Masaaki Noiri is one of the most prolific stars in Japan’s kickboxing scene today, but he wants people to focus on how he got to where he is rather than his achievements.

Noiri will debut in ONE Championship when he faces Thai veteran Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong in a featherweight kickboxing match at ONE 167: Tawanchai vs. Nattawut II on Friday, June 7, inside the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand. 

Masaaki Noiri talks about his move to martial arts for vengeance

While he has reached incredible heights in his career, the 31-year-old revealed he had to work hard to find success after starting karate as a young boy to defend himself from bullies.

“I don’t think I had any natural talent at all. In my early matches, I lost by ippon against a girl and cried after losing, but there was a senior I looked up to at the same dojo, and I stuck with it for a long time because I admired him,” Noiri told ONE in an interview.

His interest in the discipline would later turn him towards the sport he now makes a living from.

Once there, Noiri began to develop a competitive streak. And though he faced obstacles early on, he soon learned perseverance was key.

“Kickboxing was an extension of karate for me. I went full kickboxing in the second grade of middle school, then I started doing amateur kickboxing competitions,” the Japanese star said.

“Initially, I was just messing around and not really focused on martial arts. When I lost in the semifinals of a tournament, I was told, ‘If you don’t have the motivation, just quit.’ That made me determined to get my revenge.” 

As his career progressed, Noiri tried to juggle kickboxing with his university studies. It quickly became clear that he couldn’t do both, so the burgeoning star abandoned academics and moved to Tokyo to pursue success in the sport full-time. 

This proved to be the right call, as he would go on to win prestigious local titles, the K-1 World Grand Prix Super Lightweight Championship in 2017, and the K-1 welterweight title in 2021.

The Japanese fighter desires to be an inspiration

Now on the verge of his ONE Championship debut, Noiri is happy with what he’s done so far, and he wants those coming up to look at him as an inspiration for overcoming difficult circumstances.

“When I was bullied, I didn’t feel like I could talk to anyone about it out of embarrassment, so I kept it to myself,” he said. 

“I think there are kids all over the world in that same situation. I want to fight in a way that gives them courage when they watch me.”