Yuki Yoza’s Journey From Bullied Child To Superlek Challenger At ONE 173
Yuki Yoza once ran from confrontation as a timid 6-year-old who conceded to everyone rather than standing his ground, yet something inside the gentle child believed he could become world champion despite evidence suggesting otherwise.
That prophetic conviction has carried the 27-year-old Japanese striker toward Sunday’s collision with ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion Superlek Kiatmoo9 at ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri inside Tokyo’s Ariake Arena, where his Kyokushin karate foundation meets the ultimate test against pound-for-pound greatness.
The two will meet in bantamweight kickboxing action.
His parents recognized their shy son needed defense capabilities against bullies who exploited his gentle nature. The decision to enroll him in a karate dojo at age 6 ignited transformation that would reshape everything about the quiet boy from Tsuchiura who struggled speaking up for himself.
“When I started karate, I was weak, but even then, I believed I could become a World Champion,” Yoza said.
That unshakable self-belief provided foundation, yet reaching champion status demanded embracing mundane repetition beyond romantic notions of martial arts glory. He drilled Kyokushin fundamentals until they became instinct, even running track and field solely to build stamina rather than enjoying the sport itself.
His analytical approach to improvement accelerated development. Yoza studied various combat sports beyond his primary discipline, testing movements during weekly sparring sessions while seeking constant feedback from trainers and senior students. That systematic methodology produced championship gold at just 19 years old.
Yet reaching his prophetic childhood dream created restlessness rather than satisfaction. Conquering karate’s summit felt like plateau rather than peak, forcing examination of whether that achievement represented his ultimate ceiling or merely another starting point.
“When I did become the World Champion in karate, my dream came true, but I thought, ‘Is this it?'” he said.
The transition to professional kickboxing unlocked higher levels. Training at Team Vasileus alongside Masaaki Noiri and Takeru Segawa provided elite environment, though his February 2023 migration to Mike’s Gym in the Netherlands exposed him to hungry competitors whose relentless fighting mentality matched his own endless pursuit.
“It’s about challenging myself,” he said. “I guess you could say I want to do things no one else can do.”
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