Kira Matsutani: College Fighter Confidently Aims for K-1 Title and the Top

KO with a hook to the gut!

The fourth-generation Krush Atomweight Champion, Kira Matsutani (21), recalls her earliest memory of K-1 as the time she went to watch the Krush event where her karate teacher, Yuji Suzuki (40), competed. Like her mentor, Koya Ura (34), who became a Krush champion, Matsutani aims to reach the top of K-1. She will challenge for the K-1 Women’s Atomweight title at the “K-1 WORLD GP Women’s Atomweight Championship Tournament” on February 9 at Yoyogi National Gymnasium.

“I started practicing karate when I was four years old, and later transitioned to kickboxing. My oldest memory in martial arts. I remember competing in an international karate tournament during elementary school. I enjoyed ‘Kata’ and won a lot of tournaments in that, but I didn’t have much success in ‘Kumite,’ so I didn’t like it as much. I won some smaller tournaments, but in international competitions, there were strong kids. So, I preferred ‘Kata’ (laughs).”

Despite her modesty, Matsutani says she gained confidence in her ability to make it in the combat sports world after her first fight in the K-1 group.

“Until then, I had never felt that I was strong or skilled, but in my first match, I was able to execute the moves I had envisioned. I set up a right body shot to weaken the stomach, and then beautifully knocked down my opponent with a left hook. I fought at my own pace the whole time and had a satisfying match. I realized it was fun.”

This time, at the request of Friday Digital, the interview was conducted in casual clothes. At first glance, she appears more delicate than a typical university student walking around the city, and her speaking style is gentle. The contrast between this beauty and her statement, “After warming up” is intriguing, which led me to ask this question.

ーーBy dedicating your youth to martial arts, is there anything you’ve “lost” as a woman?

“Lost things. For example, after school, I can’t just go out and play. I get invited quite often, but I end up saying, ‘Sorry, I have practice today.’ And when I’m invited to drinking parties, I always have to turn them down, saying, ‘I have an early practice tomorrow.’ Since I was little, not being able to hang out with friends has become normal for me, so I don’t really feel the urge to do so. But I do wonder what it would have been like if I hadn’t done martial arts. I do have a longing for a normal high school or university life.”

Matsutani says she is unaffected by the struggles of weight cutting and can freely eat what she likes, but behaviors that affect her conditioning, such as heavy drinking and partying, are forbidden.

“I don’t particularly like alcohol, but when I see my friends drinking and having fun, I do think it looks nice.”