At one time, Gocha Pasieshvili, having arrived in Tbilisi from a Gurian village, probably did not even dream of what is everyday for him today. 

At the first stage of his sports career - during the Soviet period - he won many Georgian and USSR boxing and kickboxing championships and became the first Georgian to participate in the world kickboxing championship. One fine day he met actor Chuck Norris and visited the USA, after which the young Georgian’s mind was “poisoned” by the American dream, which he eventually realized. 

Today he is the world champion, intercontinental champion and vice-champion of America in kickboxing. Together with his family, he lives in a three-story house in Brooklyn. Among his famous friends is Mike Tyson, among his students is Kashpirovsky. 

“I was 14 years old when I came to Rustavi from the Gurian village of Tsipnari to study. Lived in a hostel. Many people looked askance at me, who came from the village, and tried to oppress me. I realized that, first of all, you need to learn to protect yourself. I watched David Kvachadze’s performances with interest and wanted to become a champion too. In 1998, an invitation came from actor Chuck Norris. As you know, at one time he was the American and world champion in karate and kickboxing and annually held international competitions. In a word, the American consulate gave me a visa, which was considered a miracle in those days, but I couldn’t get money for the trip, and I couldn’t go,” said Pasieshvili. 

But he did not refuse the idea of ​​​​seeing the United States, although he did not know English at all. The guy collected money for several months and nevertheless went to America, although the competition had already ended by that time. The collected money turned out to be very little for survival in the United States.

“I slept on a street bench for several nights, and soon my $120 ran out. I didn’t know English, but I nevertheless worked at a gas station for several weeks. At the same time, I was looking for a sports club that would take me to competitions. Came to the Luis Neglia Academy, which is one of the most powerful promoters and organizers of competitions. That’s how I became a professional kickboxer, defeated all my opponents and won the right to fight for the world title,” said the athlete.