Chatri Sityodtong explains how he stays connected to ONE Championship’s athletes
ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong is not your regular boss.
On top of running ONE Championship, the promotional front man is also an esteemed Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under the legendary Renzo Gracie. That’s an accolade that’s far from easy to attain from one of the most iconic grapplers in the world.
So when Sityodtong isn’t at his desk or flying around the planet, you can find him putting in his daily effort on the grappling mats, earning his keep. It allows him to stay centered and on top of the ever-flourishing footprint of ONE Championship.
Not only that, but he practices what he preaches.
ONE’s athletes across Muay Thai, kickboxing, MMA, and submission grappling are the best in the world in their chosen fields. So in order to remain relatable to the arduous efforts that ONE’s World Champions go through, Sityodtong ensures he goes through the same uncomfortable situations.
He explains that he walks into the gym, he leaves his ego at the door, and is simply just another practitioner striving to get better.
“So you have to let your ego completely disappear. In society I’m a CEO, but when I’m in training, I’m a nobody. These guys beat on me, but it levels me up. It’s a daily reminder to me that I’m here to learn, grow, and evolve, and be the very best martial arts I can be,” he said.
“So that’s something I do every day. Number one, I love it. It’s my greatest obsession in life. I do go through pain and I do go suffering every single day because it’s a part of this warrior mindset.”
