A NEW JOURNEY. LIFE BEGINS AT 40..

A HISTORIC DATE, 1 MARCH 2014. 25 YEARS POST-CML, 40 YEARS OLD AND RE-MARRIED.

It was not an easy journey for me to reach this age. In fact, it is a big achievement for me to be able to reach the age of 40 from once, expected to only live for 3 years. I have gone through various challenges with studies, health, businesses, friends and even marriage. When I was an undergraduate, I had to defer my graduation when I failed a subject having had a relapse of my leukemia during my final year university. Born in a family where there is nothing more important than education, the feeling of having to re-take a subject was almost similar to death.  But I graduated from Buckingham University before I turn 21 years old. Yes, I expedited my studies with intensive degree course because I wanted to start working and start making money but there is no way I can do that without a degree (force majeure by/but thanks to dad). 

My health first failed me and took half of my teens away being in hospital while all other teenagers were having a time of their life. My health failed me again during my final year university but from being bed-ridden, now I have ran 9 full marathons, 1 ultra marathons and countless less-than-a-marathon distance races. I have also climbed Mt Kinabalu thrice and many other one day trip peaks.

Before I turned 40, I have also graduated from the school of hard knocks having gone through 2 recessions as a businessman (which I sweat and cried blood) and many failed business ventures but now I am a proud owner of a few successful establishments. I have been betrayed by business partners and my right wing senior people, cheated by people I cared and taken for a ride by many but it gave more meaning to the few that are still around and is enough to replace them all. I have lived my life chasing dreams which had costs me my first marriage and I have learn to cook, mop the floor, raise a child, do own laundry and especially be a better person.... all this experience gained during the Duda-hood being a divorcee.

Everything in our life happens for a reason.

From the failed health, studies, business and marriage, I became that person that you befriend today. I would not have made it without the support, encouragement and understanding especially from my parents, sisters and brother (I cant stress enough the power of family supports). There is nothing more important than a strong family relationship. I have to say thank you too to Miss Kimi aka CML aka Chronic Myeloid Leukemia whom has taught me the essence of living and the importance of time. If I never went through that relationship with Kimi, I would never see life the way I do now but please don't come back, stay away from me.

COBC SUPPLEMENTS

SUPPLEMENTS. The followings are the alternative supplements sourced and negotiated for the best price (on corporate rate) for recruits at the Chief's Original Bootcamp. The recommended BSC products was shortlisted after a thorough research from dozens if not hundreds of products worldwide for the best result and is displayed on the '8WeeksToWow' website at HERE but those products are not available in Malaysia. In Malaysia, we sourced out an equivalent if not better nutritional value just for you.

ORDER & PAYMENT: To order the supplements, please bank-in your payment to CIMB Bank Account No: 12460000957104 under the account name: COBC E-Commerce and Email the receipt stating the product that you require to supp@bootcampmalaysia.com

All payment must be banked-in and clear first before any orders.

DELIVERY: Any orders placed today before noon, will be delivered to you on your next bootcamp session by your instructor. All orders after 12pm will be delivered to you within 48 hours at your bootcamp session. There will be no delivery during weekends.

JARI JEMARI 2014

Petaling Jaya, 15 February 2014. The Didance dance Academy held its first dance performance at the MAS training academy in Kelana Jaya. I was invited by my sisters Melor Edina Pahamin and upon learning all my nieces are participating, I could not resist but proudly came to view their performing. Since I did not have any other information on the event, I will just post up some of their pictures and videos. My nieces that performed were Kasih Leia Ixora, Kasih Iris Leona, Raina Rhiza and Raiqa Rhiza. Every members of Bustanu Pahamin were also present including our iBunda.

BE PART OF AN AMAZING JOURNEY!! - THE GUIDE TO REGISTER FOR 8 WEEKS TO WOW..

Where will you be in 8 Weeks? How about a healthier you? Because what is life without a good bill of health? What is money without a good health to spend it? What is happiness if we are bedridden being sick? But if health is less interesting? Then what about being sexier with a lean body and a six pack abs as well a total body make-over? What if you can get both, a clean health and your dream sexy body in just 8 weeks on top of being more confident, attractive and energetic. Those are the least that you can gain from participating in the 8 Weeks Challenge.

What is the program all about? Well to sum it all up, you will undergo (1) a bootcamp training for an hour per session, 3 times a week for 8 consecutive weeks. The program is what differs the Chief's Original Bootcamp with any other bootcamp. It is designed by a former infantry soldier, the founder of the Chief's Original Bootcamp program; Chief Brabon. How much is the bootcamp training? The fees differ with variety of promotional package. For best rate, click HERE. (2) You will also receive a 20 minutes high intensity home workout program and (3) You will receive a nutritious food menu to eat and follow throughout the challenge (who says anything about starvation and dieting- Its just all about eating right). The food is as important as the workout itself. For more information on the origins of the 8 Weeks to Wow, you can read at HERE.

Once you have registered and pay for both February & March session (for a total of 8 weeks) then please follow the steps below. Note- ALL WIP members do not need to advance pay for February & March intake and they can just follow the normal WIP payment but WIP members do need to enroll for both February & March intake. How to be a WIP member, click HERE. Acceptance to the 8Weeks to Wow (or 8 Week Challenge) depends entirely on your acceptance for both February & March intake. THERE IS A MAXIMUM LIMIT PER LOCATION AND IT IS ON FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BASIS.

8 WEEK CHALLENGE - SUMMER 2014

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR. Lets start the year of the Horse with a transformation!! Yes.. true Let us take the first step by taking control of our health and challenge ourselves to get the best body and the best health in just 8 Weeks!!! What is an 8 Week Challenge? For more information click HERE. 

Ask yourself where will you be in 8 Weeks? or by the first quarter of this year? Make this year a productive year by making a complete physical transformation without any surgery, operation and without having to spend half of your savings. All that it takes, is the determination and the 'want' to change. You are just a click away.

The followings are the schedule of dates for Summer 2014 8 Weeks to Wow challenge in Malaysia. Please note, the dates vary with that in Australia due to COBC's 1 week break for the Chinese New Year.

DAYTRIP UP MOUNT NUANG

Mount Nuang is the best day trip Mountain in Malaysia that I have been to. The intensity of the climb was perfect but most importantly, the bath in the cold mountain water was heaven that took away almost immediately all tiredness and exhaustion.

I have been up Mount Nuang a dozen times, half of it alone, soul searching & searching for peace. Sometimes, training for some events and a few times, introduced a few friends to mountain climbing. I blogged the last expedition up Mt Nuang with a group of wonderful people at HERE. Today, I brought my nieces and nephews for a Chinese New Year escapade. The plan was for them all to appreciate nature and train for the Pahamin's 3rd generation expedition up Mount Kinabalu. Oh Gawd!! That will be my 4th climb up the highest peak in Malaysia. So far, only 2 out of 6 second generation Pahamins had conquered the peak of Mount Kinabalu.

In an expedition of 9 pax that comprised of three adult, Abu Lais Walli Mohamed (the person that introduced me to Mountain climbing), Anny Chunraem and myself, we brought along Aqfar Naeem, Kasih Leia Ixora, Aaraf Armin, Rafel Zichry Onn, Andika Rees Pahamin and Kasih Iris Leona to their first mountain, the highest peak in Selangor- Mount Nuang.

IN MEMORY OF JADITE LIEW

In memory of a friend, a comrade, a running buddy and an inspiration to many. I can only imagine how wonderful Jadite was as a mother to two beautiful daughters, a daughter to her parent and a sister to her family because she was such an amazing women to all her friends. Jadite is a recruit at the Chiefs Original Bootcamp Damansara at Heights Zulu platoon and is one of the most consistent and committed recruit when we talk about training. She had ACE'd (100% Attendance, Commitment and Effort) her every month bootcamp session and when she missed any session, she will have it replaced at Bandar Utama Alpha where I train.

She spoke so passionately about the Chief's Original Bootcamp to everyone she met... that she attracted her badminton buddy whom then, had the Chief's Bootcamp to train hundreds of Citibank executives as part of their health and fitness program. That was Jadite. A very inspiring and motivating women.

   

I paid respect to the dear friend at the Gospel Church in Jalan Hang Jebat today at 5pm. It was the first wake session that I had ever attended. I met her sister whom we chatted and was surprise to learn that Jadite was the least active amongst her siblings. While in their youth, her sisters were the runners, Jadite was the opposite. Jadite whom had never ran when she was younger, took up running after she joined the bootcamp and actually had dozens of others to also start running. We always met in various running event.

SNAPSHOTS AT THE 3RD CHIEF'S BATTLE OF PLATOONS.

Battle of Platoons part 2. For more pictures and reading, click Part 1.

The Chief's Original Bootcamp held our 3rd Battle of Platoons (BOP) on 18 January 2014. The latest battle saw a four corner fight between the Spartans whom was defending their title as the Champion at the 2nd BOP and the Highlander, whom was the 1st BOP Champion. The Legends for the third time, worked and trained hard to become the Champion and the newly born Barracuda was all highly spirited to have fun. The person behind the architect of the 3rd Battle of Platoons was Dr Malek Aziz whom together with Staff Sarge Nawal and the team of instructors at COBC, spend days preparing the carpentry for the barb wires, circuits and equipments etc etc... Yes, recruits had to leopard crawl under barb wires as part of the challenge. 

Part of the battle includes a set of 14 riddles to test recruit's thinking capacity under stress while undergoing the physical challenges. The 14 riddles and puzzles were:

1) What is Chief's Original Bootcamp founder's name?
Chief Brabon and Gunny Hames. Armin Baniaz Pahamin and Dr Malek Aziz are the licensees.

2) Chief was born in 1974. This year he will be 40 years old. How is that so?
Answer: 1974 is the hospital room no. Statement did not say 'year 1974'!

3) What is the codename of this event?
Answer: Metropolitan. Dr Malek actually posted this on facebook to see how many observants they are.

4) Scientists are trying to find out what's between Heaven and Earth. What is it?

Answer: the word "and"

5) What goes up when the rain goes down?

Answer: Umbrella

6) In what year did Thaipusam & Chinese New Year fall on the same year?

Answer: Every year

NATIONAL AUTOMOTIVE POLICY 2014

NATIONAL AUTOMOTIVE POLICY 2014

Personally, I am disappointed with the recent launching of the National Automotive Policy. The possibility of a cheaper car is as good (or as bad) as the possibility of abolishing the open AP. The copy of the NAP 2014 is available at HERE. 

1. The NAP 2014 is encouraging the re-badging of national cars instead of building our own with its recognition of PERODUA as a national car. The Intellectual Property Rights for all PERODUA models are not with Malaysian for PERODUA to be called a National Car. 

2. The National Automotive Policy did not provide a clearer framework and a roadmap on the direction the government wants to drive the National Car in term of producing own design, chassis and engine.

3. In the past, the government drove PROTON to invest in technology capable of building its own engine, its own car and to move away from re-badging. For years, the dealers had to sell these vehicles with a very thin margin and the public had to pay more for PROTON cars due to a higher cost of production.

4. Unlike previous NAP, that omitted Perodua as a national car, NAP 2014 expressly stated Perodua as a national car although Perodua is majority foreign-own and only produce re-badging of already established vehicles. 

5. There is no clear guideline to what constitute a National Car and non-national and without it, incentives can be abused. At the moment, the term national car status is subjective, interpreted and understood differently by various parties even by different authorities.

6. Incentives should only be given to a national car to keep price competitive for the public while investments can be made for a truly born Malaysia made vehicles. If that is still the drive. 

7. NAP 2 has failed (a) to increase bumiputra participation in the dealership network as well as (b) preserving specific segment for PROTON market share, which was part of its objectives. (see: NAP2)

BATTLE OF PLATOONS - PART 1

Kuala Lumpur. Preparation for the 3rd Battle of Platoons began as early as 3am on Saturday 18 January 2014 with Dr Malek Aziz, Staff Sarge Nawal and the team at the basecamp ferrying equipments and setting up the circuit at 5 stations. One of the station, codenamed the Mad Dash, was prepared the day before the battle on Friday, 17 January 2014.

Score board was designed, banner was ordered and officials tee were distributed by Admin Rose Emini Pahamin. Food for breakfast was freshly made and special ordered by Admin Farhanah whom is in charge of the food station.

There were 6 stations prepared for today's 3 hours challenge and the team that recorded the fastest timing throughout the trail will receive a point.The team that complied to the minimum 40 pax participants will also receive a point. The team with the highest number of participants will receive a weightage for the outstanding team award. Other factors for the outstanding team award will be further elaborated later. Points will also be given for the most accurate answer to the riddles. A point for the winner at the mad dash and points for the last man standing.

This blog is a picturesque blog with more than a thousand pictures to be posted. The will be a write-up at the end of the picturesque blog. Click on picture to enlarge.

At the beginning of the event, the score board was empty without any sticker points.

THE WAR CRY

More than 200 recruit's from the Chief's Original Bootcamp gathered today in Kepong to cheer, witness and participate in the biggest open-for-recruits-only bootcamp event in Malaysia (not open to general public). The battle saw four outstanding platoons battled for the third time in a friendly but competitive manner. For more information on Battle of Platoons, read here, here, here and here.

The 3rd Battle of Chief's platoons is the Chief's Original Bootcamp annual event that is organised to unite all recruits that share similar passion for better fitness, health and physique (meaning we all want to look sexy). The battle commenced today for 3 hours at the Metropolitan park, Kepong although the cyber war had already started more than a week ago. Beside the cyber war which painted Facebook with each platoon's team image. Each team had designed and prepared their war cry to ignite their team members burning desire to win, foster a closer team work and especially to provoke their opponent. 

Spartans is the oldest platoon and had the biggest participants compared to the other 3 platoons but Spartans is really the baby'est among them all with the majority being new recruits. Highlanders were the most experience with the most Otais. The Barracuda is a new born platoon and the Legends.. is a legend.

The Champion was crowned based on time, discipline, coordination, intellect (on riddles), teamwork, strength and dedication. The main architect behind the program was Dr Malek Aziz whom did not just co-chaired the team of instructors but was everywhere for days and nights sourcing for materials.

The convoy of 4 platoons on foot in their chosen theme does give me the goosebumps and chill. The spirit was exemplary. It was so inspiring.

The video below was taken with an iPhone 4S. Please increase volume for best effect.

THE BOOTS AND THE BATTLE

The 3rd Battle of Chief's platoon will commence in less than 24 hours at the Taman Metropolitan, Kepong, 6:30am on 18 January 2014. While we are counting down for the field battle that incorporates and combine various training methods at the Chief's Original Bootcamp, the cyber war has started since early last week. The highlanders or the team representing Damansara Heights Charlie, Zulu and Penang platoon started a cyber war when their recruits displaying their team logo as the profile picture. The Spartans or the team that represents Bandar Utama Alpha, Bravo and Dusk retaliated with a stronger representation on cyber followed by team Legends and the young Barracudas. 

It is so cool looking at Facebook with everyone in their team logo. I was jealous, and changed my profile pictures using a collage of all team logo made by Admin Rose Emini Pahamin. A short while later, all COBC Officials had their Facebook profile changed too.

WHICH TEAM WILL WIN THE 3RD BATTLE OF CHIEF'S PLATOON?

4 days counting down to the third Battle of Bootcamp Platoons. This battle had attracted almost 200 recruits in 4 Platoons namely team Barracuda, team Legends, team Highlanders and team Spartans. It is funny how past Champions kept their logo square while the competitive team designed their logo as rectangle. Probably the rectangles has form a collaboration against the former champions.

With the battle being so closed, Corporal (COBC) Amir issued a war cry to all team to screw calm and go for the win. Yes, we need to wake up all recruits to start gearing up for war. Be humble when the trophy has been grabbed, for now.. let start the intimidation.

The Captains selected for the third battle are as follows:

WHAT HAS BECOME OF THE BUKIT KIARA RUNNING TRACK

So much has changed since we last visited the Bukit Kiara running track. For one, there were exponentially more runners and parking was even harder to spot. We even spotted a group of bootcampers probably on a secret training; so I wont mention who.

Two.. the running area has been exploited. At first sight from far, we thought there were landslide at the running area but when we were closer, we saw a bulldozers which I knew instantly, there is some form of development in this once quiet and peaceful place to run.

I first started to exercise at this track in 1997 way before Fitness First even existed in Malaysia, before I joined any gym and way before the Bootcamp's establishment. In those days, it was greener, colder and it was so quiet that you can hear the wind blowing the trees. It was already tarmac but the road was so clean without any mud or debris.

From once a peaceful and fresh place to re-charged and to get lost in runner's high seeking for inspiration and ideas, this running track has became a major disappointment. It is a real lost to a good running track in a clean, fresh and a quiet nature.

THE AMAZING BANGKOK

There is only one word for Bangkok.... FOOD!! Food heaven! We touched down in Bangkok on Friday testing out for the first time the youngest low cost airline in Malaysia, the Malindo Air. Malindo Air was the cheapest airline to Bangkok at the point of booking. Airasia and Malaysian Airlines are both equally expensive. We parked our car at KLIA for a RM46 fee per 24 hours parking which is cheaper than taking a return KL Express train or even a taxi. For more information on KLIA short term and long term parking, click HERE.  

Our first restaurant upon arrival was Kruaphruksa Thai cuisine.

MALINDO AIR - OUR FIRST RIDE

It never crossed my mind to even view Malindo Air for traveling but when my brother Amnan Bazli Pahamin prompted me to try out the latest low cost airline in the region for a weekend in Bangkok, the adventurous side took the good of me. We booked online at here. When Airasia and Malaysia Airlines cost more than RM500 for a return trip, Malindo Air charges only approximately RM300 for a return trip. So Amnan Bazli Pahamin, Anny Chunraem, Aaraf Armin and I booked and paid.

My first thought and impression of the Malindo Air was flying a propeller 80 seater plane or an old squeaky plane. Anny whom live with a plane phobia all her life was freaking out and almost refused to get on the Malindo Air. She nagged at me on safety and reminded me on the many planes that had crashed.  

When we checked in, the queuing and waiting list was bearable. The counter crew was courteous and fast.

We waited, queued and boarded the plane and as we walked into flight SL 8201, I then discovered it was a new Boeng 737-900ER with 215 seater. The airline too was punctual which is important. The seats were all in blue and the ambiance was really cooling. Aaraf quickly fell in love with the Malindo.

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT FOR THE 3RD BATTLE OF PLATOONS

By this time next week, a new Champion for the Chief's Original Bootcamp annual Battle of Platoons would have been crowned. The annual battle will see platoons at 6 locations competing in 4 teams in a friendly but competitive manner to win as the strongest platoon. When we say strongest, we do not literally mean strongest. Strongest platoon to win the battle means the platoon with the best coordination and especially the best teamwork. During the first Battle of Platoons in 2011, the strongest team with the most number of Deltas had lost and the youngest team, the Highlander was crowned as the champion.

The Chief's Original Bootcamp utilizes discipline based motivational technique to achieve its result and naturally, the same element is instilled into the Battle of Platoons. Discipline is translated into a set of rules of engagement which must be adhered to at all time. The rules of engagement for the Battle of platoons is listed as below:

1) Punctuality. Everything at the Chief's Original Bootcamp is all about timing.

2) Listen, read and understand the instructions and the riddles. 

3) Never leave any comrade behind. The furthest distance between a comrade in your platoon is a maximum of 3 steps.

4) Group motivation is one of the most powerful tools to keep everyone aspired. Get to know your comrade by name and consistently motivate them throughout the session, off-session and even in your daily life.

3RD BATTLE OF COBC PLATOONS

A war cry was issued on 11 November 2013 for the battle of all platoons at 6 locations and will be held in exactly 14 days on 18 January 2014. This war, is the Chief's Original Bootcamp's third annual event that was organized so that all recruits from all platoons can meet, get to know each other and be united as a big healthy and fit community. Most of us interacts and knew each other through facebook but had rarely met except during the quarterly Bootcamp parties.

The third battle, as per the previous two, was also organized to determine which platoon is the strongest in a friendly, enjoyable and slightly competitive manner. At COBC's war, "TIME" is always of the essence!! Even a second can be the determinant in crowning a champion. 

The location for the battle field for the 3rd annual challenge is at Taman Metropolitan, Kepong!! Click on picture for map. 

Note:

1. For direction using Waze, click this link. If you do not have a Waze, download it at here.

2. The battle will began at 6:30am sharp. For muslim recruits, there is a Surau for Subuh prayer.
.

FIRST DAY A BOOTCAMPER

Our first session will start in less than 48 hours for all Alpha and Bravo platoon. Slightly more than 48 hours for Dusk and Zulu platoon and a day extra for platoon Charlie.  I know the suspense and anxiety counting down for the first session. It is also worth investing in an Alarm Clock. Some could not sleep the eve before the first session and some tend to oversleep. Shit happens but please do not think too much and just enjoy the workout.

The first session of each intake is always the Benchmark Assessment!!

Benchmark Assessment??? What is it? and how is it done?

Every recruit is first assessed at the start of every intake for the instructors to gauge the recruit's physical ability in strength, muscular endurance, stamina, agility and speed. The record on the first assessment will be the benchmark for your fitness improvement. This benchmark assessment will provide the instructor with a better insight into the recruit's ability to go beyond their physical fatique. This is important for the instructors to get the best our of every recruit during training.

After completing the benchmark assessment, base on their timing record, workout form, strength and techniques observed during the assessment recruits will be graded and placed unto three ranking. The Rangers, Seal and Delta with the Delta being the elite group that has both a good form and speed and is seeking athletic performance. However, the timing is not the only factor used in categorizing recruits. The number of recruits among other factors that only known to the instructor, at the platoon is also a determining factor to form a rank.

The Benchmark Assessment is important and should not be missed. At the end of the 12th session, if a recruit decided not to continue, he should still perform the benchmark assessment on the first session of the next intake which is part of the fee that he paid. That way, he can see the result of his investment. Hey, every spending must generate a return! You pay for result. Make sure you get it! You do not pay to befriend instructors or recruits but you pay for result. Be result oriented!! We insist you must get and see your result.

GETTING PREPARED TO BE "CHOP" A BOOTCAMPER

Today is the 4th day of the new year and everyone should have settled and sobered down from either a long travelling, the new year's party or the hectic registration for our children to start school. Next week, on Monday 6th January or 7th depending on location, new and returning recruits will start their bootcamp training at the Chief's Original Bootcamp, Malaysia.

Whether you are a returning recruit or a virgin bootcamper; if you have not done so, you have until Sunday, 5th January 2014 to complete a simple online enrollment form. It is imperative that you register online at HERE. You must register online or your registration may not be valid and it will be very awkward for us to decline any recruit that is not registered. There is a simple online medical questionnaires, a disclaimer tick box as well as the terms & conditions tick box that you must complete. Without it being completed, you cannot start your training. If you are a first timer, you get to enroll at a special introductory fee of only RM90. For more information on all promotions, click HERE.

Now with the first session approaching, what are the preparation? You do not need to carbo load but you need to have sufficient sleep the eve of every session. Hydrate yourself well with an average two 1.5 ltr bottles throughout the day, a day before the session. Hydration will avoid your body from feeling fatique and lethargy after the session. Do not drink too much water before the session began or you may nauseate.