Andrew Leone (Photo : ONE Championship)
There are many benefits to martial arts. Good physical and mental health is one, unwavering discipline another. Yet perhaps the most amazing thing about it is the doors it opens. For 26-year old ONE Championship flyweight Andrew Leone, making the move from New York halfway across the globe to Indonesia was life changing -- and he has martial arts to thank.
Along with his older brother Anthony, Leone moved to Indonesia a few years ago when he received a call in 2012 to take over a gym in Bali. Today, almost 10,000 miles away from home, the Leone siblings head the most prolific martial arts gym in the country -- Bali Muay Thai & MMA.
"It was always the dream since we were about 15 years old and we started surfing and training in other martial arts besides wrestling," said Leone, who grew up wrestling in Long Island. "We knew how Bali had the number one waves in the world and how we would love to open up a gym."
Leone (7-2-0) is scheduled to return to the ONE Championship cage this Saturday, 20 February at ONE: TRIBE OF WARRIORS. He'll face 36-year old Japanese mixed martial arts veteran Koetsu Okazaki (10-4-1) in a three round bout.
Okazaki is a solid contender with roots in Japan's Shooto, as well as having fought against the top guys in his division at ONE. The Japanese fighter is durable, precise and thorough, making him the perfect test for Leone coming after a near two year absence from the cage.
Leone last fought and decisioned Shinichi Kojima back in 2014. Prior to that, he defeated highly-regarded Team Lakay flyweight Geje "Gravity" Eustaquio.
He built Bali Muay Thai & MMA in the interim. Now, he's back in the cage looking to resume his professional career.
"After flying to Indonesia a few weeks after my last fight two years ago and coming to Bali our partner (Steve) and I knew [establishing Bali MMA] was the only thing to do," said Leone.
"A world-class martial arts and fitness facility on the 'Island of the Gods' that would be home to world-class instructors and a professional fight team -- nobody had ever done this before in Indonesia. We brought in high-level coaches and athletes from all around the world and had them live and train full time in Indonesia."
While southeast Asian nations like the Philippines and Thailand have already embraced the sport of mixed martial arts, it was a new flavor in Indonesia, particularly in Bali. The Leone brothers played a vital role in introducing the sport to the people.
"Moving to Indonesia has changed my life in many ways, I went from just a competing athlete now to co-owning two gyms. I was always team focused but building something from scratch with your boys and watching it transform into something you always knew it could be is really amazing and I'm just happy to be a part of what is going on," said Leone.
"We are always excited to bring world-class training to the country of and to help develop the local talent and reach the full potential we know Indonesia has."
They say you can never know where you're going, unless you know where you've been. And though Leone had found success in a foreign nation, he still fondly recalls his roots in Long Island.
"I go home about twice a year depending on all our schedules. My parents have supported us since our first underground MMA fight in some boxing gym in New York City back in 2006 -- all the way until now, where we find ourselves supporting another country's growth in martial arts," said Leone.
"The greatest part of what I do is that fact that I'm doing what I want to do and I have a whole team supporting me. It feels great."
When Leone steps into the cage against Okazaki this weekend, it will be a test of all sorts. He'll be coming off a near two-year break and competing against one of his division's top contenders.
"[Okazaki] is a tough dude. He's competed for a world title before. I just have to do my best and leave it all in the cage. Gotta represent 'Strong Island' New York!"
