Being a great athlete is one thing and sustaining it for a long time is an entirely different story.
For Eduard Folayang, who is accomplished as they come in martial arts with a long list of accolades in wushu and in the mixed martial arts scene, staying on top of the game takes passion, dedication and a lot of sacrifices.
What keeps Folayang going, even at an advanced stage in his career at 35, is the discipline that has been allowing him to compete at a high level still.
“You always have to remind yourself about your purpose why you’re doing it. If you really want to sustain the longevity of your career, you should know the consequences of every action you make,” Folayang told INQUIRER.net in Filipino ahead of his lightweight clash with Pieter Buist of the Netherlands in the penultimate bout of ONE: Fire & Fury Friday at Mall of Asia Arena.
“Knowing every consequence of your action builds discipline,” added Folayang, who is a three-time gold medalist in the Southeast Asian Games and a silver medalist in the Asian Games.
That discipline and self-control include staying committed to a healthy lifestyle.
The Team Lakay star was already a bemedalled wushu artist before trying his hand in MMA in 2007.
More than a decade later, Folayang had already won the ONE Championship world title twice, but he remains determined to regain his world champion status for the last time.