Coach interview with Ulziibuyan Mergen

Hello!, It’s great to meet you, can you tell us more about yourself and your biography

Hello, thank you for having me! ❣️

My name is Ulziibuyan Mergen, and on Instagram you can find me at @ulziikee and my contortion coaching account @ulzii’sflexclub.

I’m a Mongolian contortionist. My talent was discovered by my wonderful mother when I was just 4 years old. I began training professionally at the age of 7 at the Mongolian National Circus in Ulaanbaatar. At 9, I auditioned for Cirque du Soleil and by 11, I joined the cast of Alegría. Since then, I’ve performed all over the world.

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That’s amazing! What did the audition process for Cirque look like? How did you get discovered?

All the Mongolian circus artists were there—such a big gathering! I performed my contortion routine with my duo partner, Oyun-Erdene Senge. We were selected because we matched what they were looking for at the time—two small, same-age performers. It was all about the right timing and fit!

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How did you get into coaching?

After decades of performing internationally, I took a break to focus on family. I’m a proud mom of two beautiful boys. During this time, I naturally transitioned into coaching and found joy in helping others discover and develop their own flexibility. One of the hardest parts when I started coaching was understanding what it feels like not to be flexible. As someone who’s trained since I was very young, I had to learn how to break things down for people starting from zero. Teaching flexibility, contortion, and handstands taught me to see the “why” behind each step, not just the movement.

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What is your coaching philosophy or method?

My coaching philosophy centers around safety and body awareness. I believe everyone can improve their mobility through daily stretching - it helps release stiffness and supports physical longevity.

I especially love working with professionals who want to pursue contortion as a career. Watching them develop both physically and mentally is deeply rewarding. Contortion isn’t just about stretching - it’s a full-body workout and a mental challenge!

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What would you say is your specialty in coaching?

My specialty is over-flexibility balance. I help students understand how to avoid overusing one side of the body - which can lead to pain and injuries - and instead focus on even flexibility, especially in C backbends and split variations. Above all else, it really comes down to having the right training and being guided by an amazing coach. I was incredibly fortunate to train under the legendary Norovsambuu Begzsuren. Her knowledge shaped everything I know. In fact, I can often look at a contortionist and guess who their coach was-good coaching leaves a signature. That’s why being a strong, informed coach is so important to me now.

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How do you go about understanding a student's flexibility? What does a training session look like?

The first session with a new student is all about analysis. I observe how their body moves, what their natural strengths and limitations are, and how they respond to stretches.

After about three sessions, I usually have a clear understanding and I create a personalized contortion routine that evolves as the student progresses in strength and flexibility.

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What are some of the most common things you find yourself advising students on?

Everyone’s body is different, and people progress in different ways. But a common challenge I see is tightness in the upper back and shoulders. Those areas tend to be stubborn for most students. I often help people learn how to open up and strengthen those spots while working safely with their individual structure.

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How do you apply your training techniques to your own training?

Every coach has their own approach, and over the years I’ve developed what works for me through nearly 30 years of experience.

I focus on healthy, consistent training to maintain a flexible and strong body — and equally, a flexible mind.

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What advice would you give to someone starting contortion training?

Be consistent. Listen to your body. Discover what methods work best for you — and most importantly, keep challenging yourself!