Asakusa Diary - The Staff Blog

K-1 is a Japanese kickboxing promotion based in Japan.
K-1 combines elements of karate, kung fu, taekwondo and kickboxing.
Since K-1 is introduced by Master Kazuyoshi Ishii in 1993,
K-1 has become one of the world's fastest-growing sports.

This fight was held between Bob Sapp (left) & Akebono (right) in 2003.
Bob Sapp was a professional American football player.
On the other hand, Akebono was a former Sumo wrestler.

Other fighters derived from various sports, such as former WWE wrestler and Muay Thai fighter.

Different kind sports players can fight in the same ring! Isn't it exciting??

The most well-known one is Masato who is a retired professional Japanese kick boxer.

He is the winner of K-1 WORLD MAX World tournament in 2003 and 2008.
Masato fought his retirement fight against Andy Souwer.
And he won the fight. He dropped Souwer with a right hand in the fourth round.

Next coming up Monday, July 5, annual event, ''K-1 World Grand Prix,''
also known as ''the K-1 World GP'' will be held in Yoyogi national stadium 1st.

various 16-men, 8-match grand prix style tournaments throughout the world to determine
which 16 fighters will compete in the K-1 World GP.

Naoto's push fighter is Yuichiro Nagashima also known as JIEN☆OTSU.
He is pretty popular as the ''Anime Otaku Cosplay Kickboxer.''
Check out his spectacular entrance.

Of course he is on K-1 World Grand Prix!

Let's go watch his performance!

More info: http://www.k-1.co.jp/en/event/2010/0705_max/index.html