The Lee family is an ‘Unstoppable’ force ahead of Angela’s title defense at ONE: Century

The Lee family is an ‘Unstoppable’ force ahead of Angela’s title defense at ONE: Century in Tokyo, Japan in October.

O’ahu, Hawaii – Being a patriarch to a family of world champions isn’t something just any dad can put on their resume, but Ken Lee isn’t your average father. He’s the head of the “Unstoppable” Lee family which boasts the first-ever brother and sister MMA world champions in Angela Lee (23) and Christian Lee (19). Angela, probably the most recognizable of the young family, is a multiple-time ONE Championship antomweight champion and her younger brother Christian was recently crowned the newest ONE Championship lightweight champion. But it doesn’t stop with them … there are two younger Lee’s working their way up into their own, both Victoria (15) and Adrian (13) are five-time amateur world champions with the same “Unstoppable” mentality.

But this wasn’t what Ken had in mind when he started his family with his wife Jewelz.

“We always knew that we’d be teaching and sharing martial arts with our children, more for self-defense,” Ken told FanSided in their family gym, United MMA Hawaii on the island of O’ahu. “But as they grew up, they were starting to compete in martial arts, and the family really enjoyed it.  So, they didn’t always enjoy the training part of it, but they always enjoyed the competition part of it.”

Some might think the Lee’s are overbearing, forcing their children into the roles they hold now, but that’s not the case. In fact, Ken was very open to the idea that his children (and all children) should do what they love and what makes them happy, no matter what that is.

“There are so many benefits [to martial arts] … developing self-confidence, perseverance, through tough times, self-defense … but I would not advise any parent that wants to bring your child in just for competing in martial arts mixed martial arts. That is something that they have to choose to do for themselves.”

His younger children are a bit too young to compete in MMA professionally, but with the older siblings already champions it’s on everyone’s mind … will Victoria and Adrian compete in MMA someday too?

“I think it’s still too soon,” Ken said. “I’m pretty sure that, you know, they would be received well, because of their older siblings and their training. But I don’t want that pressure on them.  You know, they can’t do it for the wrong reasons they have to want it to for themselves. And then when they tell me that’s what they really want to do we’ll support them.”

Angela is gearing up for her next fight, a rematch with Xiong Jingnan, this time for the atomweight title at ONE: Century in October. Christian says he’s working on booking a fight for the end of the year, this time for a different belt.

With huge fights ahead for both of the Lee’s eldest children, Ken wants to be sure they know exactly what he wants for them and it’s not just to win.

“I just want them to be happy,” he said. “I want them to be fulfilled, And I want them to dream and accomplish their dreams.”

ONE: Century Part 1 and Part 2 take place on Oct.13, 2019 live from the Ryogoku Kokugikan Stadium in Tokyo, Japan. The fights will air live on Twitter and the ONE Championship app.