Luigi Busà
The improviser from Avola who beat Aghayev for gold
- Born
- October 9, 1987, Avola, Sicily, Italy
- Nationality
Italy- Style
- Improvising kumite artist
- Weight
- 80 kg, 75 kg
- Active
- 2006–2026
- Status
- Retired · age 39
The medals
Olympic gold (2020); 2 world titles, 6 world medals
The story
uigi Busà grew up in the gym where his father coached in Avola, Sicily, and in 2006, at 18, became the youngest world champion in World Karate Federation history. For a decade his rivalry with Rafael Aghayev shaped the 75 kg class: Aghayev beat him in the 2010 world final, Busà turned the tables in Paris in 2012, and at the 2021 Olympic final in the Budokan a single one-point score settled it 1-0 in Busà's favour. He also won five European titles and world silvers in 2010, 2014 and 2018. Busà says his best karate is improvised, with combinations he cannot always explain, and he named the spinning ushiro ura-mawashi as his favourite kick. He retired in September 2026, after 27 years on the tatami.
Tap a technique with an arrow to learn how it works.
- Olympic champion, kumite −75 kg (2020)
- World champion, kumite −80 kg (2006) and −75 kg (2012)
- World silver (2010, 2014, 2018) and bronze (2016)
- European champion, −75 kg (2007, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2019)
- CONI Collare d'Oro for sporting merit (2021)
Defining matches
- 2010LOSSvs Rafael Aghayev (World Championships −75 kg final, Belgrade)
- 2012WINvs Rafael Aghayev (World Championships −75 kg final, Paris)
- 2014LOSSvs Ryuichi Tani (World Championships −75 kg final, Bremen, 3-4)
- 2018LOSSvs Bahman Asgari Ghoncheh (World Championships −75 kg final, Madrid, 0-1)
- 2021WINvs Rafael Aghayev (Tokyo Olympic −75 kg final, 1-0)
Add a spinning kick off the exchange: Busà's favourite was the ushiro ura-mawashi, a spinning hook kick that lands from the opponent's blind side. Drill it behind a feint so the spin starts while the opponent is braced for a punch.
2002–2016
