Yoshihiro Akiyama aka Choo Sung hoon, one of the contestants of Netflix’s Physical: 100, is a judoka and mixed martial artist from Japan. The Korean MMA fighter won gold medals for South Korea at the Asian Championships in 2001 and for Japan at the Asian Games in 2002. As a fourth-generation Japanese of Korean descent, the 47-year-old martial artist obtained Japanese nationality in 2001. Additionally, Choo Sung married his wife, Akiyama Shiho (a Japanese model), in March 2009, after dating her since January 2007.
Physical: 100, the first Netflix Korean survival reality series, is now available to stream. On January 24, the first two episodes debuted on the streaming service, and many people tuned in to see what it was all about. Jang Ho-gi created the competition reality show. There are nine episodes in total, with two new episodes released every Tuesday on Netflix.
The show follows 100 contestants, each having a distinctive physique and representing a variety of races, ages, and genders. They participate in challenging competitions to show off their physical prowess and compete for the glory of having the most ideal body. Of course, the winner will also get a 300 million won cash reward, or around $243,177.90 (USD).
National team athletes, weight lifters, actors, bodybuilders, ice climbers, influencers, TV personalities, MMA fighters, and other professionals make up the cast. Some of the contestants may even be familiar to you, including Yoshihiro Akiyama aka Choo Sung Hoon, who is a Japanese mixed martial artist, and judoka. And, if you are curious to know more about Choo Sung Hoon, here is everything you need to know!
Additionally, know about the Iron Man admirer, Yang Hak-seon, Kim Chun Ri, and Shin Bo Mi Rae.
Choo Sung Hoon From Physical 100: The 47-Year-Old Korean MMA Fighter Won Gold Medals for South Korea at the 2001 Asian Championships and for Japan at the 2002 Asian Games!
Yoshihiro Akiyama (@akiyamachoo) (born July 29, 1975), also known as Choo Sung hoon and by his nickname Sexyama, is a Japanese judoka and mixed martial artist who won gold medals for South Korea at the 2001 Asian Championships and for Japan at the 2002 Asian Games. He obtained Japanese nationality in 2001 as a fourth-generation Japanese of Korean descent. Choo Sung hoon married famous Japanese model Akiyama Shiho (@shiho_style) in March 2009, after dating her since January 2007. They also have a daughter named Choo Sarang.
Choo Sung hoon, 47, was a decorated Judoka prior to his professional mixed martial arts career. He began Judo training at the age of three. He has also trained with Greg Jackson in Karate, Boxing, Kick Boxing, Wrestling, and Submission Wrestling. Choo later won the gold medal for South Korea at the 2001 Asian Judo Championships. And won the gold medal for Japan at the 2002 Asian Games, defeating Ahn Dong-Jin of South Korea in the finals.
On December 31, 2004, Choo Sung hoon made his MMA debut in the K-1 Premium 2004 Dynamite event, where he defeated boxer Francois Botha by armbar submission in the first round. His first defeat was to Jerome LeBanner (@lebannerofficial), who knocked him out with knees in his second fight at the HERO’S 1 event on March 26, 2005, despite the fact that LeBanner is a heavyweight who weighed 262 pounds, while he weighed 189.5 pounds.
On January 11, Choo Sung hoon and FEG (the parent company of K-1) held a press conference during which he claimed that he used Olay lotion prior to the fight to treat a worn gi. In the locker room before the fight, Akiyama was seen casually applying six bottles of lotion to his body. As a result, Sung hoon was disqualified, and his prize money was withheld. Six days later, he was suspended indefinitely from the HERO’S competition.
However, public outrage against Choo Sung hoon did not abate, and Nike was inundated with complaints when he appeared in a Japanese television commercial. Though Sung hoon admitted to applying cream to his skin, he stated that the goal was not to gain an unfair advantage, but rather to treat his dry skin.
Choo Sung hoon’s FEG-imposed suspension was lifted, and FEG announced that he would return to K-1 Hero’s in Seoul on October 28, 2007. Denis Kang, who was a finalist in the PRIDE Bushido Grand Prix 2006 and was making his Hero’s debut, was his opponent. Despite being the underdog, he defeated Kang by KO in the first round.
Choo Sung hoon announced his contract with ONE Championship three years after his previous fight. On June 20, 2019, Akiyama faced Agilan Thani in a co-headliner bout at ONE Championship: Legendary Quest. He was defeated by a unanimous decision.
On February 28, 2020, Choo Sung Hoon faced Sherif Mohamed in ONE Championship 109: King of the Jungle. He won by knockout in the first round, his first strike stoppage in nearly 13 years. He was originally scheduled to face Mohammad Karaki on April 21, 2021, at ONE on TNT 3. However, the fight was called off, and he was scheduled to face Eduard Folayang on April 28, 2021, at ONE on TNT 4. However, due to an injury sustained during training camp, Choo Sung Hoon withdrew from the fight, and the fight was subsequently canceled.
On March 26, 2022, Choo Sung Hoon faced Shinya Aoki in ONE: X. After being dominated for the majority of the first round and nearly being submitted, Choo Sung Hoon won by technical knockout in the second round.
Check out Blurred Reality for more interesting stories about your favorite celebs.
Shreeyantra Rai is a seasoned content creator with 3 years of work experience, crafting engaging and impactful content for Selectiveeyes Group Pvt. Ltd. With a significant investment of time in the realm of content creation, Shreeyantra excels at translating complex ideas into clear and concise narratives that resonate with audiences.
More than just a wordsmith, Shreeyantra brings a unique blend of technical expertise to the table, including website development, data analysis, and SEO optimization. This allows Shreeyantra to craft compelling content and ensure it reaches the right audience by strategically optimizing its online presence.
Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Computer and Data Science, Shreeyantra is passionate about infusing creativity with technology. This unique blend of skills enables Shreeyantra to approach content creation with a data-driven mindset, ensuring effectiveness and measurable results.
Outside of work and studies, Shreeyantra enjoys unwinding with a good game, immersing in music, and staying active with sports and workouts.