MMA kindergarten teacher" does not go to Japan for tourism
I want to send my thanks to the fans who cheered and accompanied me in many past tournaments. For me, ASIAD 20 is the biggest arena in my career, I am determined to achieve the best results in Japan this time. I am focused on professional preparation by the coach and will participate in ASIAD 20 with the highest effort in expertise...", MMA martial artist Lo Thi Phung expressed before leaving for Aichi-Nagoya (Japan).
Few people know that the Vietnamese MMA General Martial Arts Team is one of the Vietnamese sports teams that officially received a spot to participate in ASIAD 20 close to the time of the Games. July 2026 is the period when the ASIAD 20 Organizing Committee closes the registration of the final list.
However, in August 2026, the Vietnamese MMA General Martial Arts Team will be awarded 2 slots to participate in ASIAD 20 by the Asian General Martial Arts Association. After that, the coaching staff of the Vietnamese MMA General Martial Arts Team determined that 2 athletes will go to Japan to compete, Lo Thi Phung and Quang Van Minh. In early September, after the ASIAD 20 Organizing Committee confirmed that Vietnamese MMA fighters had been granted cards to participate in the Games, Lo Thi Phung breathed a sigh of relief when she had the opportunity to compete.
Mentioning Lo Thi Phung, fans and experts know too well about this female athlete just by the keyword "Lo Thi Phung" or "MMA kindergarten teacher" on Google search platforms or social networks, many articles and images about Lo Thi Phung are posted.
Before pursuing a professional martial arts path, Lo Thi Phung used to be a kindergarten teacher and was known by the nickname "MMA kindergarten teacher". The attention for the female athlete became clearer after she won the Gold Medal in the 49kg MMA modern weight class at the 3rd Asian Championships-2026 in January this year in China.
The 2026 Asian Championship was truly an interesting experience for me. I won a Gold Medal, so the emotions are very difficult to describe. When I learned that I was officially awarded a ticket to participate in ASIAD 20, I also understood that the result of my efforts to compete for a Gold Medal at the 2026 Asian Championship was part of helping me to be trusted by the coaching staff of the Vietnamese MMA Team and given the opportunity to go to Aichi-Nagoya (Japan)", Lo Thi Phung added.
Knowing how to seize opportunities will lead to success.
When this article appeared, Lo Thi Phung had already departed for Japan to participate in ASIAD 20. However, to maintain her form and achieve the best spirit to prepare for ASIAD 20, Lo Thi Phung has been striving to practice with high intensity in recent months.
Accumulating more strength from the striking moves for Lo Thi Phung, the Vietnamese MMA General Martial Arts Team has more Thai experts accompanying the martial artist. "I prepare more techniques for the jujitsu moves, in addition, the locking and tightening techniques are supplemented by the coach for me a lot," the female athlete expressed.
Standing on the ring, Lo Thi Phung said that she did not feel any pressure but only worried that she would not meet the expectations of fans. However, Lo Thi Phung has her own confidence at ASIAD 20.
She confided: "I am well-prepared professionally, so are the martial artists participating in ASIAD 20 as well. I understand what advantages I have, so I maximize that technique on the ring. In MMA martial arts competitions, concentration will bring an advantage to athletes, so I don't allow myself to be distracted.
Before attending ASIAD 20, Lo Thi Phung received many compliments and admiration from fans when auctioning 2 Gold Medals of the 2026 Asian MMA Championship and the 2026 Asian Jujitsu Championship for charity to support Muong Than people (Lai Chau) to overcome the consequences of flash floods. "The two medals are memorable keepsakes in my racing career. However, I also want it to have a new mission, to become a practical source of support to help Muong Than people soon stabilize their lives after the flood," the female fighter expressed.
Martial artist Lo Thi Phung was born in 1998. She is of Thai ethnicity, from Lai Chau province. The female martial artist graduated from pedagogy, worked as a kindergarten teacher before moving to Ho Chi Minh City to pursue professional martial arts from 2022.
Lo Thi Phung practices her forte jujitsu. She also became attached to MMA General Fighting and became a player of the Vietnamese MMA General Fighting Team. Lo Thi Phung became the first female MMA fighter of Vietnam to participate in the ASIAD 20 arena because the sport is in the official program for the first time.
