The Japanese prodigy Tenshin Nasukawa has a younger brother Ryujin Nasukawa who is carrying on the family legacy in…
The Japanese prodigy Tenshin Nasukawa has a younger brother Ryujin Nasukawa who is carrying on the family legacy in kickboxing. On Saturday, live from Tokyo, at just eighteen years old, Ryujin captured a RISE Flyweight Kickboxing World Title by way of first-round knockout.
Tenshin and Ryujin Nasukawa
Tenshin Nasukawa is considered a generational talent in kickboxing, holding multiple championships including RISE Bantamweight and Featherweight titles and was ranked as the best pound-for-pound kickboxer in the world at the end of his kickboxing career. He had a spotless kickboxing record of 42-0 and was well known for his knockout power and speed. He has now transitioned to professional boxing and is currently 5-0.
Ryujin Nasukawa only made his professional kickboxing debut in 2022 and quickly rose through the ranks. Currentlyhe is on a seven fight win streak. Before turning pro, he was an amateur national champion in both kickboxing and karate. The Nasukawa brothers have both shown exceptional talent in combat sports from a young age.
Ryujin Nasukawa, the 18-year-old younger brother of Tenshin Nasukawa, has just achieved a remarkable feat in the world of kickboxing. Ryujin won the RISE Flyweight Championship in spectacular fashion, knocking out the defending champion Riku Kazushima in the first round. The title bout took place at RISE 183 in Tokyo, Japan. Ryujin didn’t waste any time, finishing the fight with a powerful left hook just 2 minutes and 12 seconds into the fight.
Tenshin’s younger brother, Ryujin Nasukawa, has claimed the RISE Flyweight (51.5 kg) Championship. The 18-year-old delivered a decisive first-round knockout against Riku Kazushima to win the title.@TeppenRyujin | #RISE183pic.twitter.com/Qky7TjArCJ
The Japanese prodigy Tenshin Nasukawa has a younger brother Ryujin Nasukawa who is carrying on the family legacy in…
The Japanese prodigy Tenshin Nasukawa has a younger brother Ryujin Nasukawa who is carrying on the family legacy in kickboxing. On Saturday, live from Tokyo, at just eighteen years old, Ryujin captured a RISE Flyweight Kickboxing World Title by way of first-round knockout.
Tenshin and Ryujin Nasukawa
Tenshin Nasukawa is considered a generational talent in kickboxing, holding multiple championships including RISE Bantamweight and Featherweight titles and was ranked as the best pound-for-pound kickboxer in the world at the end of his kickboxing career. He had a spotless kickboxing record of 42-0 and was well known for his knockout power and speed. He has now transitioned to professional boxing and is currently 5-0.
Ryujin Nasukawa only made his professional kickboxing debut in 2022 and quickly rose through the ranks. Currentlyhe is on a seven fight win streak. Before turning pro, he was an amateur national champion in both kickboxing and karate. The Nasukawa brothers have both shown exceptional talent in combat sports from a young age.
Ryujin Nasukawa, the 18-year-old younger brother of Tenshin Nasukawa, has just achieved a remarkable feat in the world of kickboxing. Ryujin won the RISE Flyweight Championship in spectacular fashion, knocking out the defending champion Riku Kazushima in the first round. The title bout took place at RISE 183 in Tokyo, Japan. Ryujin didn’t waste any time, finishing the fight with a powerful left hook just 2 minutes and 12 seconds into the fight.
Tenshin’s younger brother, Ryujin Nasukawa, has claimed the RISE Flyweight (51.5 kg) Championship. The 18-year-old delivered a decisive first-round knockout against Riku Kazushima to win the title.@TeppenRyujin | #RISE183pic.twitter.com/Qky7TjArCJ
These are the best kickboxers of all time. The greatest kickboxers of all time list updated in 2024. Who…
These are the best kickboxers of all time. The greatest kickboxers of all time list updated in 2024. Who is the GOAT of Kickboxing? Who is the king of kickboxing? Let’s count down the top 10 kickboxers of all time.
Top 10 Best Kickboxers of All Time
These are the best kickboxers of all time followed by honorable mentions who nearly made the list, updated for this year with the best kickboxer in history.
10. Chingiz Allazov
Chingiz Allazov is a dangerous and aggressive striker who was able to win titles in K-1 and ONE Championship. Most notably, he was able to knock out Superbon Singha Mawynn to make history. Additionally, the striker has been able to defeat GLORY and K-1 champions such as Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong and Marat Grigorian in dominant performances.
9. Remy Bonjasky
Remy Bonjasky, nicknamed ‘The Flying Gentleman,’ was a major force in kickboxing during its peak years. This Dutch fighter snagged three K-1 World Grand Prix titles at the height of his career. He took down some big names like Errol Zimmerman, Gokhan Saki, Jerome Le Banner, Badr Hari, Musashi, and even Ernesto Hoost. In the 2004 K-1 World Grand Prix, Bonjasky faced a tough challenge by fighting three top-ranked opponents in a row. His matches kept ending in ties, pushing him into extra rounds. By the end of the night, he fought a total of 12 kickboxing rounds to secure the win. With his record and K-1 titles, he is one of the Best Kickboxers of All Time.
8. Masato Kobayashi
Masato is a huge name in Japanese kickboxing as he changed the landscape of the sport. He won the K-1 MAX Grand Prix world championship twice, with impressive victories over fighters like Andy Souwer, Buakaw Banchamek, Mike Zambidis, Duane ‘Bang’ Ludwig, and Albert Kraus. He competed during the golden era of kickboxing and K-1 MAX, facing the best competition in a deep division. His legacy still inspires fighters to this day making him one of the best kickboxers of all time.
7. Buakaw Banchamek
Buakaw Banchamek from Thailand is a legendary figure in combat sports. His win in the 2004 K-1 MAX Grand Prix, where he beat Masato in the final, was a game-changer for kickboxing and made him a superstar in Thailand. Throughout his career, he won two K-1 MAX Grand Prix world titles and multiple Muay Thai stadium titles. He has an impressive record of 240 wins, 24 losses, and 12 draws, with notable victories over Masato, Nieky Holzken, John Wayne Parr, Andy Souwer, Mike Zambidis, Jean-Charles Skarbowsky, Albert Kraus, and many others. Not only does he have an incredible legacy in Muay Thai, but also he is one of the best kickboxers of all time.
6. Peter Aerts
Peter Aerts, known as ‘The Dutch Lumberjack,’ had one of the most remarkable careers in kickboxing. Over 30 years, this Dutch fighter built an amazing record of 108 wins, 35 losses, and 2 draws. He won three K-1 World Grand Prix championships during kickboxing’s golden era and was famous for his head kick knockouts and relentless pressure, easily ranking him as one of the best kickboxers of all time. Aerts defeated many top fighters, including Andy Hug, UFC Hall of Famer Maurice Smith, Ernesto Hoost, Jerome Le Banner, Mike Bernardo, Musashi, Ray Sefo, Semmy Schilt, and many others.
5. Tenshin Nasukawa
Tenshin Nasukawa is one of those rare fighters who has beaten almost everyone in his division. Starting his pro career at just 15 years old. In just eight years, Tenshin built an unbeaten record of 44-0, with most wins by knockout. The Japanese star has defeated well-known fighters like Rodtang Jitmuangnon, Kyoji Horiguchi, Shiro, Kumandoi, Rui Ebata, and his K-1 rival the declared champion Takeru Segawa. With his incredible dominance and style, he is absolutely one of the best kickboxers of all time. He also won various divisional and tournament titles in RISE. Now, he is unbeaten in professional boxing and many of his kickboxing wins have aged very well.
4. Rico Verhoeven
Rico Verhoeven, known as the ‘King of Kickboxing,’ has one of the longest championship streaks in the sport. This Dutch fighter is currently on a 16-fight winning streak against top contenders. He holds the GLORY heavyweight kickboxing world title and has successfully defended it ten times. Verhoeven has notable wins against fighters like Badr Hari, Jamal Ben Saddik, Errol Zimmerman, Daniel Ghita, and Peter Aerts. With his Grand Prix win earlier this year in which he defeated three heavyweights on the same night, Verhoeven moves up as being one of the best kickboxers of all time.
3. Semmy Schilt
Semmy Schilt is one of the most decorated kickboxers ever, with four K-1 World Grand Prix titles, a GLORY Heavyweight Championship, and several Karate world titles. He’s beaten top fighters like Rico Verhoeven, Errol Zimmerman, Kyotaro, Badr Hari, Remy Bonjasky, and Mark Hunt. Standing nearly 7 feet tall, ‘Hightower’ had a massive reach and a powerful jab that could knock opponents out. Interestingly, he fought as a switch making his lead hand a powerful weapon.
2. Giorgio Petrosyan
Giorgio Petrosyan is often compared to a master artist for his technical kickboxing style. Known as ‘The Doctor,’ Petrosyan is a two-time K-1 MAX Grand Prix champion and has won world titles in GLORY Kickboxing and ONE Championship. Throughout his career, he’s defeated top fighters like Robin van Roosmalen, Davit Kiria, Cosmo Alexandre, Yoshihiro Sato, Mike Zambidis, Albert Kraus, and Andy Souwer.
1. Ernesto Hoost
Ernesto Hoost, or ‘Mr. Perfect,’ developed a kickboxing style that many fighters still try to emulate today. He was at the top of the striking world for nearly 30 years, thanks to his mix of high and low combination strikes. Hoost won four K-1 World Grand Prix titles during kickboxing’s golden era, with knockout wins over Mirko ‘Cro Cop‘ Filipovic, Jerome Le Banner, Ray Sefo, Stefan Leko, Igor Vovchanchyn, Mike Bernardo, and Peter Aerts. He also fighters he coached, such as Joanna Jedrzejczyk, Tyrone Spong, and Fedor Emelianenko, among others. His style would become the main influential form of kickboxing for the next several decades.
Honorable Mentions – best kickboxers of all time
These are some more of the Best Kickboxers of All Time but not quite in the top ten list.
Superbon Singha Mawynn Ramon Dekkers Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong Andy Hug Robin Van Roosmalen Rob Kaman Andy Souwer Alex Pereira Bill ‘Superfoot’ Wallace
Japanese kickboxing sensation Tenshin Nasukawa put on a blistering performance at RIZIN 24, totally outclassing his opponent Koji Tanaka. The pair faced off in a catchweight kickboxing bout in the main event of RIZIN 24, which went down inside Tokyo’s Saitama Super Arena on Sunday, September 27. This fight was Tenshin’s first under the RIZIN […]
Japanese kickboxing sensation Tenshin Nasukawa put on a blistering performance at RIZIN 24, totally outclassing his opponent Koji Tanaka. The pair faced off in a catchweight kickboxing bout in the main event of RIZIN 24, which went down inside Tokyo’s Saitama Super Arena on Sunday, September 27.
This fight was Tenshin’s first under the RIZIN banner since the promotions New Years’ Eve show last December. In Koji, he was facing a kickboxing veteran who had captured multiple titles across multiple promotions.
Tenshin came out in the opening round, looking like he had something to prove, and immediately took the fight to Koji, landing impressive punch combinations as well as a flying knee. The RIZIN newcomer ended the round with a cut above his left eye and swelling on his face.
Koji had some minor success at the start of the second, landing a solid right, but the attacking arsenal of Tenshin meant he was never really in the contest. The year 31-year-old was buffeted by a dizzying array of attacks ranging from airborne spinning kicks to brutal punch combinations.
When the judges’ decisions were called out, there was never any doubt that Tenshin would be the one to have his arm raised.
In the co-main event, RIZIN bantamweight champion Kai Asakura demolished Shoji Maruyam in the opening round of their non-title clash. After dropping Maruyam with a straight right, the 26-year-old sealed the deal by landing a massive soccer kick to the head of Maruyam as his opponent tried to get back to his feet. At this point, the referee wisely stepped in to save Maruyam from taking any more unnecessary damage.
Earlier in the night, fan-favorite Rena scored a unanimous decision win over Emi Tomimatsu in their strawweight clash. Rena’s standup game was too strong for Tomimatsu, who was making he RIZIN debut. The 38-year-old Tomimatsu did experience some success on the ground, but not enough to impress the judges.
Full Results:
Catchweight ( Kickboxing): Tenshin Nasukawa def. Koji Tanaka by Unanimous Decision
Bantamweight: Kai Asakura def. Shoji Maruyama via RD1 TKO
Lightweight: Koji Takeda def. Yuki Kawana via Split Decision
Lightweight: Takasuke Kume def. Satoru Kitaoka via Split Decision
Catchweight (Kickboxing): Taishi Hiratsuka def. Yuuki Kitagawa via RD2 KO
Bantamweight: Kenta Takizawa def. Yuto Hokamura via Split Decision
Women’s Strawweight: Rena Kubota def. Emi Tomimatsu via Unanimous Decision
Featherweight: Takahiro Ashida def. Kyohei Hagiwara via RD2 Submission
Heavyweight: Sudario Tsuyoshi def. Dylan James via RD1 TKO (Dr. Stoppage)
Catchweight ( Kickboxing): Mutsuki Ebata def. Rasta via Unanimous Decision
Lightweight: Juri Ohara def. Yusuke Yachi via Split Decision
It’s a big weekend for Japanese MMA fans with RIZIN 24 going down on Sunday, September 27, in Tokyo, Japan. This weekend’s event will also see 5000 fans in attendance. The Japanese government still has regulations on how many people can be at an event, but 5000 is a huge step up from having to […]
It’s a big weekend for Japanese MMA fans with RIZIN 24 going down on Sunday, September 27, in Tokyo, Japan. This weekend’s event will also see 5000 fans in attendance. The Japanese government still has regulations on how many people can be at an event, but 5000 is a huge step up from having to stage shows behind closed doors.
The 11-bout card contains several exciting matchups. However, it’s the main event that will generate the most interest as it features the return of kickboxing superstar Tenshin Nasukawa. The 22-year-old’s most recent promotional outing was on New Year’s Eve at RIZIN 20. It would be fair to say that the world has changed a lot since then, but what hasn’t changed is the hype surrounding a Nasukawa fight. Thankfully, this weekend’s bout is well worth the wait, with Nasukawa facing off against Koji Tanaka in a catchweight bout.
Tanaka — more commonly known as Koji — is a veteran of the Japanse kickboxing scene, and has racked up multiple titles throughout his career. The 31-year-old , who will be making his promotional debut, is an elite kickboxer and comes into this fight riding a three-bout winning streak.
The co-main event will see RIZIN FF bantamweight champion Kai Asakura, taking on Shoji Maruyama in a non-title fight. If Asakura wins this, as he should, then it should pave the way for a likely rematch with former RIZIN bantamweight champion Kyoji Horiguchi.
RIZIN 24 also sees the return of fan-favorite Rena. The 29-year-old last fought at RIZIN 20, where she defeated the USA’s Lindsey VanZandt via third-round TKO. The 29-year-old will take on Emi Tomimatsu, who will be making her first appearance under the RIZIN banner.
If you are in the mood for a fight heavy on the spectacle, then the bout between Sudario Tsuyoshi and Dylan James is the one for you. Both men will be making their MMA debuts, with Tsuyoshi coming from a sumo background, while James comes from All Japan Pro Wrestling.
International fans can watch the event via PPV by clicking on the following link [RIZIN 24], which contains all the info you need to know.
Japanese kickboxing sensation Tenshin Nasukawa will make his anticipated return to action at Rise on Abema, scheduled to take place on Sat. July 11. The undefeated 21-year-old is one of the world’s elite flyweight kickboxers and is known for his highlight-reel knockouts, which makes the news that Rise has put out a public appeal for […]
Japanese kickboxing sensation Tenshin Nasukawa will make his anticipated return to action at Rise on Abema, scheduled to take place on Sat. July 11.
The undefeated 21-year-old is one of the world’s elite flyweight kickboxers and is known for his highlight-reel knockouts, which makes the news that Rise has put out a public appeal for an opponent somewhat baffling. The promotion recently posted an online form for people to fill in and submit if they believe they have to what it takes to hang with the boy-wonder.
It is hard to know what make of this from a fan’s perspective. Is it all part of a clever marketing ploy by Rise to attract attention to its upcoming event? Or, has it become so difficult to find matchups for Tenshin that the company has resorted to the digital equivalent of handing out flyers to passersby in the street?
There is no question that there are fighters out there good enough to face Tenshin. However, promotional agreements, sporting politics, and the ongoing travel restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic make these bouts challenging to put together.
It could be that Rise and Tenshin’s team see this appeal as the best way to generate hype about its upcoming event and once the world settles down Tenshin will go hunting for bigger game.
Hopefully, this is the case, but in the meantime, if you fancy starring in your own Rocky movie and you’re over 18 and can make your way to Japan by July, feel free to take a shot at stepping into the ring with one of the world’s best strikers.
To be safe, it might also pay to ask about who covers medical expenses if you do make the cut.
Would you be willing to step into the ring with Tenshin?
LIVE?#RISE183
LIVE?
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These are the best kickboxers of all time. The greatest kickboxers of all time list updated in 2024. Who…
Japanese kickboxing sensation Tenshin Nasukawa put on a blistering performance at RIZIN 24, totally outclassing his opponent Koji Tanaka. The pair faced off in a catchweight kickboxing bout in the main event of RIZIN 24, which went down inside Tokyo’s Saitama Super Arena on Sunday, September 27. This fight was Tenshin’s first under the RIZIN […]
It’s a big weekend for Japanese MMA fans with RIZIN 24 going down on Sunday, September 27, in Tokyo, Japan. This weekend’s event will also see 5000 fans in attendance. The Japanese government still has regulations on how many people can be at an event, but 5000 is a huge step up from having to […]
Japanese kickboxing sensation Tenshin Nasukawa will make his anticipated return to action at Rise on Abema, scheduled to take place on Sat. July 11. The undefeated 21-year-old is one of the world’s elite flyweight kickboxers and is known for his highlight-reel knockouts, which makes the news that Rise has put out a public appeal for […]