Sandy Heilig: Part 2 Nothing comes for free, you have to earn it

In this conversation, Shannon F16 Forrester and Sandy Heilig delve into how Muay Thai has helped them out of some tough places, exploring personal journeys, the importance of character development and the impact of coaching on young fighters. They discuss the lessons learned through fighting and the significance of integrity in the sport. Sandy shares her aspirations to be a leading female coach and emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and personal growth in the martial arts journey.

Big thanks to the legendary team at Punish Fight Gear for always looking after Shannon. Check them out at https://punish.com.au/ Shannon has been using this gear for years & 100% rates it as tried & tested 👊

Key Interview Takeaways • Training sessions can be made enjoyable regardless of the environment. • Coaching is about developing character, not just fighting skills. • Integrity and accountability are crucial in both sports and life. • Nothing comes for free; hard work is essential for success. • The bond between a coach and their fighters is lifelong. • Sports can be a life-saving choice for troubled youth. • Consistency in training reflects commitment to personal goals.

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Shannon (00:33)Alright Sandy, what do you think what stands out as your your favourite fight, would've you would've seen heaps of fights, try and think of think of the best fight - nah the best fight that you've

Sandy Heilig (00:42)

One of mine or someone else's?

Shannon (00:50)

that you've seen, it doesn't have to be, doesn't have to be live, you didn't have to go there it could be, could have been one on one on video I mean like guys these days like with the internet and everything they've got access to so much but back in our day if you had like a I remember Rexie Redden had these the Dutch, Dutch

Sandy Heilig (00:51)

I like it. Thank I'll remember that thought with you out.

Shannon (01:16)

the VHS back then with all the Dutch fighters that I was right into I was like hey that's like gold Rexie yeah

Sandy Heilig (01:17)

Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. Man, I've still got the blood splatters on my shirt from that fight you had with him on the Gold Coast. Yeah, I was in the corner, snuck in there. I wasn't supposed to be there. I just ended up there and I regretted it because there was blood all over my shirt because that was a blood bath between you two. I shouldn't have stood there.

Shannon (01:30)

true, yeah, yeah. Yeah, I've been known as a bit of a bleeder.

Sandy Heilig (01:48)

Yes, yes, and a sweater. I'll never forget our clinch sessions, bro.

shannon (01:52)

Yeah.And when I'm on the beans, a farter.

Sandy Heilig (01:58)

am I allowed to share some stories from those times?

Shannon (02:01)

Yeah, yeah, yeah, you can. I've learnt from that.

Sandy Heilig (02:04)

mate, when Ray built Five Rings for us down at Burleigh and we were the first ones there, we always knew when you were there because we would smell you as soon as we opened the gym. Shannon's here. he's been here.

Shannon(02:19)

on the beans or the lentils again

Sandy Heilig (02:21)

I used to eat them to cut weight, but I still hate them. I still hate them. They're just boring. But I don't think our training sessions were ever boring. None of them. think training with you too, Shannon, you really helped me see that you can make a training session out of nothing. And being here on Stratie, that helped a lot. In the end, I built the beautiful gym that we all dreamt about for years. We had the ring, we had it all beautiful. looked great. But beside that, we were training everywhere on the island where we could find. We were getting kicked out of the local school. We would run down the road in the park. We'd be on the footy field. We'd be out on the oval. We'd be in the hall. We'd be sneaking in and jumping fences to get into joints. And we had nothing, nothing but love for Muay Thai and heart and that's all we needed and you taught me that you you absolutely taught me that that we didn't need the flash stuff just to make it work

Shannon (03:18)

Yeah nah, that's it just the passion passion for training for fighting That's going to be that was the next question I was gonna ask you Sandy like you know you've been in in the sport since more or less the start the start of the sport in Australia and you've been consistent through it I've come & gone in the sport but you've been consistent

Sandy Heilig (03:22)

Yeah, man.

Shannon (03:45)

So, I guess you answered it just before by saying the passion and the love, love of the sport, but not also that. Like I know your heart Sandy and you're a wonderful person, you love and care for people and I know that it's not just about developing great fighters in in the ring but you're interested in their character and and developing people which is what I really like about you Sandy. Yeah, so or firstly what what what keeps you in the sport, consistency, like I know you're a hard worker  you do the hours, you know weeks months out in the desert in the mines and then you come back in and train kids and hold pads for kids you know

Sandy Heilig (04:37)

Look, I think, yeah, training with the young ones, for me, it's more than building fighters. It's cool to have fighters. It's cool, you know, but it's a big investment as well. It's a huge investment, not just financially, but time, energy, knowledge, all of it. You know what it's like. But I think for me, what drives me is to see them become better people. So when All the kids that have trained with me, you know, over the years that I've been a coach have not only learned to fight and learned the art of Muay Thai, they've also learned about being good people as well as good fighters. So they're not allowed to bully and they're reminded of that. They're not allowed to bully. The minute you become a bully, you're out. And there's, I don't care how close you are. If I find out you're a bully and you represent me, you're gone. I can't have that. You know, and also the little things in life that matter, know, accountability, own your shit kids, you know, don't be a victim in life and integrity. You know, we live in such an era of the pullout era. Everyone pulls out of fights, you know, they're all in until they see themselves on a poster. They either want to share the posters with their mates to make them feel great. Yeah, you're a fighter. Look at you on a poster, but. Or, you know, they might do the opposite and get scared because it's happening now, you know. And so they pull out. So integrity was an important part of my lessons to these kids. If you say you're going to fight, you fight. You don't, we don't pull out.

We, you and I Shannon come from an era where we didn't pull out of fights. It was never even thought of to pull out of a fight. It was unthinkable to pull out of a fight. you turned up sore, you turned up injured, you turned up tired. You just fought no matter what state you're in, just fought, you know, even as you fought the week before you turned up again and you fought no matter what was wrong with you, you fought. And that was the integrity of keeping your word and honoring what you say you're going to do and not just in fighting in life, kids like - you say you're going to do something, show up and do it. And being, again, being accountable when they make mistakes in life, put your hand up and own it, kids, you know, right down to, you know, mental health, looking after their mental health, not worrying about what people think, personal hygiene. A huge one in my gym. I teach these kids, hey, when you come home from school, if you've got to come straight here, go and wash yourself down. You know, especially before clinching, you know that rule, wash down before clinch. Be clean, you know, no one wants to be with someone who stinks and is filthy. You know, we've all, we all work, we all come from work sweaty and stinky, but go clean yourself up, you know.

You've to work with people. The gyms that you learn, know, Also cleaning the gym. My gym was free. I didn't charge the kids any money. So their method of paying was to clean the gym, clean the equipment. You've got to do something. It's, you know, I had one parent call me a slave. I was slave driving his kid. You know, you're slaving me son. Like, no mate, I'm teaching him valuable lessons in life. He doesn't pay for this. This You know, and that kid got a lot from me. I'm not going to mention names, but he got a lot. And the end of the day, you got to learn in life that nothing comes for free and you have to earn your privileges. You don't just get it handed to you on a platter. And these are the things that you learn in a gym. You know. Man throw a broom at the people, make a cleaning day. Everyone's got to chuck in. Even if you are a gym that charges fees, make people learn those valuable lessons in the gym because they become better people. You know, as you and I know, who knows where you and I would be if we didn't have those lessons from Thailand and the gym and you know, where would we be? Really?

 Shannon (08:34)

yeah that's that's another interesting thing Sandy like i know you know myself martial arts and Muay Thai and kickboxing you know like like other sports for other people you know it's it gave gave me so much my youngest brother he took his own life with suicide and my other brother got into trouble with the law and the only reason that on I'm not in the same boat those two is because I had Muay Thai Kickboxing you know, it gave me goals it gave me dreams and aspirations and you know I've had a lot of trainers

Sandy Heilig (08:57)

I'll remember that. Yeah.

Shannon (09:24)

you know that have loved and helped me and taught me those lessons that we've been talking about you know yeah like that's you know given me so much And I think there are a lot of people like us Sandy you know I know you've got a similar similar story know where you could have ended up you know if didn't have sport that choices. instead of going out going out with your friends and and gettin off your head and get into trouble whatever no no  have an early night, you've got training tomorrow and if you want to win that next fight ok so sacrifice make sacrifices get to the gym and train, you know all these lessons that we learned through

Sandy Heilig (10:01)

Yeah. As I said, I was strict on a lot of the young ones, you know. But, you know, I was everything in that gym. I was mama, I was trainer, I was friend, I was older sister, I was auntie, I was Uber Driver, I was the cook. I was, you know, I was a lot of things. I had to wear a lot of hats in that role. But, you know what? I put my foot up many of those kids' arses but it was always done with love. I always love those kids still to this day. even though they're up now and getting older. You some of them have got kids of their own, you know. It's, it's, you always love them no matter what. You always, man, how do you build a bond with a fighter and then not always think something of them, you know.

Shannon (10:50)

Yeah. So what else what else has fighting and Muay Thai and training and fighting taught you about life?

Sandy Heilig (11:14)

How much time you got? yeah, look, as I said, off camera, I was at a point in my life where I, when I was 19, I made a silly decision in life and I ended up in prison. I ended up in a Brisbane Women's Correctional Centre. Because I was hanging out with the wrong people and I was going out with some dude who was not a good dude. And I ended up in prison and I had a choice to make, you know, is this the life that I want to continue living or shall I really make a go of this fighting thing or just Muay Thai in general? And I'm really glad that I chose the path that I did to stay with martial arts and Muay Thai. Since doing that, I think if I'd have gone the other way and lived that life, I would never have got out of Brisbane. You know, now I can go anywhere in the world and train with anyone, you know, I've, I've gotten to see some beautiful places, beautiful countries and lovely people and make a family for myself within the industry. And, man, if, if someone said, you're going to die tomorrow, but we're going to bring you back.

I would do it exactly the same again, probably just a bit earlier than 15 I'd start. But in saying that, it was interesting when I was in prison and someone saw my issuer cross in jail. She noticed it and pointed at it and had a conversation with me about it. And the first thing she said to me is, yeah, and I said, know, kickboxing, zendo kai, muay thai.

And she said, do you know Shannon Forrester? And I'd heard of your name, but I didn't know you then. And I was like, and then I remember when I first seen you fight after I'd gotten out of that and I watched you fight and went, that's that dude that that chick. Yeah, yeah, that's him. And I think you had some funny looking hairdo going on at the time. But yeah. And then years later we would be. Yeah, man, we'd train together. We'd work together. We'd frickin becomelike family. Love you, man. It's been a journey, mate.

But yeah, think Muay Thai has taught me many great lessons. I couldn't put my finger on all of it. How to be strong, how to be a better person. Yeah, again, I still got my own traumas, man. We've all got those. But if I didn't have Muay Thai, I think I would either be still in jail or in the cemetery, to be honest. Very honest, yeah.

Shannon (13:50)

yeah but getting back in that like we know that in training and a fight it's not easy and you go through like ebbs, you know like you're feeling good you're feeling confident and then the other guy might get some shots on you and your confidence goes down too it's a bit like life, you know life's not all glamorous like you were talking about like nowadays with social media like this you know glamorous stuff but what's not like that now we get knocked out yeah so they're also lessons that we learn in the sport hey through training stuff like just rocking up to training when when things are bad or you know and worlds falling apart just rocking up consistency following up on the word like you said if you take a fight and follow through with it when everything's gone out of the basket so to speak Anyway getting back to the you never answered my question about which is yeah which is the best fight

 Sandy Heilig (14:38)

Yeah. fight. Yes. we got side-tracked look, there's so many. But look, I'll keep it homegrown. I think the best, the most electrifying fight here I've seen, apart from any of yours, was probably Pixie v Soren II, the second fight they had. That was, I think that Soren had not long won the Super 8. And I think Pixie won the first encounter.

And Soren won the second one, but it was just such a good fight. I always loved watching Soren's technical. He was beautiful to watch, Soren. It was amazing.

Shannon (15:29)

So they were both on top of their game.

Sandy Heilig (15:34)

Yeah, man. Pixie as well. Pixie was just at the peak of his career in that heart and those elbows. It was just a great fight to watch.

Shannon (15:41)

Alright Sandy, what if we had to get a celebrity, so you got to pick a celebrity and to train them up for a fight, like a what do call them, like those reality TV shows, so you get to train a celebrity up to fight another celebrity, so who would you pick and who would you pick for the opponent.

Sandy Heilig (16:11)

wow. I like Pink and I think she'd be a lot of fun. She would probably be really cool to train. She'd be tough, I would imagine. I don't know who I'd get her to fight. I have no idea. I think I saw her training in one of her film clips and thought, wow, yeah, maybe Pink versus someone.

 Sandy Heilig (16:31)

Yeah, I'd train pink. We'd fight anyone. We're old school.

Shannon (16:34)

Alright put Pink in there with with Choc Anthony Mundine but but Pink's allowed to kick and use knees Choc can only box that'd be interesting

Sandy Heilig (16:39)

With who? Choc? Yeah, you know, can only box we'd have to work that clinch hard, lock his hands up.

Shannon (16:53)

Alright mate, I guess I guess that's nearly us what are your your goals and ambitions in the sport at the moment

Sandy Heilig (16:56)

That's us. My goal at the moment, I'm on a little bit of a mission, is to become the best coach I can be. I want to be the best female coach in the country. That's just my little personal goal. Not like I'm out to try and outdo and beat everybody. It's more just my thing. I'd love to be a name that comes up for people who think of female coaches and I'd like to be up on the top of the list. That's my goal.

I'm really, really lucky to have opportunities to continue working with old school guys. Peasy, Nugget, I'm holding pads in Matty McTavish's gym at the moment.

I also work with a couple of thai's as well. Being able to keep that thai influence in our game and keep that so I can pass that on. I think...

Nowadays we get a lot of people looking at YouTube and Instagram and copying and you can tell the trainers that have just watched it that day and gone to the gym and taught it that night. the difference is, is I don't, I want to learn it. So I go and train it. I go and hit pads. go and clinch. I go and do it. Then I've felt it and I know what it feels like. So then I can teach it better because I know how it feels. I think that's a much better way to get through your apprenticeship is to keep learning and always stay the student, rather than, you know, watching on YouTube and then copy. I'm not into copycats, man. And I have no disrespect to people that do that, but that's not my way of doing it, man. I want the physical experience for me. That's why I keep training, so I keep learning, so I can keep leveling up as a coach.

Shannon (18:34)

Well, we'll see you up there. We'll see you up there. Number One trainer.

Sandy Heilig (18:37)

I'm scrambling to the top, crawlin, scrambling. I don't know how I'm doing, I don't care. I just do my best every day.

Shannon (18:45)

Thanks for coming on Sandy. sà-wàt-dii khráp

Sandy Heilig (18:46)

Thank you Shannon, love you mate and appreciate you always. Big love to Kylee and the kids.

Shannon (18:53)

Sandy how can people find you and follow you?

Sandy Heilig (18:57)

jump on a bus on Stratie, you'll find me there. No, I got a little Instagram page. It's called Chang Noi, Muay Thai Personal Training. So it's C -H -A -N -G -N -O -I. Yeah, just go on Instagram.

Shannon (19:11)

Alright sis, thanks for your time, we'll catch you again, see ya!