‘Martial Arts Saved Me’ – Johan Estupinan’s Inspirational Escape From Abuse And Historic Journey To ONE Championship
Johan Estupinan has overcome immense hardship to become a superstar in the world’s largest martial arts organization.
On September 6 at ONE 168: Denver, the undefeated Colombian dynamo will square off with American rising star Sean “The One” Climaco in a flyweight Muay Thai tilt at Ball Arena in Colorado.
With that blockbuster event in the United States rapidly approaching, learn more about the high-flying and charismatic striker known as “Panda Kick.”
This is his incredible journey to the bright lights of ONE Championship.
Living In An Orphanage
Throughout his early years, Estupinan and his twin brother, Jhordan, lived in an orphanage, where life was anything but easy.
With only each other to count on, the Estupinan brothers quickly learned how to defend themselves.
“Panda Kick” spoke to onefc.com about his hard-scrabble upbringing and how it forged him into the man he is today:
“We didn’t feel all too safe in [the orphanage], especially since we weren’t around our family. My brother and I were the youngest, and everyone wanted to take advantage of us, but we’ve always been strong and have always defended each other.
“We defended ourselves with rocks, sticks, really anything we could find. It was hard living in an orphanage because we weren’t with our parents, but it made us stronger, and here we are.”
Abuse At Home
Eventually, Estupinan and his brother were able to leave the orphanage to live with their father.
While that move initially seemed like an improvement, it only led to more abuse – now at the hands of their family:
“We started living with our dad. If we didn’t do something that our step-siblings told us to do, they’d hit us or tell my dad, and then my dad would hit us.
“We lived with fear knowing that we couldn’t even make the slightest mistake because if we did, we’d get attacked and mistreated.”
From Chaos To Muay Thai
Estupinan certainly had plenty to be angry about.
From daily fistfights in the orphanage to living in fear under his father’s roof, the young Colombian was given few chances to succeed in life.
He recalled what it was like to grow up in the most dangerous area of Colombia’s most populous city:
“Martial arts saved me. We lived in a neighborhood called Marroquin, which is in Cali, Colombia, and it was a dangerous neighborhood.
“We encountered bad friendships and people who were doing things they weren’t supposed to be doing. We lived in danger, and we saw people die because they were involved in gangs.”
With a possible lifetime of gang violence ahead of him, Estupinan fortunately discovered martial arts – and he hasn’t looked back since.
After showing a preternatural knack for the art of Muay Thai, he established himself as one of South America’s most promising rising stars, and in 2021, he won gold at the IFMA World Championships.
Now boasting a pristine 24-0 professional record and a 2-0 slate in ONE Championship, “Panda Kick” has overcome the hand that life dealt him and is overjoyed to be competing in ONE:
“Martial arts gave us everything, and it has even fed us. I do this with so much love, and that’s why I enter the ring dancing. How can I not enter the ring dancing if this is my dream?
“Martial arts have been everything for me since I was a kid. I’ve always wanted to be a fighter fighting inside of the world’s best organization that is ONE Championship, and now I get to live that dream.”
Inspiring Others Back Home
Estupinan made his promotional debut in May at ONE Friday Fights 64, quickly dispatching Japan’s Kouta Omori with a spectacular first-round knockout.
He returned just a few weeks later at ONE 167, where he earned an entertaining decision win over Zafer Sayik.
Those two performances, he says, have greatly elevated his profile and connected him with fans around the world:
“My life has changed in many ways. Apart from becoming a well-recognized person on a global level, people have sent me heartfelt messages, which has motivated me even more.
“Even though I knew that I was going to have an exciting debut inside of ONE, it’s impressive how much more people know me now compared to the beginning of the year.”
Beyond the fame that comes with competing in ONE, Estupinan’s proudest accomplishment is being the first-ever Colombian athlete to sign with the organization.
Along the way, his climb to the global stage has served as an inspiration to his proud compatriots back home.
He added:
“People have messaged me, telling me that they didn’t have any hope and that they didn’t think a Muay Thai athlete from Colombia could go so far because there’s little to no support from the country for its Muay Thai athletes.
“People have told me that I’m an inspiration to them, and that’s huge for me because, from a young age, I’ve given my all so that I can open the door to other athletes. It’s an honor for me to be someone they admire so much, and this is for the people of Colombia.”
