KWU SENSHI Leaders

7. Dan, nickname “Chiquinho,” President of the KWU SENSHI South America

Francisco Filho is a Brazilian Kyokushin Karateka and kickboxer. He is one of the few karatekas to have successfully completed the 100-man kumite more than once.

He holds notable K-1 wins over Sam Greco, Andy Hug, Remy Bonjasky, Ernesto Hoost, Peter Aerts, and Stefan Leko.

Francisco Filho started Kyokushin around the age of 10 and received a black belt six and a half years later. He made his professional K-1 fighting debut on July 20, 1997, at the K-1 Dream ’97 tournament against Kyokushin and Seidokaikan fighter Andy Hug. This was their second encounter, the first being at the 5th Kyokushin World Tournament in 1991, which resulted in a controversial knockout victory for Filho with a technique that connected after the bell rang. The second fight was also won by Filho quickly earning the Brazilian a large fan base in Japan as well as making him one of the then top contenders for the K-1 World GP Championship title.

This incredible Brazilian Legend did 100-man kumite twice within a short period of two months. The first time was in Brazil, and the second time in Japan, on the same day as Kenji Yamaki. He then went on, in the same year, to also place 3rd in the November 1995 World Championships. Jake also kindly provided the results of Filho’s two sessions. The Brazilian bouts were 1 minute and 30 seconds each. and the event took 2 hours and 45 minutes to complete. The Japanese bouts were probably the regulation of 2 minutes each, with no total time provided.

Brazil – Japan
Ippon gachi (full point) 41 – 26
Waza-ari (half point)) 18 – 38
Yusei Gachi (decision) 9 – 12
hike wake (draw) 32 – 24
Losses 0 0

Shihan Filho’s last professional fight was on 30 April 2004, in the Kyokushin vs. K-1 2004 All Out Battle (Tokyo, Japan), which he won against Remy Bonjasky.