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ABOUT KARO
Born in Yersvan, Armenia, August 28, 1982. Karo Parisyan started judo at age nine and a year later left his hometown of Yersvan, Armenia to train in California with Gokor Chivichyan and his coach "Judo" Gene Lebelle. He has won six Junior National belts in Judo. Karo’s family opted to migrate to America for a better life when Karo was six years old. Karo enjoys America, but can remember his early life in Armenia before settling in California, where he has lived for the past fourteen years.  At age nine, Parisyan commenced judo lessons with fellow Armenian Gokor Chivichyan. "I was a rough kid. I used to beat up on my sisters. My father said 'your sisters don’t have your strength. I’ll take you somewhere where you can take your anger out on other people.’ So that was pretty much how I got into martial arts," says Parisyan.  For more than thirteen years, Parisyan developed under the Hayastan Grappling System, a style blended by Gokor Chivichyan and “Judo” Gene LeBell, which includes adapted elements of Judo, Sambo, Ju-Jitsu, freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, and Muay Thai. Karo continued to train at the Hayastan Academy under Gokor and Gene until late 2005.  Karo is the first UFC fighter to have successfully adapted his judo style to the Octagon. In UFC 44, Parisyan defeated veteran Dave Strasser by a kimura arm-bar submission in 3:52 into Round 1. Parisyan now boasts an impressive MMA record.  Karo is considered by many to be the first UFC fighter to have successfully adapted his judo style to the Octagon. Karo is a dedicated athlete. His workout schedules do include weights, but he eases off from the lifting prior to competition. Parisyan now boasts a 17-4-0 MMA record, but with six Junior National belts to his credit, Karo’s true love has remained Judo. Karo competed in Olympic trials for 2004.  Parisyan made his UFC debut on September 23, 2003, beating Dave Strasser by a Kimura armlock. His current UFC record is 7-2. Parisyan's latest fight was on May 26, 2007 at UFC 71 on PPV against Josh Burkman, where Parisyan won by a unanimous decision.  Karo is currently an MMA trainer at the WFA Legends gym alongside Jason "Mayhem" Miller, Bas Rutten, and Randy Couture. Karo has a reputation for being a very naturally talented fighter.h 2
   
Name Karo Parisyan
Nick Name The Heat
Height 5'10 (178cm)
Weight 170lbs (77kg)
Birth Date 8-28-1982
City North Hollywood
State California
Country USA
CLICK HERE TO READ AN ARTICLE FROM BLACK BELT MAGAZINE ABOUT KARO'S JUDO