Performing under the weight of a famous name is not always an easy proposition, but Filipino martial arts icon Mark Sangiao and his son Jhanlo seem to enjoy the dynamic.
That’s because the 17-year-old is flourishing under the tutelage of his famous father.
“I am just happy to see that he is enjoying the training. He is progressing, but the road is still far and stretched,” said the elder Sangiao, founder of the famed Team Lakay of Baguio City.
A hugely popular figure in his native Philippines and beyond, Mark was a successful Filipino mixed martial arts pioneer with a 7-2 professional record before going on to spearhead a golden age at Team Lakay.
Under his guidance, the team has produced an impressive wave of world champions, becoming one of the most revered martial arts factions in the industry.
Jhanlo is undoubtedly an exciting talent.
He’s already made it clear to his father that his desire is to one day be a world champion just like many of his Team Lakay contemporaries.
Not only does Jhanlo have the skill and ambition, but he’s also earned praise from mixed martial arts Icon and CEO of ONE Warrior Series, Rich Franklin.
The former multiple-time middleweight world champion has described the younger Sangiao as having a ‘big future.’
Despite having all the right ingredients to succeed as another superstar in the making, Mark has emphasized the importance of hard work and nurturing the skill set if Jhanlo is to realize his potential.
“It will still be a long journey for him but the thing now is, he loves the learning process. The honing will come as time goes,” said Mark.
With widespread shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic still in full swing, many of the Team Lakay athletes have had to tweak their training.
For Jhanlo however, the additional hours at home just means more time spent putting gas in the tank and evolving those skills with his father.
“We have been working on conditioning, stairs running, jogging, calisthenic exercises, pad work and more. We both enjoy pad work the most. He is enjoying what he’s doing,” said Mark.
