ALTHOUGH 2017 can be a roller coaster ride for Team Lakay, the Baguio based mix martial arts gym remains one of the top in Asia and definitely the Philippines according to One Championship.
The famed Team Lakay offers classes in grappling and wushu, and is home to the country’s biggest martial arts stars such as former ONE world champions Eduard Folayang and Honorio Banario, and several top contenders in many weight classes. The way the gym molds these martial artists’ lives from adversity to triumph has been simply inspiring.
Headed by legendary Filipino martial artist Mark Sangiao, Team Lakay has dominated the Philippine martial arts scene for years with their high-level of skill and admirable humility.
What’s more, the high altitudes of Baguio City are perfect for building stamina and endurance, ensuring Lakay warriors never run out of gas while throwing their signature wushu strikes.
Emerging gyms all over the country were also included in One Championship’s list that includes Alliance Training Center, which is the first Filipino branch of heavyweight world champion Brandon Vera.
The gym is helmed by Vera’s coach himself, George Castro, and looks to raise the profile of Filipino martial arts to new heights. The transformation has already started, with stars such as Ramon Gonzales and Burn Soriano already embarking on training programs there.
Third in the country’s best MMA gym is Catalan Fighting Systems, headed by ONE Championship athlete and acclaimed wushu world champion Rene Catalan. The gym is also home to several Filipino homegrown martial artists plying their trade in ONE Championship.
This includes Rene’s brothers Ruel and Robin Catalan, as well as breakout star Jomary Torres. By promoting martial arts, the gym aims to turn Filipinos away from vice, and lead through their athletes’ examples.
Fourth on the list is Elorde Gym which is known for their world-class boxing program the gym recently incorporated kickboxing and other martial arts into their training schedule. With countless branches and affiliates all across metro Manila, students are spoiled for choice when it comes to what they want to train in and where.
Elorde is starting to produce some exciting martial arts talent, such as the promising Rome Trinidad.
Included in the best MMA gym in the country is Mindanao Ultimate.
Launched in 2012, Mindanao Ultimate is a gym in Cagayan De Oro City, Misamis Oriental, and has produced martial artists such as Rabin Catalan to compete on the global stage.
Starting out primarily in Muay Thai, the gym is based on the teachings of its Founder, Kru Raul Sevilleno, and emphasizes traditional and hard training for self-defense and discipline. (PR)