Breathe in. Breathe out. Before he starts his kata, an artistic karate routine, freshman Trent Kiesau blocks out all of the chaos of the competition until it is just him, the mat, and his kata. After receiving a variety of medals at competitions and on Team USA, Kiesau is now training for the World Union of Karate-Do Federations (WUKF) World Karate Championships in Romania this summer, he said.
Kiesau started his karate journey when he was 4-years-old after his mother decided to put him in training, he said. After years of intense training at the Fonseca Martial Arts Dojo at the Roscoe Village location in Chicago, and even after overcoming injuries, Kiesau is ranked first in forms and third in sparring nationally, and fifth for weapons worldwide. Additionally, Kiesau has a second-degree-black belt in the three main styles of karate: Shotokan, Shito-ryu, and Goju-ryu, he said.
“I used to panic every time I made a mistake,” Kisau said. “But my katas are 50 moves, so I’ve learned if I miss
one, I have 49 more that I can focus on.”
Kiesau now competes in Shito-ryu-style kata—a style of kata known for its weapons and elegant, sparring,
called kumite, he said. Sparring is a real-time match between two opponents, whereas weapons is a solo routine with elements such as katanas, thin longswords with slightly curved blades for slashing, and nunchucks, two short rods connected with a short rope or chain for swinging, Kiesau said.
“Karate is a defensive sport,” Kiesau said. “It’s all about managing distance with your opponents.”
Kiesau’s journey has not been without tribulations, he said. In early 2025, he suffered a hit just below his jaw,
causing a complete loss of memory, he said. While the physical injury healed in weeks, the psychological
damage remains, Kiesau said. He still struggles to regain his memory, making school, training, and daily interactions immensely difficult.
During all of the ups and downs of his journey, his mother, Yana Kiesau, has been by his side, Trent said. While it can be difficult to set aside her fear while he plays a sport that can induce injuries, Yana is eager to see him succeed, she said.
“Seeing how he handles losses with maturity and resilience makes me incredibly proud,” Yana said. “Nothing compares to the joy I feel when he sets a goal and achieves it.”
Kiesau continues to grow as an athlete and has big dreams for his future, he said. Competing in the 2032 Olympics is Kiesau’s ultimate goal.
“I will feel proud of myself if I end my competitive career being an Olympic competitor,” Kiesau said.
