‘It’s About Challenging Myself’ – How Yuki Yoza’s Relentless Pursuit Of Greatness Transformed Him Into A Kickboxing Superstar
Before Yuki Yoza became one of Japan’s finest striking talents, he was a timid child who struggled to stand his ground.
The quiet boy who once ran from confrontation now stands ready to face ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion “The Kicking Machine” Superlek in a bantamweight showdown at ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri on Sunday, November 16, inside Tokyo’s Ariake Arena.
However, the journey from meek youngster to fearless World Championship contender wasn’t easy. Like every compelling origin story, Yoza’s path is marked by struggle, transformation, and an unwavering desire for greatness.
A Quiet Beginning
Yuki Yoza is celebrated for his striking artistry. His Kyokushin karate-style kicks draw breathless awe from fans, while his cerebral fight IQ leaves analysts scrambling to decode his brilliance.
But that wasn’t always the case for the Japanese veteran.
Growing up in Tsuchiura, the young Yoza kept to himself. He rarely spoke up and carried a quietness that made him vulnerable. His gentle nature made him a target for bullies, and as things worsened, his parents knew they had to equip their son with the skills and confidence to defend himself.
Yoza recalled:
“I was a very gentle and rather timid child who would always concede to others instead of standing my own ground. But when I was six, my parents took me to observe a class at a karate dojo, and I apparently said I wanted to do it there.”
That seemingly innocent choice turned out to be the most significant decision of his life.
Stepping onto the dojo floor gave Yoza a spark he’d never felt before. The wide-eyed newcomer initially struggled to keep up with his more experienced peers. But despite his raw technique, he already possessed the most important attribute in a fighter — an unshakable belief in oneself.
Even in those formative years, Yoza carried a conviction that would prove prophetic:
“When I started karate, I was weak, but even then, I believed I could become a World Champion.”
His parents watched their shy son transform the moment he donned his gi, and they committed themselves to nurturing that evolution. As his skills sharpened, Yoza’s dormant potential began to surface, and his hunger for success only intensified.
Believing alone wouldn’t bridge the gap between who he was and who he needed to become, though. Yoza was willing to embrace hardship, on and off the mats.
He shared:
“Well, I did track and field, but it wasn’t so much that I liked it. I just did it to build stamina. I guess you could say I did it for martial arts.”
Building Through Repetition
To reach his full potential, Yoza embraced the mundane. He drilled the technical intricacies of Kyokushin karate until they became instinct — fundamentals that would eventually mold his unique style when he eventually transitioned to kickboxing.
What started as a means to defend himself transformed into something far more sophisticated. Yoza became a true student of the game, analyzing every detail, absorbing what resonated, and discarding what didn’t. He became obsessed with martial arts.
The former K-1 Champion revealed:
“I kind of imitated a lot of people. I’d learn techniques or movements I wanted to master in various situations. Then I studied by watching and learning from different sports, not just boxing, kickboxing, or MMA.
“At the gym where I used to train, we had sparring once a week. That’s where I’d try things out, see what worked and what didn’t, and just repeat that process. I just kept thinking for myself, repeating, asking my trainer and seniors for advice, improving, and repeating. That’s how my style developed.”
That relentless approach carried Yoza to the pinnacle of karate. At just 19 years old, he stood atop the world as a champion.
The moment he’d envisioned since he was six finally arrived. But instead of satisfaction, he felt something closer to restlessness — a sense that this peak was merely a plateau.
He reflected:
“It’s been like that since my karate days. Constantly challenging myself just suits me better. And when I did become the World Champion in karate, my dream came true, but I thought, ‘Is this it?'”
The Hunger Never Fades
As he turned professional, Yoza’s technical brilliance and unwavering determination shined even brighter. He found the perfect environment at Team Vasileus, training daily alongside ONE Interim Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Masaaki Noiri and Japanese megastar Takeru “Natural Born Krusher” Segawa.
But true to form, the 27-year-old refused to rest on his laurels. In February 2023, he packed his bags for Mike’s Gym in the Netherlands, immersing himself in a culture renowned for producing kickboxing’s most ruthless competitors.
On foreign soil, he discovered a mentality that mirrored his own:
“They’re way hungrier than in Japan, and I like that about them. They don’t have that weak mindset of not fighting because they might get beaten up.
“Even if one is weak, he would still fight. Even if he gets beaten up, he would not relent and continue fighting. Even if I take some damage, I fight. That mindset really suits me.”
That same philosophy of constant self-improvement now brings Yoza to the biggest fight of his career against Superlek at ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri.
For the Tsuchiura native, this moment validates every deliberate choice he’s made since dedicating his life to martial arts.
It’s another chance to prove that the timid child who once ran from fights has become a warrior who stands his ground no matter the circumstances.
And just as it was when he was a boy, Yoza’s desire to do the unthinkable is guiding him toward greatness in the world’s largest martial arts organization.
He concluded:
“I want to gain mastery over combat sports. Whether that means other disciplines besides kickboxing, I don’t know. See how far I can push myself. It’s about challenging myself. I guess you could say I want to do things no one else can do.”
