Fight or Suicide

Hanbyo Oniyama is an MMA fighter. He found most of his life to be worthless. Until he had a near life death experience that changed his life. He was born again the day he started MMA.

I want to leave a legacy behind. A name that will be remembered. I want a wikipedia page.

I did not want to live until I found MMA. Before then I had wanted a short life span. I am relieved to find a purpose. Before MMA, Everyday was the same. Like if I was a robot just going through the motions. Soulless.

To live firmly is to live with strength. 

I feel my heart is weak, so I need to strengthen my body to compensate for it. 

I was born and raised in Ibaraki-ken, as soon as I moved to Saitama and started my new life as a fighter, I never went back. Its been many years now. I only see my family when they visit Saitama once or twice a year.

My family is Jehovah Witnesses. They do not support my lifestyle but I feel that they do care and worry about me.

Most fighter’s in Japan are not wealthy. We need to have part time jobs to sustain our livelihood.

I work part time at a nursing home. I feed and wash the elderly. Most are in their 80s and 90s. 

The most difficult thing right now is time. I need time to train, to practice, time to get stronger. The biggest challenge is time.

When my life as a fighter ends, I will find another way of life.

I don’t care who my opponent is...if he is ranked higher than me, then I want to fight him.

I had a near death experience when I was 17. I got hit by a car and I found myself in a beautiful field of flowers. I soon woke up. I had a broken leg and punctured lungs. I have a metal tube in my leg because the bone had snapped. I was lucky to not need a blood transplant as my family would have refused it due to their religious beliefs. That experience got me to want to give my life meaning and search for a reason to live. I no longer wanted to die. After that I believed God exists.