»

[Martin H]

Well, its getting close. Dream 12 is hours away, and its time to send a big OSU NO SEISHIN to the Smiling man, Kikuno Katsunori, kyokushins (or formerly kyokushin -now independent to be exact) man in the lineup.

[Patryk]

I love this guy, I saw his fight with Dida, clearly Kyokushin style! OSU!

[powerof0ne]

What's his grappling background? The cauliflower ears tell the tale he's done some grappling.. Well, I should say probably because it is possible to get that from repeated shots and stand up clinching and I even know a few NFL players that have it but more prevalent in grappling.

Anyway, good luck and takes some courage for anybody to go from an established organization to independent status.

[Martin H]

Originally Posted by powerof0ne

What's his grappling background?.

He did judo in highschool and did very well (3rd in a Kyushu 66kg Tournament, 1st in Kagoshima Prefecture 66kg Tournament). but switched to kyokushin when he graduated

[Bardock]

Well.. I thought it was a nice little fight

[Patryk]

watch?v=1HfQZlBBBMM
The beggining of the vid is interesting

[kakatootoshi]

Originally Posted by powerof0ne

What's his grappling background? The cauliflower ears tell the tale he's done some grappling.. Well, I should say probably because it is possible to get that from repeated shots and stand up clinching and I even know a few NFL players that have it but more prevalent in grappling.

Anyway, good luck and takes some courage for anybody to go from an established organization to independent status.

He now trains with Kosaka Tsuyoshi.

[powerof0ne]

Originally Posted by kakatootoshi

He now trains with Kosaka Tsuyoshi.

Awesome to hear he's training with "TK" as he was known during his "The Alliance" days with Smith, Frank Shamrock, and Filho.

[Patryk]

I though Nakahara trains with Filho?

[powerof0ne]

Originally Posted by Patryk

I though Nakahara trains with Filho?

This was in the late 90s when Filho, Pettas, and Feitosa were training with Maurice Smith and Kirk Jensen..Frank Shamrock and "TK" were too and they had a team called "The Alliance". Maurice Smith was the first kickboxer to win the UFC and fought in the K-1 a few times, too.

Some of the history: http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2009/7/25...zushi-sakuraba

However, I know for a fact because I witnessed it first hand there was a time where Filho shihan was announced as a member of "The Alliance" in '98. Was also the same night I ran up to Feitosa with Pettas sitting right next to him with a gong kakutogi magazine picture of Filho wanting him to sign it because I was so damn nervous and excited. I felt so stupid and thankfully had more magazines on me and got Pettas and Feitosa to sign it. Feitosa even signed a pic of him losing to Aerts with both of them laughing. I said a big Osu to both of them and the funny thing is I was one of the few people to even recognize who they were at this event!!!!!!

[Patryk]

Aww nice, thanks for the info

[AmericanWerewolf]

So ive been stalking Kikuno's blog and I haven't been able to decipher anything about his next opponent or even rumors of his next fight anybody else heard anything?

[Okamido]

Great Pics Martin H,

I love the white ISAMI shorts with the black waist band.

Thanks for sharing,

Osu!