all our gyms! This member spotlight turns to Bailey Wang, blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, resident troll and avid KFC lover. It’s been wonderful seeing Bailey progress from white belt to blue belt with us, and we know the entire gym is waiting in anticipation for his next grading…whenever that will be. Read on to find out more about Bailey!
Occupation: Professional keyboard warrior / unofficial Absolute MMA mascot
Martial Arts/Sports: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or in Bailey’s words…”I train UFC”
How did you get into the sport?
I want to train UFC.
What are your immediate training goals?
Sit my ass down and make a diet plan, followed by doing some cardio.
What are your goals for the next five years?
Continue my BJJ journey and hopefully Thiago doesn’t demote me back to white belch.
Why do you love training at Absolute MMA?
The people, the staff, the coaches and I “absolutely” love the environment…except Oliver Bland…
What is your favorite move?
Knee on belly / butt scooting / side control (lol?).
Favorite workout/walkout song?
Shawn Michaels WWE Theme Song – Sexy Boy.
Nicknames & Fight Names?
The white belt hunter / Gordinho / the colonel / oss!?
What do you like to do to relax besides training?
Watch or play basketball, cooking and eating.
Can you tell us about where you’re from and any interesting stories growing up? If you’re not originally from Melbourne, how’d you end up living in Melbourne, Australia?
Born in Taiwan, grew up in Auckland, New Zealand, permed my hair into an afro when I was 17, move to Melbourne because my best friend is here and I wanted to move out of my comfort zone.
Who are the kind of people that you look up to and why?
People that are respectful and people with good hearts. Everyone has different status in life, I don’t believe that one person’s integrity is worth more than the others. Oss.
What’s your favorite place to eat in Melbourne and your #1 dish recommendation?
There is too many places in Melbourne…but if you ask me “hey bailey lets pig out…” I would say lets do the the triangle tour…What is the triangle tour you ask? Well you start with going to KFC, get a 3 piece box meal (swap the potato and gravy out for gravy only) followed by going to McDonald and get a big mac burger only (because McDonald fries are rubbish) followed by going to a Hungry Jacks, use their online voucher for 2 x Flame grill Whopper for $7.95 (you are welcome people). You go home and smash those out and go into a food coma…I have no idea why it’s called the triangle tour…sounds stupid now.
Otherwise good Chinese food normally goes down well or steak and chips.
If you could go back in time to your first martial art class, what would be the advice you give to your past self?
Be patient, learn to breathe, stretch…and watch out for this guy called Oliver Bland.
“Aaaah, what can I say about Bailey, he is our resident troller both on and off the mat. If he isn’t antagonising others about his supreme skills and talking smack to your face. You can see him sitting on the sidelines at any given comp class doing the same. In classic Bailey fashion he can also been seen heckling Coach Thiago before during and after class. The gym is certainly a more entertaining space with Bailey…I think everyone is excited for his next grading if and when that comes again.”- Apryl Eppinger
“From the perspective of an outsider, it seems fairly obvious why everyone in the gym would dislike Bailey. He has a face like a half eaten dim-sim, is leisurely proportioned, barely mediocre at BJJ, wears the worst gis in all of Jiu Jitsu, has a friggin hamburger printed on a rashguard, says oss more than some karate black belts and talks more sh*t than would seem logically sensible to most. Yet we all love him. There is something uniquely charming about Bailey because deep down he has a heart of gold and would do anything for someone if they asked. He is part of the heart and soul of Absolute CBD and the gym is better when he is around. He may be a fat idiot, but he is our fat idiot.”- Signed Adrian, Amit, Dom, Evan, James, Jarrod, Ryan and Tim.
“He gives as good as he takes.”- Jufri Abidin
“What people need to know about Bailey Wang is he’s all about what comes out of his mouth and what goes in. KFC goes in and complete and utter sh*t comes out. To his credit he’ll cop the backlash for any rubbish he talks which is often and always. The gym wouldn’t be the same without him, it’d be a lot more productive and happier. Oh something nice?! Ummmmmmmmm.”- Oliver Bland
Bailey Wang is the most dangerous KFC fighter on the history. His butt scoot is the most scary technique I ever seen. Just feel bad to promote him to his blue belt because he lost all white belt charm. And he proudly asked to be called as “Gordinho” that means ‘little fat’.”- Thiago Stefanutti