Christian Lee Reveals His Most Important Martial Arts Value

Christian “The Warrior” Lee grew up in a home where he learned that he needed to carry himself with honor and integrity at all times.

As part of a close-knit family unit that included his sister, ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion “Unstoppable” Angela Lee, the featherweight contender was taught martial arts and all of its values from an early age.

Those lessons continued when Lee decided to make a career out of combat sports. He turned professional when he was just 17, and joined the ONE Championship roster.

He found out from his first day as part of the promotion there was one other core value his parents taught him that would end up being a key to his future in mixed martial arts.

“There’s obviously a lot of things that set ONE Championship apart from the competition, but the main difference I find is that ONE Championship really has respect for the fighters,” the 20-year-old says.

“The fighters respect each other, but the organization itself has respect for the fighters. That’s why everyone in ONE Championship is so happy where they’re at.”

Lee has seen all sides of the sport outside The Home Of Martial Arts through his teammates and training partners, who are part of other organizations around the world.

Though he will not criticize those promotions, Lee believes ONE is a level above them – thanks in large part to the respect he has been shown from the first day he arrived.

That has endured throughout his career, and “The Warrior” has always felt it has been a significant factor in the way he performs in the cage, as well as his continued dedication to the world’s largest martial arts organization.

“Every single fight I’ve had with ONE Championship has been a positive experience, win or lose. Every fight that I won, the organization has treated me well,” Lee says.

“I’ve seen some fighters [from other organizations] not even receive their fight purse, and they have to go out and ask the organization for their money after they won.”

Lee knows that being celebrated when he is victorious is easy, but the same cannot be said when he walks away with a defeat.

The treatment “The Warrior” has received in some of the toughest moments of his career is what truly makes a difference for him.

“Even when I lose, the first thing they ask me is, ‘Are you okay?’ Their number one priority is the safety and health of the athletes,” he explains.

“Little things like that sometimes get taken for granted, but ONE Championship makes it a priority. Of course, I’m an ambassador for the organization where I fight, but I truly do love fighting for them.”

Another aspect also resonates with the athletes on the roster – Lee is able to just focus on the task at hand rather than trying to talk trash about an opponent.

He has seen the ugly side of the sport in that way, and it is not something that appeals to him.

“I really feel like that’s what it’s all about,” Lee says.

“At the end of the day, in the West, people do pay for the trash talk, but the true martial artists just want to see the best of the best competing against each other, and bringing the best out of each other.

“That’s what I love about the sport. That’s why I love fighting.”

Being shown respect and giving that same respect back at all times is what allows Lee to perform at the highest level.

The end result is better for him and for the millions of fans watching around the world.

“That’s why we go out there and have the performances that we have, and there’s never any bad blood,” Lee explains. “Out of my three years with ONE Championship, that’s one thing that I love most.”

That sentiment will apply when Lee returns to action to face Edward “The Ferocious” Kelly at ONE: ETERNAL GLORY on Saturday, 19 January.

The warriors are rivals, and they will rematch after their first contest at ONE: BEYOND THE HORIZON ended in a disqualification due to an accidental foul. Despite that, they bear no hard feelings towards one another.

When they face off at the Istora Senayan in Jakarta, Indonesia, they will bow, touch gloves, and show nothing but respect to each other – though that will not stop either of them from giving everything in pursuit of a spectacular stoppage victory.