‘Gives Me The Edge’ – Kickboxing Superstar Marat Grigorian Details The Benefits Of Training In Thailand At Fairtex
After more than 80 professional fights and eight memorable battles in ONE Championship, Armenian slugger Marat Grigorian knows the best way to structure his training camps.
Grigorian is now in the final stretch of preparation for one of the biggest shows in his career, as he will take on decorated Japanese striker Kaito Ono on March 23 at the blockbuster ONE 172: Takeru vs. Rodtang.
That bout will take place in Kaito’s home country of Japan at the iconic Saitama Super Arena.
Per usual, Grigorian will spend the final two weeks of his camp dropping weight and sharpening his weapons at the famed Fairtex Training Center in Pattaya, Thailand.
The 33-year-old traveled on March 8 from Belgium, where he’s resided since childhood. Ahead of that trip, he spoke to onefc.com about his ritual of finishing up camps at Fairtex:
“I cannot wait to go to Thailand because whenever I’m in Belgium, it’s really hard for me to get my weight down. I can’t wait to go to Thailand for the last few weeks [of my fight camp] to prepare there.”
A former three-time Glory Kickboxing World Champion renowned for his incredible punching power and all-action style of combat, Grigorian has proven he possesses the discipline and determination to succeed at the highest levels of kickboxing.
Still, he admitted that he often finds himself pulled in many different directions back home, making training difficult:
“The biggest advantage in Thailand, of course, is that it just allows me to focus on my sport, my fight, solely on my training.
“When I’m here in Belgium, I always have other commitments with my family and with my parents. So there are these kinds of things I have to deal with in Belgium. I’m not complaining about it, but it’s just the work-life balance.”
Ultimately, Grigorian believes that his time spent at Fairtex Training Center gives him a little something extra – whether it’s mental or physical – that he carries into battle.
With his hotly anticipated clash against Kaito rapidly approaching, he’s soaking up whatever benefits he can get from training in Pattaya:
“In Thailand, I’m always more focused on my fights. It gives me the edge before every fight, you know what I mean? Also, I don’t get tired there whenever I train – I don’t know why.
“Maybe because of the weather or the sun. I don’t know. But yeah, these are some of the points that make me love finishing my camp in Thailand and training at Fairtex.”
Grigorian Loves Thailand’s Weather For Training
Beyond the distraction-free environment, Marat Grigorian enjoys other key benefits of training in Thailand.
He said he is happy to escape the frigid Belgian winter for the warm beaches and sunny skies of Pattaya. What’s more, it’s easier to follow his strict diet in the final few days before a fight:
“I love it there. I absolutely love it there. The main thing is the weather – it makes everything else easy for me too. My food, taking care of my diet there, is easy. Most of my meals are always healthy, too.”
Like every other world-class striker, Grigorian invests plenty of time into improving his cardio, primarily by running miles upon miles each week during camp.
Those long runs, he added, are quite a bit more enjoyable in the Thailand sun:
“I’m always struggling to get that done [in Belgium] with the weather. And that is why, like I mentioned earlier, Thailand is the best place for me to stay locked in for my fight camp.”
