Maintaining physical fitness is a challenge for many, but for Team Lakay’s Edward “The Ferocious” Kelly, it comes naturally from the things he loves.
Starting back in college, the 35-year-old Baguio City native’s love for trail biking has kept him in tiptop shape in and out of training camp.
More so than a fitness routine, it also serves as Kelly’s main recreational activity.
“Trail biking is one of my favorite hobbies. I always do it during my free time, especially if there’s no fight coming up,” he explained.
“One of my neighbors back then convinced me to do trail biking when he lent me his bike. After that, I started saving up for a bicycle because I was just a college student back then.”
Arguably one of the hardest hitters in ONE Championship’s stacked featherweight division, “The Ferocious” admitted that trail biking has been an essential part of his training regimen.
He goes biking regularly in Baguio City during training camps, and places like his hometown of Bataan to actively look for new trails, conquer new challenges, and enjoy new sights.
“This is a great workout because this is how I stay in shape and improve my cardio and balance,” Kelly shared.
“This also helps me mentally because concentration is key in trail biking, just so you won’t go off track.”
More so than the physical benefits that he gets from biking, it’s the thrill that he gets from it which keeps him coming back for more.
Kelly enters trail competitions when he isn’t scheduled to battle in the Circle. He admits he’s more nervous biking competitively than when he is competing as a mixed martial artist.
“I feel more nervous when I’m doing time trial competitions than the times I’ve fought inside the Circle. The excitement is very different,” he continued. “But if it’s not a competition. Everything’s relaxed.
“I’m just enjoying nature.”
Most of all, Kelly believes that mountain biking has given him another way to spend time with his Team Lakay brothers.
So far, he has convinced the likes of former World Champions Geje “Gravity” Eustaquio and Honorio “The Rock” Banario to join him during trail rides.
“Aside from me, Honorio and Geje are also fond of biking. There are times where we ride together, and it’s certainly happier doing it with them,” Kelly said.
“We’re a family in Team Lakay — not only during the training and competitions, but in our hobbies as well.”
