Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol Is Helping The Rise Of Indonesian Martial Arts
Indonesian starlet Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol is a rising star of ONE Championship and one of the most prominent figures in Indonesian mixed martial arts.
And “Thathi” makes the latest appearance of her developing career on Saturday 22 September when she faces off against undefeated Filipina contender Jomary Torres at ONE: CONQUEST OF HEROES.
The 30-year-old atomweight will be making her third appearance at the Jakarta Convention Center for the contest, and she has a superb record in the venue.
Lumban Gaol has previously notched first-round victories over Audreylaura Boniface (via TKO) and Rome Trinidad (submission) in her Jakarta appearances, and says competing in front of her home fans helps inspire her to her best performances.
“Indonesia is my home. It is the country that has raised me into who I am today, so I will always see it as my home base to train,” she says.
“Nevertheless, I am still open for other opportunities to gain more knowledge and experience abroad, while still proudly carrying the Indonesian flag.”
Lumban Gaol transitioned to mixed martial arts in 2017 after a successful career in wushu that saw her capture a national title and an SEA Games bronze medal.
Under the tutelage of her head coach, former ONE welterweight Zuli “The Shark” Silawanto at Siam Training Camp, Lumban Gaol has steadily progressed in mixed martial arts.
She acknowledges she may one day broaden her horizons in an attempt to learn more, but her loyalty to the gym that made her is absolute.
“Maybe someday I will go to Evolve or Bali MMA to train, but I will still carry the name of Siam Training Camp,” she states.
“Siam has raised me well, they have developed my skills, and they guided me to victory in ONE Championship. Without them, I would never be who I am.”
Mixed martial arts is on the rise in Indonesia with gyms appearing across the nation.
Thanks to ONE Championship’s regular events in Jakarta, the popularity of the sport is trending upwards. Such is the success of the sport, even the government is getting involved in by supporting some of its rising martial arts stars.
“I personally think that martial arts in Indonesia has grown rapidly. The government has also started to consider martial artists as national assets,” says Lumban Gaol.
“I believe that mixed martial arts has its own appeal for martial arts fans in Indonesia. Clearly, it is always improving.”
Lumban Gaol herself is one of the major drivers in that growing popularity, and she is taking a hands-on approach to helping develop the sport in her country via her role as a coach at Siam Training Camp.
“To introduce martial arts to the local communities in Indonesia, or even the global audience, I have always shared my bouts and training sessions on my social media,” she says.
“It is the best and most impactful way to introduce martial arts, as the world has evolved into a digital era where social media has become a new alternative to introducing this sport.”
Perhaps the most powerful way in which she can inspire others, however, is through her own successes inside the cage, and “Thathie” hopes to continue her impressive form on home soil when she takes on Torres on 22 September.
Victory will see her stock rise even further as she looks to force herself into title contention in her division and, potentially, a bout with ONE Atomweight World Champion “Unstoppable” Angela Lee.
“Now, I am only focused on what I have always dreamed of – winning the belt, training as hard as possible, not complaining, and carving my name among the best of the best.”
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