Wax On, Wax Off, Knock Out: How Hyu Transformed Karate Discipline Into ONE Championship Dominance
· Yahoo Sports
Undefeated Japanese sensation Hyu “Mister Pepper” has emerged as one of the most exciting strikers in ONE Championship, blending explosive athleticism with the creative flair of his karate roots.
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The Osaka native will look to continue his meteoric rise when he faces Thai standout Suablack Tor Pran49 in a flyweight kickboxing showdown at ONE Fight Night 41 on Prime Video, airing live in U.S. primetime from Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, March 13.
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But long before he dazzled fans with spinning kicks and knockout knees on the global stage, Hyu’s journey began far from the bright lights of international arenas – inside a small karate dojo in his hometown.
Those early years shaped the discipline and mindset that continue to guide the undefeated Japanese striker today.
A Childhood Choice That Changed Everything
Hyu’s martial arts journey began in the most natural way possible. He followed in the footsteps of his family.
As the youngest of three brothers, he grew up watching his older siblings train in karate. Eventually, he faced a simple childhood decision that would shape the course of his life.
Hyu recalled:
“I was deciding between soccer and karate. I said I’d go with soccer, but my mom was scared of sliding tackles, so it ended up being karate.”
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He began training at 8 years old inside a gym where preparing for karate tournaments wasn’t the goal.
Even in that modest environment, Hyu found ways to push himself further.
He added:
“My gym was actually a really small dojo. It wasn’t the kind of place heavily focused on competition. My teammates weren’t really fight-focused either. But I just kind of broke through on my own from there.”
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Climbing Japan’s Karate Tournament Circuit
As his skills sharpened, Hyu began testing himself in karate tournaments across Japan, steadily gaining experience against tougher opposition.
His attention eventually turned toward the JFKO Championship, widely considered one of the toughest tournaments in the karate world.
Unlike many international competitions that separate fighters by style or organizational affiliation, the JFKO gathers competitors from across the karate landscape. The result is a brutally competitive field where only the most complete fighters survive.
The 23-year-old said:
“It’s a Japan tournament, but World Championship tournaments sometimes have restrictions based on style affiliations, so Japanese competitors who couldn’t even place third at the Japan tournament might go on to win World Championships elsewhere.
“So, JFKO is considered the true world-level tournament in practical terms.”
Conquering The JFKO Championship
The format of the JFKO tournament demands extraordinary endurance.
Held across two days, the yearly event features roughly 100 competitors battling through an unforgiving bracket. Fighters often compete multiple times in a single day, forcing them to maintain composure and physical strength deep into the tournament.
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Hyu successfully navigated that gauntlet.
By the end of the competition, he had fought his way through the stacked field to capture the championship – a title that stands among the most respected achievements in Japanese karate.
The Osaka native explained:
“It’s a two-day event. You fight about four bouts a day and win through a field of about 100 competitors to take the championship.”
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The Lesson Karate Etched Into His Mind
Winning the JFKO was more than a personal milestone. It also taught Hyu a lesson that would shape the rest of his career.
Because the tournament takes place only once a year, competitors must spend months preparing for a single opportunity to prove themselves.
That long build-up requires a particular kind of mental discipline.
Hyu said:
“I think what I learned was the importance of producing results.
“You have to push yourself every single day throughout the year for that one moment. You have to beat your own mind and get yourself prepared.”
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Carrying The Karate Mindset Into The Global Arena
When Hyu transitioned from karate to professional kickboxing, those lessons followed him into the ring.
The Team Mehdi Zatout and TEAM3K representative has since built a perfect 12-0 professional record, including a 4-0 start in the world’s largest martial arts organization, with his last three victories coming by way of stoppage.
Yet despite competing on the sport’s biggest stage, his mentality remains unchanged.
Hyu said:
“I have no fear or anxiety before fights – I’m genuinely just excited. I love fighting. At the last Fight Night, I woke up at around 5 a.m., and I was already hyped up and singing – and I ended up waking up my corner person who was sharing the room with me.”
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The song he often finds himself singing is his entrance music, Take That’s “Get Ready for It.” The track has become more than just walkout music for the Japanese striker.
Its message about determination and belief reflects the mentality he brings into every fight.
Hyu explained:
“The lyrics basically mean ‘brace yourself, get ready.’ The message is that if you commit yourself, you’ll absolutely get there. And that your biggest enemy is yourself.”
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