Kensaku Maeda is a Japanese former professional Kickboxer, former K-1 WORLD GP Japan producer.
20 Facts About Kensaku Maeda
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Kensaku Maeda is renowned as the founder and head trainer of the successful kickboxing gym Team Dragon.
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Kensaku Maeda made his Muay Thai debut in 1989 at the Nakhon Pathom Stadium where he won by decision, following the experience he decided to switch from Shootboxing rules to Japanese Kickboxing in Japan and joined the All Japan Kickboxing Federation with the ambition to be ranked in the major Bangkok Stadiums.
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Kensaku Maeda lost his AJKF Featherweight title in a rematch with Atsushi Tateshima on November 27,1993.
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Kensaku Maeda rebounded by winning his first world title the next year on July 30,1994, against the American Lawrence Miera by TKO for the WKA Muay Thai World Super Featherweight title.
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Kensaku Maeda's fighting success added to his good looks made him a popular figure in media.
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Kensaku Maeda appeared in the live-action adaptation of Abare Bunya.
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In 1999 Kensaku Maeda founded Team Dragon with Taishin Kohiruimaki and Charn a Thai trainer.
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On December 5,1999, Kensaku Maeda faced Australia's Brad Hemming at K-1 Grand Prix '99 final round.
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Kensaku Maeda was defeated by unanimous decision after five rounds.
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On May 12,2000, at K-1 King of the Ring 2000 Kensaku Maeda won a double world title match beating Massimo Rizzoli by second-round TKO.
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Kensaku Maeda conserved the WKA Muay Thai World title and won the WAKO PRO Muay Thai World Super Featherweight title.
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Kensaku Maeda's retirement fight happened on October 11,2002, at K-1 World MAX 2002 Champions' Challenge.
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Kensaku Maeda won a three rounds unanimous decision against Miroslav Safra.
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The day following his retirement fight Kensaku Maeda officially opened his own Kickboxing gym called Team Dragon in Tokyo and would focus on being a Kickboxing instructor.
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Kensaku Maeda's work showed impressive results quickly some of his students started to win titles in various organizations.
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On January 28,2008 K-1 hired Kensaku Maeda to supervise the youth development of future K-1 fighters leading to the creation of K-1 Koshien, a tournament to determine the best under 18 amateur kickboxers of the country.
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In 2010 Team Dragon and Kensaku Maeda received the Best Dojo award for their success in the Shin Karate Grand Prix.
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On May 25,2014, Kensaku Maeda was introduced as producer of the newly created K-1 WORLD GP JAPAN, he had to leave the head of Team Dragon rebranded K-1 Gym Dragon to one of his trainers Masakazu Watanabe.
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On September 9,2016, for undisclosed reasons Kensaku Maeda was forced to resign by the K-1 company and replaced by Mitsuru Miyata the former Krush producer.