Rukiya “Demolition Man” Anpo

Rukiya “Demolition Man” Anpo has worn many labels in his career – prodigy, champion, entertainer. But the one that fits him best has always been the simplest: hungry for more.

Born in Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture, Anpo was the second of three brothers in a household where martial arts was a way of life. Alongside his younger brother Riku, he drilled relentlessly on the dojo floor from a very young age. He started off with Kyokushin karate at the remarkable age of three, and by the fifth grade, he transitioned to gloved karate, laying the groundwork for the professional kickboxing career that would follow.

Anpo made his professional kickboxing debut in August 2011 at just 15 years old. The early years were turbulent, but the hunger never wavered. Anpo made a pivotal move to Tokyo with his brother, joining the renowned TRY HARD GYM and embarking on an impressive run in K-1 that announced him as one of Japan’s most dangerous young talents.

In 2018, the brothers took their biggest leap yet – they left TRY HARD GYM to open their own dojo, ALL WIN, in Osaka. Anpo backed it up immediately, capturing the K-1 Super Lightweight Title in 2019 and successfully defending it twice.

A challenge for the K-1 Welterweight Title against Masaaki Noiri ended in defeat, a result that still burns. That frustration became fuel, and following a statement victory over Kaito Ono in their rematch, Anpo walked away from K-1 in 2022.

What followed his K-1 departure included a headline-grabbing exhibition bout against boxing legend Manny Pacquiao in 2024, a moment that unlocked a new level of confidence and belief.

Away from competition, Anpo is equally restless. The “Demolition Man” has built a YouTube channel of nearly 700,000 subscribers, giving fans an unfiltered look into his world. He also moonlights as a DJ, a passion he intends to pursue professionally long after he hangs up his gloves.

But now, Anpo has returned to kickboxing and has set his sights on World Title gold in ONE Championship, where Noiri also happens to compete. The Japanese star won’t rest until he captures 26 pounds of gold and settles his unfinished business.