Panchan Rina

Rina Okamoto (岡本 璃奈), better known as Panchan Rina (ぱんちゃん 璃奈), is a Japanese professional kickboxer.

She is a former Knock Out-Black Female Minimumweight Champion, Knock Out-Black Female Atomweight Champion, and Rebels-Black Women's 46 kg Champion.

Rina was born in Toyonaka, Osaka Prefecture on March 17, 1994, as the youngest of three children.

With one older brother and one older sister, she said she was spoiled.

Rina started swimming at the age of five and continued for 10 years.

She suffered from atopic dermatitis, and also said her low body fat percentage made her unsuited for the sport.

Her parents wanted her to be an actress, and had her audition for commercials from the age of six.

But Rina said she was restless and could never sit through an audition.

In sixth grade, Rina's parents had her audition for the original AKB48.

She made it to the final interview, but declined it as she was not interested in being an idol.

In junior high, Rina broke her school's marathon record three consecutive years in a row and was scouted to join the track and field club in her final year of junior high.

However, she had to give up the sport after suffering a stress fracture in high school from excessive running.

Without many friends and unable to play sports, the only thing she cared about, Rina stopped going to school and eventually quit.

Living on her own since the age of 17, she wandered from place to place working part-time jobs.

At 21, she decided to move to Tokyo for a fresh start.

There, she discovered kickboxing.

Although it began as exercise, Rina quickly had the desire to compete, feeling that she "was born" to be a kickboxer.

After moving from Osaka to Tokyo at the age of 21, Rina discovered kickboxing and began competing at the amateur level in 2017.

She joined the gym Struggle, founded by former professional kickboxer Hideaki Suzuki, on March 1, 2017.

She traveled to Thailand several times to train and fight in Muay Thai.

As an amateur, Rina was the 2018 Girls Bloom Cup -50 kg Champion and the Kaminarimon All Japan 2018 47 kg Champion.

Her amateur record was 11 wins and 1 loss.

Rina's nickname comes from the Dragon Ball character Pan.

While watching Dragon Ball together on Rina's 20th birthday, a friend told her she looked like the character.

Elated, Rina changed her social media handle to "Panchan" and everyone started calling her by the name.

The character is most prominently featured in Dragon Ball GT, and Rina uses that anime's theme song, "Dan Dan Kokoro Hikareteku", as her entrance music.

She made her professional debut in February 2019, and remains undefeated in 16 bouts.

As of December 2023, she was ranked the number seven -50 kg kickboxer in the world by Beyond Kick.

Rina made her professional debut facing high school student Erisa Kawashima at Pancrase Rebels Ring 1 Night on February 17, 2019, with the winner earning a multi-fight contract with Rebels.

Rina won the fight by unanimous decision.

For her second match, Rina faced Sae_KMG at Rebels 60 on April 20, 2019.

It was contested under Rebels' Muay Thai rules, which allow elbows.

Rina won by unanimous decision.

At Rebels 61 on June 9, 2019, Rina had a kickboxing match against mixed martial artist Si Woo Park.

She won by unanimous decision.

In her fourth professional match, first with three-minute-long rounds, Rina faced Shoko at K.O Climax 2019 Summer Kick Fever on August 18, 2019.

Although it was put on by the Knock Out promotion, the match used Rebels Muay Thai rules.

Rina won the bout by majority decision.

In another Rebels Muay Thai rules fight, Rina faced J-Girls Pinweight Champion Mirey at Knock Out × Rebels on October 4, 2019, and won by unanimous decision.

On December 8, 2019, Rina faced Petchompoo Mor Krungthepthonburi at Shin Nihon Kickboxing Association's Soul in the Ring Climax.