Tariel Nikoleishvili — IKO Absolute World Champion

Biography

Tariel Gelaevich Nikoleishvili is one of the most prominent Russian Kyokushin fighters of the early 2010s, the absolute IKO Kyokushinkaikan world champion, and a representative of the generation that cemented Russia’s leadership on the world stage.

He was born on April 6, 1991. He holds the title of Honored Master of Sport of Russia and a 3rd dan black belt. In January 2008 Tariel passed his 1st dan examination, in February 2010 his 2nd dan, and in January 2018 he received his 3rd dan.

Path in Kyokushin

Tariel began training in Kyokushin as a child and quickly distinguished himself as an exceptionally powerful and disciplined athlete. At a young age he started winning Russian tournaments and entered the ranks of the country’s top heavyweights.

Regular appearances at international IKO tournaments played a major role in his development, giving him experience fighting top Japanese, European, and Brazilian competitors.

World Open performances

Tariel Nikoleishvili’s greatest achievement was his victory at the 10th IKO Kyokushinkaikan Absolute World Championship in 2011. That victory stands as one of the most significant results in Russian Kyokushin history.

At the tournament, Tariel displayed a dominant fighting style and defeated the world’s top heavyweights.

Victories and placements

World Championships

  • 2011 — IKO Absolute World Champion.

European Championships

  • 2010 — European Champion.

Russian Championships

  • 2008 — Russian Champion;
  • 2010 — Russian Champion.

All Japan Open

  • 2010 — Absolute Japanese Champion;
  • 2010 — Japanese Champion.

International IKO tournaments

Winner and prize-winner at international IKO tournaments;

one of the leading names in the world heavyweight rankings of the early 2010s.

Special awards

Winner of the national «Golden Belt» award in the category «Best Athlete of 2010»;

Winner of the «Hope of the Year» award from the Kyokushinkai Association of Russia (2007);

Winner of the «Fighter of the Year» award from the Kyokushinkai Association of Russia (2008).

Tariel Nikoleishvili has gone down in history as one of the most successful Russian IKO Kyokushinkaikan heavyweights. His victory at the 2011 Absolute World Championship was a landmark moment in the development of Russian Kyokushin and definitively confirmed the high level of the Russian full-contact karate school.