Ryo Kiyuna

Ryo Kiyuna (born 12 July 1990)[2] is a Japanese karateka. He is a three-time gold medalist in the men's kata event at the World Karate Championships and a two-time gold medalist in the men's team kata event, alongside Arata Kinjo and Takuya Uemura.[3] He is also a four-time gold medalist in both the individual and team kata events at the Asian Karate Championships.

Ryo Kiyuna

Ryo Kiyuna in 2018
Personal information
Born	12 July 1990 Okinawa, Japan[1]
Sport
Country	Japan
Sport	Karate
Medal record Men's karate Representing  Japan World Championships 2014 Bremen Individual kata 2016 Linz Individual kata 2018 Madrid Individual kata 2016 Linz Team kata 2018 Madrid Team kata 2012 Paris Individual kata Asian Championships 2015 Yokohama Individual kata 2017 Astana Individual kata 2018 Amman Individual kata 2019 Tashkent Individual kata 2015 Yokohama Team kata 2017 Astana Team kata 2018 Amman Team kata 2019 Tashkent Team kata 2013 Dubai Individual kata Asian Games 2018 Jakarta Individual kata World Games 2017 Wrocław Individual kata 2013 Cali Individual kata World Combat Games 2013 Saint Petersburg Individual kata

He is scheduled to represent Japan at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan in karate.[4][5]

Career

In 2012, at the 2012 World Karate Championships held in Paris, France, he won one of the bronze medals in the men's individual kata event.[6] The following year, he represented Japan at the 2013 World Games in Cali, Colombia and he won the bronze medal in the men's kata event.[7]

In 2014, at the 2014 World Karate Championships held in Bremen, Germany, he won the gold medal in the men's individual kata event.[6][8] At the 2016 World Karate Championships held in Linz, Austria, he won the gold medal in both the men's individual and men's team kata events.[6][8][9] In 2017, he won the gold medal in the men's kata event at the 2017 World Games held in Wrocław, Poland.[6][10][11] In the final, he defeated Damián Quintero of Spain.[11]

At the 2018 Asian Karate Championships held in Amman, Jordan, he won the gold medal in the men's kata event.[12] A month later, he won the gold medal in the men's kata event at the 2018 Asian Games held in Jakarta, Indonesia.[6][2][13] In the final, he defeated Wang Yi-ta of Taiwan. In 2019, at the 2019 Asian Karate Championships held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, he won the gold medal in both the men's individual kata and men's team kata events.[14][15]

Personal life

He studied at Okinawa International University.[1] In December 2020, he contracted COVID-19.[16]

Achievements

Year	Competition	Venue	Rank	Event
2012	World Championships	Paris, France	3rd	Individual kata
2013	World Games	Cali, Colombia	3rd	Individual kata
	World Combat Games	Saint Petersburg, Russia	2nd	Individual kata
	Asian Championships	Dubai, United Arab Emirates	3rd	Individual kata
2014	World Championships	Bremen, Germany	1st	Individual kata
2015	Asian Championships	Yokohama, Japan	1st	Individual kata
			1st	Team kata
2016	World Championships	Linz, Austria	1st	Individual kata
			1st	Team kata
2017	Asian Championships	Astana, Kazakhstan	1st	Individual kata
			1st	Team kata
	World Games	Wrocław, Poland	1st	Individual kata
2018	Asian Championships	Amman, Jordan	1st	Individual kata
			1st	Team kata
	Asian Games	Jakarta, Indonesia	1st	Individual kata
	World Championships	Madrid, Spain	1st	Individual kata
			1st	Team kata
2019	Asian Championships	Tashkent, Uzbekistan	1st	Individual kata
			1st	Team kata

References

1. "Ryo Kiyuna determined to win gold medal at Tokyo Olympics, "I train 365 days a year"". Ryukyu Shimpo. 1 January 2020. Archived from the original on 4 June 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
2. "Karate Results" (PDF). 2018 Asian Games. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 April 2020. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
3. "Remembering the 2018 Karate World Championships". World Karate Federation. 11 November 2020. Archived from the original on 13 November 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
4. "WKF announces first qualified athletes for Tokyo 2020". WKF.net. 18 March 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
5. Shefferd, Neil (18 March 2020). "World Karate Federation announces first 40 karatekas to have qualified for Tokyo 2020". InsideTheGames.biz. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
6. Hernon, Matthew (16 August 2019). "Meet the Tokyo 2020 Athletes: Karate Sensation Ryo Kiyuna". Tokyo Weekender. Archived from the original on 4 June 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
7. "Karate Medalists by Event" (PDF). 2013 World Games. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 August 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
8. Etchells, Daniel (29 October 2016). "Four gold medals for Japan on opening day of finals at 2016 Karate World Championships". InsideTheGames.biz. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
9. Etchells, Daniel (30 October 2016). "Japan top medal table at 2016 Karate World Championships after claiming team kata double on final day". InsideTheGames.biz. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
10. "Kiyuna, Shimizu win gold in karate kata at World Games". The Japan Times. 26 July 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
11. "Karate Results" (PDF). 2017 World Games. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 April 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
12. Etchells, Daniel (14 July 2018). "Japan claim seven gold medals at Asian Karate Championships". InsideTheGames.biz. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
13. Etchells, Daniel (25 August 2018). "Unified Korean team win dragon boat bronze medal on historic day at 2018 Asian Games". InsideTheGames.biz. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
14. Rowbottom, Mike (20 July 2019). "Japan earn six titles but Uzbek hosts also golden at Asian Karate Championships". InsideTheGames.biz. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
15. "2019 Asian Karate Championships Results" (PDF). World Karate Federation. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 April 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
16. Berkeley, Geoff (19 December 2020). "Karate world champion Kiyuna contracts coronavirus as cases rise in Japan". InsideTheGames.biz. Archived from the original on 19 December 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2020.

External links

• Ryo Kiyuna at International World Games Association
• Ryo Kiyuna at KarateRec.com