Taiei Kin

Kin Taiei (김태영; born July 8, 1970) is a Korean-Japanese light heavyweight karateka, kickboxer and mixed martial artist competing in K-1 and DREAM.

Before switching to MMA, Kin was a distinguished fighter in the K-1, praised by both Peter Aerts and Ernesto Hoost as the best fighter to come out of Asia.

Early years
Kin Taiei (金泰泳) was born as the eldest son in Amagasaki city of Hyogo prefecture, Japan on July 8, 1970. As he is the eldest son, he's got a younger brother. Both of his parents worked till late at night, he was sent to Karate dojo for combing the care with a nursery school. He took an interest in football (soccer) at 4th year of elementary school, and dropped out training karate at 6th year. He won the Japanese national championship for junior high schools at the 3rd year. When he was a student of Kobe Korean Senior High school, he tried to start practicing boxing because he had a longing for foreign boxers, but he joined karate team in his school because his parents objected strongly. For this reason, he also joined the karate team of Korea University in Tokyo when he became a university student. During his university life, he participated a full contact karate championship promoted by Sato juku, but he was beaten by Nobuaki Kakuda. Although he lost, he was evaluated highly by Kazuyoshi Ishii, and he was invited to Seidokaikan. Thus, Kin became a student of Seidokaikan in Osaka after graduation of university.

Debut
On January 31, 1993, Kin participated "The 2nd Towa Cup Karate Japan Open Tournament", but he was beaten by Masaaki Satake in the final.

On June 25, he fought against Changpuek Kiatsongrit from Thailand for the vacant title of UKF World Light heavyweight championship at the event of "Sanctuary III", but he lost by decision.

Work as Trainer
During the years 2006 and 2007, he trained Hong-man Choi in his K-1 career. Choi improved very much during the time Kin was in his corner. They worked together for almost two years in which Choi had nine fights. He won six of them and lost three, twice against Jérôme Le Banner and once against Mighty Mo (kickboxer). Among his six wins was a win over K-1 Dominator Semmy Schilt and a Rematch win over Mighty Mo, in which Kin changed Choi's fighting style from orthodox to southpaw to block Mo's devastating overhand right better.

Titles

 * 2009 K-1 World Grand Prix in Seoul finalist
 * 1996 WMTC World Junior middleweight champion
 * 1995 Karate World Cup champion
 * 1995 K-3 Grand Prix runner up
 * 1994 UKF World Light heavyweight champion
 * 1994 Karate Japan Open finalist
 * 1993 Karate World Cup 3rd Place
 * 1993 Karate Japan Open finalist
 * 1992 Karate World Cup finalist (lost to Andy Hug)

Kickboxing record
! style=background:white colspan=9 |The bout was for the title of K-1 World Grand Prix 2009 in Seoul Asia Grand Prix Tournament. ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Despite win had to withdraw from tournament due to injury. ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Wins Wanlop's WMTC (currently WMC) World Junior middleweight Championship. ! style=background:white colspan=9 |The bout was for the vacant title of WMTC (currently WMC) World Junior middleweight Championship. ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Wins Changpuek's title of UKF World Light heavyweight Championship. ! style=background:white colspan=9 |The bout was for the vacant title of UKF World Light heavyweight Championship.
 * - bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
 * 2014-08-10 || Win ||align=left|🇯🇵 Niyama Makoto || Accelerator 28 || Japan || TKO ||  ||
 * - bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
 * 2011-12-25 || Win ||align=left|🇯🇵 Ryuji Goto || Accelerator 18 || Japan || TKO (Corner stoppage) || 2 || 3:00
 * - bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
 * 2011-06-05 || Win ||align=left|🇯🇵 Kuniyoshi || Heat 18 || Osaka, Japan || Ext.R Decision (3-0) || 4 || 3:00
 * - bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
 * 2009-11-22 || Win ||align=left|🇯🇵 Magnum Sakai || RISE 60 || Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan || Ext.R Decision (3-0) || 4 || 3:00
 * - bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
 * 2009-09-26 || Win ||align=left| Cătălin Moroşanu || K-1 World Grand Prix 2009 in Seoul Final 16 || Seoul, Korea || Disqualification || 2 || 3:00
 * - bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
 * 2009-08-02 || Loss ||align=left|🇮🇳 Singh Jaideep || K-1 World Grand Prix 2009 in Seoul Final || Seoul, Korea || Decision (3-0) || 3 || 3:00
 * - bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
 * 2009-08-02 || Win ||align=left|🇯🇵 Takumi Sato || K-1 World Grand Prix 2009 in Seoul Semi-Final || Seoul, Korea || Decision (2-1) || 3 || 3:00
 * - bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
 * 2009-08-02 || Win ||align=left|🇨🇳 Sun Wu || K-1 World Grand Prix 2009 in Seoul Quarter-Final || Seoul, Korea || TKO (doctor stoppage) || 2 || 2:00
 * - bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
 * 2007-08-05 || Win ||align=left|🇯🇵 Yusuke Fujimoto || K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Hong Kong Semi-Final || Hong Kong || TKO (Right high kick) || 2 || 1:59
 * 2007-08-05 || Win ||align=left|🇯🇵 Yusuke Fujimoto || K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Hong Kong Semi-Final || Hong Kong || TKO (Right high kick) || 2 || 1:59
 * - bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
 * 2007-08-05 || Win ||align=left|🇺🇸 Sentoryu || K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Hong Kong Quarter-Final || Seoul, Korea || TKO (Right high kick) || 1 || 1:43
 * - bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
 * 2000-07-30 || Win ||align=left|🇦🇺 Stan Longinidis || K-1 World Grand Prix 2000 in Nagoya || Nagoya, Aichi, Japan || Decision (2-0) || 3 || 3:00
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 * 1998-03-14 || Win ||align=left|🇯🇵 Taro Minato || Battle of the strongest || || ||  ||
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 * 1997-11-09 || Win ||align=left|🇯🇵 Taro Minato || K-1 Grand Prix '97 Final || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (3-0) || 5 || 3:00
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 * 1997-06-07 || Win ||align=left|🇫🇷 Orlando Wiet || K-1 Fight Night '97 || Zurich, Switzerland || Decision (3-0) || 5 || 3:00
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 * 1997 || Loss ||align=left|🇹🇭 Kong Pathapee Sor Sumalee|| Thailand || Thailand || Decision || 5
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 * 1996-09-01 || Win ||align=left|🇹🇭 Wanlop Sor.Sarthaphan || K-1 Revenge '96 || Osaka, Osaka, Japan || Decision (3-0) || 5 || 3:00
 * 1996-09-01 || Win ||align=left|🇹🇭 Wanlop Sor.Sarthaphan || K-1 Revenge '96 || Osaka, Osaka, Japan || Decision (3-0) || 5 || 3:00
 * - bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
 * 1996-03-30 || Loss ||align=left|🇹🇭 Wanlop Sor.Sarthaphan || King's Assumption 50th Anniversary Event || Thailand || Decision (3-0) || 5 || 3:00
 * 1996-03-30 || Loss ||align=left|🇹🇭 Wanlop Sor.Sarthaphan || King's Assumption 50th Anniversary Event || Thailand || Decision (3-0) || 5 || 3:00
 * - bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
 * 1996-06-02 || Win ||align=left|🇨🇭 Azem Maksutaj || K-1 Fight Night II || Zurich, Switzerland || Decision (3-0) || 5 || 3:00
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 * 1995-12-09 || Win ||align=left| Peter Theijssen || K-1 Hercules || Nagoya, Japan || TKO (Corner stoppage) || 2 || 3:00
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 * 1995-09-03 || Win ||align=left|🇦🇺 Dale Westerman || K-1 Revenge II || Yokohama, Japan || Decision (3-0) || 5 || 3:00
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 * 1995-07-16 || Loss ||align=left| Ivan Hippolyte || K-3 Grand Prix '95 || Nagoya, Japan || Decision (2-0) || 3 || 3:00
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 * 1995-07-16 || Win ||align=left|🇫🇷 Orlando Wiet || K-3 Grand Prix '95 || Nagoya, Japan || Ext.R Decision (2-0) || 4 || 3:00
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 * 1995-07-16 || Win ||align=left|🇦🇺 Gurkan Ozkan || K-3 Grand Prix '95 || Nagoya, Japan || Decision (3-0) || 3 || 3:00
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 * 1995-06-10 || Win ||align=left|🇩🇪 Iwan Mewis || K-1 Fight Night || Zurich, Switzerland || Decision (3-0) || 5 || 3:00
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 * 1995-03-25 || Draw ||align=left| Bayram Colak || K League || || Decision Draw || 5 || 3:00
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 * 1994-12-10 || Win ||align=left|🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Eugene Valerio || K-1 Legend || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (3-0) || 5 || 3:00
 * - bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
 * 1994-09-18 || Win ||align=left|🇫🇷 Orlando Wiet || K-1 Revenge || Tokyo, Japan || KO (Right high kick) || 4 || 0:08
 * - bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
 * 1994-03-04 || Win ||align=left|🇹🇭 Changpuek Kiatsongrit || K-1 Challenge || Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan || Decision (3-0) || 5 || 3:00
 * 1994-03-04 || Win ||align=left|🇹🇭 Changpuek Kiatsongrit || K-1 Challenge || Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan || Decision (3-0) || 5 || 3:00
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 * 1993-12-05 || Loss ||align=left|🇦🇺 Paul Briggs || Revenge || Melbourne, Australia || KO (Right knee) || 1 || 2:55
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 * 1993-11-15 || Win ||align=left|🇺🇸 Tommy Rhinehart || K-1 Andy's Glove || Tokyo, Japan || KO (Kick) || 1 || 2:04
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 * 1993-09-04 || Win ||align=left|🇹🇭 Phothai Chorwaikool || K-1 Illusion || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (3-0) || 5 || 3:00
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 * 1993-06-25 || Loss ||align=left|🇹🇭 Changpuek Kiatsongrit || Sanctuary III || Osaka, Osaka, Japan || Decision (3-0) || 5 || 3:00
 * 1993-06-25 || Loss ||align=left|🇹🇭 Changpuek Kiatsongrit || Sanctuary III || Osaka, Osaka, Japan || Decision (3-0) || 5 || 3:00
 * - bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
 * 1993-04-03 || Win ||align=left|🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Michael Thompson || K-1 Grand Prix '93 || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (3-0) || 5 || 3:00
 * colspan=9 | Legend:
 * colspan=9 | Legend:
 * colspan=9 | Legend:

Karate record

 * - bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
 * 1993-10-03 || Loss ||align=left|🇯🇵 Masaaki Satake || Karate World Cup '93 || Japan || ||  ||
 * - bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
 * 1993-10-03 || Win ||align=left|🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Michael Thompson || Karate World Cup '93 || Japan || ||  ||
 * - bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
 * 1993-10-03 || Win ||align=left|🇯🇵 Atsushi Tamaki || Karate World Cup '93 || Japan|| ||  ||
 * colspan=9 | Legend:
 * colspan=9 | Legend:
 * colspan=9 | Legend:

Mixed martial arts record

 * Win
 * align=center| 4–3
 * Sentoryū Henri
 * TKO (corner stoppage)
 * Heat - Heat 16
 * November 06 2010
 * align=center| 1
 * align=center| 4:01
 * Osaka, Japan
 * Loss
 * align=center| 3–3
 * Zelg Galesic
 * TKO (elbow injury)
 * Dream 4: Middleweight Grand Prix 2008 Second Round
 * June 15 2008
 * align=center| 1
 * align=center| 1:05
 * Yokohama, Japan
 * Win
 * align=center| 3–2
 * Ikuhisa Minowa
 * Decision (unanimous)
 * Dream 2: Middleweight Grand Prix 2008 First Round
 * April 29 2008
 * align=center| 2
 * align=center| 5:00
 * Saitama, Japan
 * Loss
 * align=center| 2–2
 * Zelg Galešić
 * TKO (doctor stoppage)
 * Hero's 2007 in Korea
 * October 28 2007
 * align=center| 1
 * align=center| 0:36
 * Seoul, South Korea
 * Win
 * align=center| 2–1
 * Kiyoshi Tamura
 * Decision (unanimous)
 * Hero's 9
 * July 16 2007
 * align=center| 2
 * align=center| 5:00
 * Yokohama, Japan
 * Win
 * align=center| 1–1
 * Tokimitsu Ishizawa
 * KO (head kick)
 * K-1 Premium Dynamite!! 2006
 * December 31 2006
 * align=center| 1
 * align=center| 2:48
 * Osaka, Japan
 * Loss
 * align=center| 0–1
 * Yoshihiro Akiyama
 * Technical Submission (armbar)
 * Hero's 6
 * August 5 2006
 * align=center| 1
 * align=center| 2:01
 * Tokyo, Japan
 * Hero's 2006 Light Heavyweight Grand Prix quarter-final.
 * }
 * Loss
 * align=center| 0–1
 * Yoshihiro Akiyama
 * Technical Submission (armbar)
 * Hero's 6
 * August 5 2006
 * align=center| 1
 * align=center| 2:01
 * Tokyo, Japan
 * Hero's 2006 Light Heavyweight Grand Prix quarter-final.
 * }
 * Hero's 2006 Light Heavyweight Grand Prix quarter-final.
 * }