A young Bermudian martial artist, who teaches the art of Muay Thai, is looking for a permanent location to grow his business.

Deondre Morris, 29, started Bermuda Thai Boxing Academy earlier his year, after he took a leap of faith and left his full-time job as a security technician.

In April, Mr Morris travelled to Thailand where he trained for six months at Master Toddy’s Muay Thai Academy in Bangkok.

“Master Toddy wrote the whole curriculum for Muay Thai training in Thailand, so when you get a credit under him, all of Thailand follows suit, so it only made sense for me to attend his academy,” Mr Morris said.

He described the experience as amazing. “I enjoyed the culture and tradition, although the training was very intense, Master Toddy made it enjoyable.”

Mr Morris said he trained for six hours a day for six days a week.

After completing his course he became certified as a trainer and received the title, Muay Thai Kru, which is a Master of Muay Thai who teaches new generations authentic Muay Thai traditions and techniques.

Now that he is back on the island, he teaches island residents the art. “Right now, I have about five students of all ages, but looking to grow.

“I am working on getting a permanent location but until then, I train at Beast Gym and Champion Thai Quando.”

Mr Morris is also the chairman of Bermuda’s first Muay Thai Federation.

He has big plans for the future, and wants to grow the Muay Thai community locally. “Now that we have a federation, we can have the opportunity to welcome other fighters from overseas to come and hold events in Bermuda,” he said.

Eight years ago Mr Morris’s passion developed for Muay Thai, a combat sport of Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques.

This discipline is known as the “art of eight limbs” as it is characterised by the combined use of fists, elbows, knees, and shins.

He originally started training at the Bermuda Karate Institute under the Ray Sillan, the first Muay Thai instructor on the island, and travelled around to fight where he won titles and became a class A Muay Thai champion.

To learn more, call 703-4994, e-mail BermudaTBA@gmail.com, or Instagram @galingko Muay Thai.