They Laughed at Her Side Kick… Until Mona Kimura Made Them Pay

They laughed at Mona Kimura's unusual side kick. They thought it looked more like an acrobatic move than a serious weapon in the ring. But Mona kept perfecting it—and her opponents soon discovered just how difficult it could be to deal with. Against experienced Japanese fighter Satoko Ozawa, Mona used her signature kick to control the distance and put constant pressure on her opponent. She followed that performance with victories over Ai Ogiwara and Yuka, showing how her striking could overwhelm opponents or control a fight over multiple rounds. Then came Eun Ji Choi, who proved far more difficult to break down. And against Switzerland's Marine Nicol, Mona faced a close, hard-fought battle that went into an extra round before she secured the victory. This is the story of how Mona Kimura turned an unconventional-looking technique into a defining weapon—and why controlling distance can make all the difference in kickboxing. Was Mona's side kick the key to her success, or was it her timing, precision, and ability to control the range? Watch the fights and share your verdict in the comments. Subscribe to SportEye for more martial arts stories, unusual fighting styles, and fighters who challenge expectations. They Laughed at Her Side Kick… Until Mona Kimura Made Them Pay #kickboxing #martialarts #kick #power #women