Over the past few years, people all across the globe have increasingly turned to martial arts as their primary fitness option. It’s no longer just a sport, but also a viable alternative to traditional gym.
In fact, some of the greatest martial artists in the world can attest to the very many benefits martial arts has on human life.
Reigning ONE Strawweight World Champion Joshua “The Passion” Pacio and former ONE Flyweight World Champion Geje “Gravity” Eustaquio, both members of the famed Team Lakay of Baguio City, Philippines, can say with confidence that martial arts has had a positive effect on their lives.
“Learning martial arts has molded me into a better person. I was a very different Joshua Pacio 15 years ago, before I took up martial arts. And this is because of the core values that martial arts taught me, and of course, because of the people who guided me on my journey,” said Pacio.
“Martial arts principles help us in our everyday lives with how we approach people and relationships. It teaches us to apply discipline in all aspects of our lives, and of course, self-control mentally, physically, and emotionally.”
Today, Pacio is one of the most talented martial artists in the industry. He’s reached the pinnacle of the sport through hard work and dedication to his craft. Because martial arts improved not just his professional career, but also his personal life, Pacio urges everyone to practice martial arts.
“Some people may have the misconception that MMA is a brutal sport. But believe me, it will change your life. When you take up martial arts, you learn it’s not just about punching and kicking. That’s just part of it. The lessons go deeper than that. Martial arts will make you a better version of yourself,” said Pacio.
“The main thing for me is developing self-discipline. When you have self-discipline, everything else follows. It will reflect in your attitude and work ethic. In the famous words of Kung Fu Panda, ‘there is no secret ingredient, it’s just you.’ This means everything is up to you. So just enjoy what you’re doing, and don’t quit. When you get tired, take a rest, and then go again. Just don’t quit.”
Eustaquio, on the other hand, notes how martial arts is a holistic fitness undertaking, one that unites the mind, body, and spirit. He shares the same sentiments as his younger teammate.
“Martial arts has played a very big role in my life. It has gotten me through some difficult times. There are times that I get frustrated with different things, but I just go to the gym, sweat it out and leave the gym free-spirited after,” said Eustaquio.
“You learn something new everyday. Last year, it helped me to become more mentally tough during the pandemic. I was constantly motivated and found different ways to stay active. When the mind is healthy, the body is healthy, and the spirit is healthy. Martial arts is my way of life.”
“Martial arts taught me that nothing is impossible,” Eustaquio concluded.
ONE Championship returns this Friday night, February 5 with ONE: UNBREAKABLE III, a previously recorded event from the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Singapore. In the main event, former ONE Atomweight Kickboxing and Muay Thai World Champion Stamp Fairtex continues on her quest for a historic third world title. She puts her unblemished professional MMA record on the line against Ukrainian grappler Alyona Rassohyna.
