Early Life and Upbringing
Kieran Kichuk was born on November 19, 1995, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. However, he didn’t spend his early years there, as his family relocated to San Diego, California, USA, when he was just a baby. The Kieran Kichuk family lived in California for five years before moving back to Canada, eventually settling in Markham, Ontario.
Athletic Background
Sports played a significant role in Kieran’s upbringing, largely due to his father, a former national-level track athlete and NCAA Division 1 runner. His father’s influence instilled a deep appreciation for physical activity within the family.
While none of the four Kichuk children were required to compete, running was a regular family tradition. This exposure to athletics led Kieran to pursue track and field, specializing in the 1500-meter event and cross-country running. He competed at both the regional and provincial levels.
Introduction to Martial Arts
In 2009, inspired by George Saint Pierre’s success in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), 13-year-old Kieran decided to train in martial arts. He began practicing Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. However, after six months, he chose to focus entirely on grappling, leading him to leave his high school track team in favor of the wrestling program. His dedication paid off, as he eventually reached the provincial level in wrestling as well.
Jiu-Jitsu Journey
Kieran’s first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor was black belt Steve Lin, who played a crucial role in his development, guiding him from white belt to brown belt. In 2010, Lin’s gym became affiliated with Team Lloyd Irvin. Through this connection, Kieran had the opportunity to train with Lloyd Irvin and his well-regarded competition team, the “Medal Chasers,” over several years.
In late 2017, Kieran began training under Fernando Zulick, also known as “Gringo.” Zulick later promoted him to black belt on December 20, 2020.
