In Ciudad Lineal, among the secret facades and neighboring shops, There is a door that leads to another time. Upon entering Kyofu, founded in 1969, the air thickens with the scent of worn-out tatami, elaborate leather and long hours of effort. … It’s one of those places where the sound of gloves against bags creates a rhythm that seems alien to outside life. Here, when you walk through the door, the decorations disappear and only the essentials remain. As his mentor, David Balarezo, says, “Bala,”It’s a club with a lot of history, a lot of importance, and it’s a modest club, but it has a lot of history. Kyofu, along with Budokan and two other schools, is the oldest martial arts club in Spain.
He himself remembers how this military temple developed. “Previously, there were only judo and karate, which was what existed in Spain at that time, and over the course of 21 years we added other martial arts.” Said with the calmness of someone who has dedicated his life to a legacy. In his words, the philosophy of the place is summarized in: “Loyalty, foundation and discipline.” For him, values are as important as technology. “You can have good marketing, you can have good storytelling, you can make money, but if you don’t have good underpinnings…”“, explains David. That’s why Cuovo, despite its appearance as a neighborhood gym, has become a national powerhouse. “The data backs us up. The number of championships we’ve won, the Madrid Federation championships… I don’t know if we’re the best or not, but we definitely believe we’re a force on the national level,” he finished his explanation.
Calm and fire in Kyofo
This almost familiar but harsh atmosphere is what Oriol “Respito” Arenas lives in, who after finishing training sits with his hands still warm. His history with contact sports began with karate, which his entire family did, continued with boxing for two years and led into mixed martial arts (MMA) after falling in love with old Pride videos when he was just a teenager. He left Barcelona because he needed to move on: “There comes a point in my life when I decide to make the decision to move because there I felt a little more stuck. I said everything and came here and changed my life completely. What he found in Madrid was a military house. “For me, Kyofu is my home, it is my temple… It is a place to learn and grow, it is sacred.”
Oriol Arenas, from Qufu
It is not surprising that Balarezo speaks about it with absolute conviction. Oriol is a certainty… he may be the future of this country’s featherweight division. It is not a promise, it is a reality. His nickname “Respect” came not from a marketing strategy but from himself. In an era dominated by the urgency to sell fights to the general public, using foul language or personal attacks, Arenas proudly carries the flag of the authentic martial artist, with historically nurtured values. “I always introduce myself by greeting myself respectfully, both to myself and to others. You’ll never see me in a fight doing “small talk.” His mentality, shall we say, is that of a true martial artist: Optimization, technology and the obsession to improve. Before the Eighth War, he studies his rival, Hélio Leal, with calm calculation: “He is a dangerous, brave and courageous fighter…but I always trust in my skills and strategy.” It doesn’t make predictions, but it does make a commitment. “I will be ready for anything and give a great performance.”sentence.
At the other end of the gym, and with a completely different but equally magnetic card, is Ernesto “El Potro” Chissano. He sweats, always feels like he just came out of a fight, and laughs when he talks about being overweight. “Here, look, sweating to lose kilos.” His last fight, a massive five-rounder against Stefan Sibisaho, left its mark on the audience and him. “Physically very good, I felt very good,” he recalls, without any drama or excuses, although he recognizes that the slippery fabric played a role. “I’m a man who doesn’t look for excuses.” Returning to the Vista Alegre Palace, the same cage where he made his professional debut, excites him: “I’m very excited,” he admits. Although he had a week left, he had to change opponents, since Ewan McKenzie was injured. Substitute Neal Cobra comes from Brazil with a 4-1 record. For the Welshman, his expectations were clear: “On December 6, I will win. Another KO will happen ». However, this last-minute change does not prevent him from moving forward. He announced on social media: “Different competitor, but the result is the same.”
Ernesto Chissano
His arrival in Kyofu was a natural discovery. I trained at another gym, but felt like I needed something more. This feeling was confirmed after watching a class at the gym in Ciudad Lineal. “I saw that there were a lot of levels, and the sparring partners were very difficult and I said: ‘Damn, I want more’.” What he found here was family. “For me, Kyofu is everything. “They gave me all the education, both athletic and personal.”. His life, although it revolves around fighting, seeks space for the most intimate. “I love spending time now with my daughter and my wife, and she is the person who supports me in everything.”
The quarry supports the temple
And on the same tatami that Ernesto and Oriol stepped on, Salman Zubair prepares, younger and calmer, but with a determination that fits perfectly with the gym culture. On December 6, he will face Leo Clement, one of the most prominent media figures on the scene. For him, the fight is simple yet formidable. “It’s another fight and another opponent… He’s a tough opponent, honestly.” He knows he’s not the favorite and that’s what fuels him. “I’m the underdog and it motivates me and something incredible will happen,” he says confidently. Training with stars of the caliber of Arenas and Chissano could intimidate anyone, but for him it is a boost. “It is a very high level, thanks to them I have improved a lot.”. In Kyofu, admiration is not directed toward distant figures, but toward fellow races and strikes. “They, Rafa, Chapo, all the professionals, even the coach, are examples for us,” he says.
Perhaps the key to a gym’s power is found in its sense of clan and tribe. Ernesto explains it without needing embellishment. “If someone fights, it doesn’t matter. “He’ll support the entire Kiofu over there.” This spirit is what David Balarezo tries to nurture when he runs synchronous camps. For him, not everything is a strategy, because “sometimes it is very important to manage the athlete internally.” When the lights of Vista Alegre Palace turn on on December 6th and the hype grows, its warriors will come out to fight with more than just their talent. They will carry 56 years of history on their shoulders. They will carry the voice of the bala, the values of the dojo, the strong sparring partners, the tattered tatami mats, the essence of a place where the rules of work and ego are left at the door. Kyofu is not a gym, it is a temple. 8 The war will be a massacre.