‘He Learned Along With Me’ – Kaito’s Unique Bond With His Father Fuels Him In Showdown With Marat Grigorian

Rather than resting during the delay, Kaito’s dad doubled down on his film study. He crafted a specific blueprint designed to neutralize Grigorian’s relentless forward pressure and expose his openings.

The Japanese sensation explained:

“Since my fight with Marat Grigorian was first announced last year, my father studied my opponent’s style extensively. Then it was cancelled, but since then, we knew we would face Grigorian some time in the future, so my dad continued to study his style relentlessly.

“We know what his strengths and weaknesses are, and my dad has made a strong game plan for me to fight him.”

Kaito’s unbreakable bond with his father forged a level of trust impossible to replicate in a traditional gym. Every combination he throws and every defensive read he executes traces directly back to the hours spent working together.

Navigating the global stage brings intense pressure, but the Japanese star finds ultimate confidence in the voice guiding him. He views his entire martial arts identity as a direct reflection of his lifelong mentor.

The 28-year-old added:

“I believe my father is the one who shaped me into the fighter I am, so he’s everything to me. My fighting is entirely shaped by my father. He’s someone I truly respect, and I’d say he’s a one-of-a-kind trainer.”

Kaito’s Singular Focus On Greatness Drives Him

To execute that game plan, Kaito Ono maintains a single-minded lifestyle.

While many athletes rely on outside hobbies to decompress from the rigors of training camp, the Japanese star refuses to disconnect.

He embraces a 24-hour martial arts mindset, viewing the constant immersion not as a burden, but as the strict foundation of his success. If he ever steps away from the gym, it will only be to repay the people who built him.

Kaito said:

“My entire life is just all about fighting and training. It’s all I do. I just do martial arts 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Of course, I sometimes go out and have dinner with my friends and catch up. But even then, I am still thinking about martial arts. It is my life.

“I think my family has sacrificed a lot for me to reach my dreams in martial arts. So, I think I would want to take them on vacation and spend some time with them outside of martial arts.”

Before any vacations can materialize, he must handle the business in front of him. Grigorian publicly promised to break through Kaito’s guard and score a knockout in Tokyo.

The Japanese striker hears the threats, but he plans to flip the script and deliver a highlight-reel finish of his own in front of his home crowd.

He concluded:

“It is a very important fight in my career. Of course, I want to make my dad proud. This fight means a lot to the both of us.

“It will not be easy, but I am going to finish him. I think this will be a very exciting fight, and I think it’s not going to go the distance. It’s going to be a good fight for the fans. But I see myself beating him and knocking him out.”

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