2012 World champion, pioneer of the French team for a decade, Kenji Grillon, who ended his kumite career after the 2022 French championships, is preparing to take up a new challenge. Saturday, October 29, it is in Orlando (USA) that he will make his debut in Karate Combat. His opponent the Greeks, Gidakos is eagerly awaited by the Frenchman.

By Florian Fournier / Photos : Nicolas Leport

How have you come to do Karate Combat ?

I have always been a combat sports addict. Whether it’s Boxing, Kickboxing, Thai Boxing and even the beginnings of MMA, I try to follow as many disciplines as possible. When the Karate Combat organization was launched, I looked at it from the outside, but a first approach was made to participate.

However, being in full preparation for the Olympic Games, I rejected the offer. Then, came the end of my career in karate kumite and still feeling in good shape, I wanted to try this new adventure and this new challenge of karate combat.

In terms of preparation, what differences do you make with those of your years in Kumite?

The beginnings were not easy. I train at the Mahmoudi gym, a club renowned for its kick and punch training, with Nicolas Ott who also takes care of my physical preparation and my nutrition.

First of all, you should know that Karate Combat is a fairly hybrid discipline. It’s not karate as we know it on the WKF circuit, it’s not boxing, or Kick, or Thai, or even MMA. We remain in a discipline close to karate at the technical level, for the distance also, even if clinches are authorized.

The big difference is in the rhythm of the fight. I had to get used to hitting without listening to the referee’s « Yame » for 3X3 minutes. The difficulty encountered at the beginning was the management of the number of blows to be given so as not to be exhausted after 30 seconds.

I learned combos and to hurt, because the notion of KO comes into play. Now, I can say it because my preparation is over but I have never trained so hard.

Did the switch with the idea of being able to knock out come quickly in your mind ?

This change came naturally. It is true that after 20 years of the same discipline, change cannot be made in the snap of a finger. But I worked, I trained and now I am ready for Karate Combat.

I did not transform my karate, I simply added hardness, impact on my strength points. Then, the work was done mainly on the notion of exchange of blows that we do not find in Karate and on the work in short distance.

You will face a single opponent and not several, is it also a change in your preparation?

This is a very important point and one that changes a lot of things. For years, I was preparing to face different types of opponents without knowing if I was going to meet them or when I was going to meet them.

In a karate competition, we know our 1^st round the day before at the international level and after, it is the unknown.

There, being able to focus only on one person changes everything. I was able to analyze him and build my game plan.

Can you tell us a word about your opponent ?

He is an opponent who is experienced, with 3 fights (2w/1l). The advantage I have over him is that I was able to analyze him, whereas for him, I am the unknown.

Anyway, I can’t wait to meet him. I’m in good shape, ready to step into the arena and get a win. The hardest part of this adventure is the diet. I fight in -75 kg and the cutting hurts.

What goals do you have by joining this organization ?

I have no limit. I’m going to work, find out how it goes. The first goal is to win this fight, then to see the proposals and keep going as far as possible.

If I want to win a belt, I have to be « no limit », especially since time is running out for me (he’s 33 years old). But, one thing is certain, I go there with the same state of mind as in karate, to have zero regrets and to give 100%. Saturday, I will be there to win and impress. In these disciplines, you have to impress the boss if you want to go higher.

Did you sign for a defined number of fights ?

Everything will be decided after the first fight. In my contract, I signed for 4 fights but with my manager, we would like more. So the outcome of this 1st fight will allow us to see if things can evolve in the right direction to make more fights.