For Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol, Martial Arts Is A Family Business

Indonesian star Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol is known as a martial artist with strong family values, and she has become a role model for young athletes across Asia.

Drawing inspiration from her parents and the lessons they gave her when she was young, her mission of representing Indonesian martial arts on a global stage continues at ONE: ETERNAL GLORY.

“Thathie” will face India’s Puja “The Cyclone” Tomar on the main card this Saturday, 19 January at the Istora Senayan in her hometown of Jakarta, Indonesia.

Lumban Gaol cannot wait to begin her 2019 campaign in ONE, but she is not the only one. Her younger brother, Haryono Taslan Lumban Gaol, is itching to see her step back into the cage.

The 18-year-old – also known as “Yono” – will be watching closely from cageside as his sister takes on her first challenge of the year, and she hopes her performance will further encourage him in his own training, which he has recently taken up.  

“He first got interested with the sport after seeing a friend competing in a mixed martial arts match on TV,” explains “Thathie.”

“Yono” has become a regular face in the crowd ever since, whenever she competes in ONE.

Dreaming of one day becoming like his sibling, the younger Lumban Gaol has also competed in Muay Thai and won his first match last year. He is now a member of Siam Training Camp, where his sister trains for her contests in The Home Of Martial Arts.

As her brother aims to engage in more matches, he now spends a lot more time in the gym in preparation. That is something that delights Priscilla, who wants Haryono to do something more productive with his time, so he is not drawn to the trappings of the streets.

“Thathie” believes that committing to martial arts will help to bring the values of discipline and integrity to his life, both in and out of the ring.

On top of that, it will also allow them to spend a lot of quality time together between training sessions.

“Now that we live in the same training camp, we have gotten a lot closer since we train together every day. We even have most of our meals together too,” the 30-year-old says. 

“Although we train together, we always keep it professional. I think of him like my training buddy, just how I think of my fellow athletes and teammates.

“The fact that we are training together also affects our parents. Our bond is now stronger, and we are happier [as a family].”

Thanks to a promising start in the gym, Priscilla believes “Yono” can follow her footsteps and work towards a brighter future. One day, she dreams to see him taking to the stage of ONE Championship, where their roles will be reversed, and she will watch on and support him along with the passionate Indonesian fans.

“I will fully support him when he enters his first ONE Championship bout. It’s why I pushed him to the sport in the first place,” she says.

However, “Yono” still has a lot to learn from his sister. As the world’s largest martial arts organization’s most active competitor of 2018, Priscilla has the results that can be achieved through hard work and determination.

That is something Haryono still needs to keep at the forefront of his mind – especially at this crucial, formative stage of his martial arts career.

“I had to tell “Yono” off for training half-heartedly and not being serious about it. That was a defining moment for both of us,” the atomweight contender adds.

Priscilla knows a successful career in mixed martial arts does not come easy, and she does not want to burden her brother with too much pressure, but she hopes he can prosper by adopting the same kind of work ethic that has seen her soar up the pecking order in her weight class in the past 12 months.

If nothing else, “Thathie” will always encourage him to keep up his training to learn the values of a martial artist, so he can thrive – whatever road he goes down in his life.

“My hope for him is to achieve something he is proud about, and to become successful in his life at any career path he chooses,” she says.

“I just want him to be able to make our parents proud.”