ONE Championship star Zhang Peimian is living his dream, competing in a sport he loves, and he consistently keeps his family in mind as he does so.

On Friday, November 3, at ONE Fight Night 16: Haggerty vs. Andrade, the Chinese star will make his return to the world’s largest martial arts organization, facing Rui Botelho in a strawweight kickboxing contest at the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. He has been reflecting on his humble yet happy upbringing as he prepares.

 Zhang Peimian shares insight on his upbringing and material arts journey 

“I was born into a working-class family in a small village in Hepu, Guangxi, but I have a wonderful family. I fondly recall my childhood because my family showered me with love,” Zhang shared with ONE. With an impressive 17-2 record, ‘Fighting Rooster’ is renowned for being one of the most thrilling fighters to watch in ONE.

He has secured three wins in the promotion and narrowly missed claiming the vacant strawweight kickboxing title after going the distance with the current champion, Jonathan Di Bella, at ONE 162 in October 2022. Should he secure another crucial victory against Botelho, Zhang may earn another opportunity at the championship title. A World Title is every fighter’s aspiration, but the 20-year-old star is motivated by more than personal accolades.

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He believes that becoming a World Champion would enable him to give back to his family and express his gratitude for everything they have done for him.  “I have had a strong sense of family since my childhood, thanks to my parents’ influence. So, I knew that when I had the ability, I needed to improve my family’s circumstances,” Zhang stated.“Family is my driving force. As long as I succeed, I will repay my parents.”

Family has a huge impact on Peimian’s mindset

His parents not only provided him with food, shelter, and love, but they also instilled in him the right attitude and qualities that have helped him become a good person and an even better fighter. These attributes align well with the values of martial arts, which is a significant reason why “Fighting Rooster” has thrived in kickboxing. “The best qualities I learned from my parents were hard work and responsibility,” Zhang remarked. “From having to engage in manual farm work when I was young, I learned that if you want to achieve something, you must persist in it, no matter how challenging it may be.”

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Representing the Shengli Fight Club, he can now support his family while pursuing his dreams. He serves as living proof that, even when life deals an unfavorable hand at times, a person can always choose how to play their cards. “We should learn how to be grateful for what we have. I believe that people who don’t know how to be grateful can’t go very far,” Zhang concluded.