About
In 1999, he relocated toGhanawith his family for 10 months,[5]but due to his parents wanting their children to receive a well-recognised higher education,[18]he settled inRotorua, New Zealand, at age 10[19]and attendedRotorua Boys' High School.[20]Adesanya was not interested in sports during high school; instead he was interested in Japaneseanimesuch asDeath Note[21]and themangaseriesNaruto.[22]Adesanya was bullied during his high school years[23]and attributes his decision to pursue martial arts later in life to the mistreatment he experienced.[24]Adesanya's first exposure to fighting and an early influence on him was watching the British boxerPrince Naseem Hamed.[25]He stated that in an interview, "I remember watching him, mesmerized at what I saw, how we came to the ring and did that flip. That was one of my earliest memories of showmanship."[25] In June 2021, Adesanya advocated tougher penalties againstcoward punchingfollowing the death of his training partner Fau Vake, who died after being punched in the head the previous month.[140][141] ^Youngs, Jose (24 December 2020)."From Nigeria to New Zealand, Israel Adesanya is on a quest to earn a 'masters degree in ass whooping'".MMA Fighting. Retrieved19 October2019.