Former Welterweight & Middleweight King of Pancrase Kiuma Kunioku

Masa: So you left the Pancrase organization. You’re on your own. How excited are you? Kunioku: I’m very excited. I have so many choices all around me. I don’t know if I’d be in Japan one month later from now. Maybe I am, maybe I’m not. I may not get any fight offer. I may not get any chance to fight in UFC. But I’ll accept that if that happens because that was my choice and I’ll take responsibility for it. I chose this path as my life. I was in safe zone in Pancrase. I had salary every month. Get fight money when I fight. It was very stable life. But not now, I have to get a chance to fight in some organization all by myself and earn a good record. After I get good credit from fan then I can get my fight money. It’s all up to me, and I’m very excited. I have no choice to step back. I always have to go aggressive for anything. So it’s like I’m standing the edge of the cliff. In that meaning, my life has been changed so much compared to when I was Pancrasist. That mental difference will become how I perform my skill in the match. I’ll be much stronger, and eager to win the fight.

Masa: One thing I worry about in your fighting career is you have a lot of decisions. Kunioku: Yes, I can see that. My finishing move is not that strong; that’s where I really have to work on. And I have to show my aggressiveness to finish my opponent in the match. And I think this change helps me to shift me to that style -- finish, finish, finish!

Masa: What is missing from your fight style as MMA fighter? What kind of skill do you need when you fight? Striking or grappling. Kunioku: Well, I don’t think it’s a technique. What I really need is train with a lot of different fighters. What I need is the experience through training. For example I’d like to train with somebody who has real good guard work. Or there is so many different type of fighter I’ve never train with. So, I want to train with those people. And I want more experience. I was always training in Pancrase-ism (the Pancrase gym). Then the technique is biased. Everybody knows everybody’s technique. That’s no good. Masa: I was accidentally watching ADCC 2003 DVD last night. And you fought against Marcel Garcia.

Kunioku: Oh you saw that match? He’s Awesome. Masa: Yes I did. And you got choked out by rear-naked choke. Was he a new style for you? Kunioku: Yes, his style was very new for me, and I didn’t train with a guy like him. That’s my fault. I needed more training and experience and I needed to study more about Brazilian jiu-jitsu. I really didn’t know what he’s gonna do, so I couldn’t react to him at all. I found out I can’t even fight for three minutes in Brazil. That was shocking. But I learned from there.

Masa: Thank you very, very much for taking time for us. Today, we asked your career, latest situation, and future Goal. We all hope you’ll do good, because, like you said, this is all you got for you life. This is your job. If there’s something you’d like to say something to fans, please speak out at the end.

Kunioku: OK, I want to say thank you for all the MMA fans from all over the world. We’re making history of new sports. I also want to say thank you to Pancrase Organization to support me ‘till today. Now as one MMA fighter, I’ll do my best. So please expect good fight from me. And I’ll try hard to give your heart something excitement, fun and inspiration through my fight. And to any promoters and trainers, please feel free to get in touch with me. I’ll welcome any new challenge. Thank you again.

While I was translating this interview, I was watching a TV program which is introducing different kind of Martial Arts from all over the world, and hosting those martial artists in the studio. Then here comes Kira Gracie, Renzo Gracie's niece, fighting an exhibition match with Japanese comedian and submitting this guy by her family descended jiu-jitsu technique.

We live in a country, which has roots of a lot of different kind of Martial Arts. And people just love to watch those techniques and give them a respect. Now, ironically, this skilled Samurai Kiuma Kunioku is about to set sail out the country of the Rising Sun, aiming his new target abroad. I don’t know if he’ll call at some port in Hawaii first, or land at coast line of Oregon on his march to Las Vegas. But I just hope this humble young man builds his career as he wishes. Here’s to your future, Kiuma. Cheers!