Sneak Peek into the Alliance Square with Katsunori Kikuno

Here is the continuation of my annual "Gym Sneak Peek" series. This time, the personal trainer is Katsunori Kikuno, an Okinawan Kenpo Karate fighter who currently competes for the UFC.



Of course, some of his fans might ask, "Isn't he a Kyokushin Karate fighter?" Kikuno tries to maximize his striking damage like the "Ichigeki" philosophy does now, which involves new karate, but Okinawa is where karate evolved and he learned from the oldest karate style.


Yamashiro teaching his karate with Kikuno

Kikuno was taught new tsuki (strikes) by Yoshitomo Yamashiro, who is an Okinawan Kenpo Karate master. Kikuno's KO victories against Luiz Andrade I and Takafumi Ito were both created by his new tsuki.



Kikuno taught my customer in a very friendly manner and he explained the details of his strikes. He demonstrated what he has done recently, but also taught his trademark crescent kick as well.



If you're a traditional martial arts fan, nothing is more fun than learning from Kikuno, who tries to adapt ancient skills to modern combat sports. He has not shown his tsuki KOs in the UFC yet, but I am one who enjoys something different in MMA and I'm waiting for that moment.



Learning from Kikuno costs 10,000 yen per hour. He requires a translator for teaching since explaining karate techniques in English can be quite difficult.



Big thanks to Katsunori Kikuno and my anonymous customer. Also big thanks to Robert Sargent  (MMA Rising) for English editing.

Japanese MMA scene Fighter to watch out

At 2010 who can be break out MMA fighter in Japanese scene?I choice fighter who worth to watch out for your 2010 Japanese MMA scene joy.I don't think all of them will have great 2010 but find your favorite fighter before everyone and enjoy those succeed is always hardcore fans joy.

I pick many fighter already have establish position in Japanese MMA scene.But you can expect more evolve from those fighter.I think I pick many Sengoku feather weight tourny participant,but that is best MMA tourny in last year's Japanese scene.So I think I can justified that.

Michihiro Omigawa (Yoshida Dojo)

One of most improve fighter in 2009.Especially in boxing (offense and defense)and chaining submission.If he improve his skill like last year,he can claim top of division.



Hatsu Hioki (ALIVE)

He didn't win Sengoku tourny what home country people hope for.But he shows his true skill sometime overlook by some people cause of some lose.His grappling clinic against Sengoku champ Masanori Kanehara show his real potential.

Marlon Sandro (Nova Uniao)

KO artist with ridiculous power and good balance.Put sleep some fighter not many known but talented like Yuji Hoshino.Need watch out if you like Jose Aldo who is same gym's development.

Masanori Kanehara (Paraestora Hachiouji)

No one think he will take major tourny when it started, but his rapid improve and fortunate reaches it.Show improve at strike, wrestle and submission.



Katsunori Kikuno (Alliance)

One of karate practitioner who got real MMA skill.He enter major and face Andre Dida who is many think too high caliber fighter to face at that time point.He beat him with crescent kick.Lose to Eddi Alvarez but still worth checking for improve.He will return DEEP before goin Dream again.Probably meet against Parky.

Wong Sik "Parky" Park (CMA Korea)

Beat up two Japanese (Yuichi Ikari, Atsuhiro Tsuboi) and high reputation make him major debut to meet Kuniyoshi Hironaka.He fought better than everybody thought but lose by injury.He suppose to meet DEEP champ Kikuno at this year.

Chan Sung Jung (Korean Top Team)

Already known for knock out FanJin Son for major organization eliminator make him
notice for hardcores.But knock off Shintaro Ishiwatari who is known for relentless striker make him real interest for fans.His hard fought against current Sengoku champ Masanori Kanehara define himself as a major quality fighter.

Mitsuhisa Sunabe (freelance)

He fought as a mediocre feather weight for MMA career but finally he find his best weight at flyweight.If he fight Shooto's flyweight at this year,that make big motivation for hardcore to go event.

Jussier Formiga (Nova Uniao)

Not notice by many people,But Jussier Formiga taking of no1 flyweight label from Japan is one of memorable thing at 2009.He will face Kojima again for this year to make this weight getting more establish.

Maximo "Maxi" Blanco (Yoshida Dojo)

Show his huge raw athlecism make him as interest to see future potential.He show improve at strike department.Responsible by Katsuhisa Tashiro make him beat Katsuya Inoue who is Pancrase Light weight champion.



Yusuke Honma (Paraestra Sapporo)

One of highest archive at grapple department.Debut this year's Shooto.Honma is Mundial finalist.

Tashiro Akai (Nova Uniao Japan)

Recently fight decent opponent but never touch major.Feather weight fighter become bantam weight and take Seiya Kawahara Who is last years local watchers attention.Gunning Inoue who is Pancrase bantam weight champion.

That's my choice of fighter to watch out at 2010 Japanese MMA scene.I personally think MMA team Alliance (run by Tsuyoshi "TK" Kohsaka) can make title run at Japanese locals.Because of Katsunori Kikuno who belongs to gym give back his experience to gym mate. But I can't make that much confidence.

I ask Jordan Breen for your Japanese MMA fighter (as rookie) to watch out.Comment for fighter added by me.

Koji Matsumoto (Master Japan)

Train under Kuniyoshi Hironaka,Matsumoto have good leg submission and won Shooto rookie tourny.

Junji "Sarumaru" Ito (Shooting Gym Yokohama)

Shooto's striker factory,Shooting Gym Yokohama's newest development add whole design of MMA game.

Thank you to Jordan Breen for pick ups.

Katsunori Kikuno will face Andre Dida at Dream 10 7/20

from

Tatame

I want Dream need to be more slowly to built Kikuno.

Next Karate MMA star?

Here is what I write about Kikuno.

Next Karate MMA star?

Katsunori Kikuno is a former Kyokushin karateka who trains at Tsuyoshi Kohsaka's Alliance-Square gym and is also mentored by "TK." Kikuno's trademark skill is a karate kick to the liver, somewhere between a front kick and a roundhouse. It's called the "mikazuki geri," or "crescent kick."

Why has this kick received so much attention? Because it can be used to counter takedown attempts.

Kikuno used a Sanchin (or hourglass) stance against Koichiro Matsumoto in their Deep lightweight title fight, so we're beginning to see the mixture of karate and MMA in his game.

The Sanchin stance basically killed Matsumoto's in-out stepping tactics. When his arms moved forward, it left a perfect opening for a superior kicker like Kikuno.

Wikipedia Sanchin

Big thanks to Chris Nelson (from Bloody Elbow) for English and editing.