Kieran Kichuk was born on November 19, 1995, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. However, he did not spend his early childhood there, as his family relocated to San Diego, California, USA, when he was still a baby. The Kichuk family remained in California for five years before returning to Canada and settling in Markham, Ontario, where they established their home.

Sports played a significant role in Kieran’s upbringing, largely due to the influence of his father, a former national-level track athlete and NCAA Division 1 runner. His father’s passion for physical activity became the driving force behind the family’s athletic involvement.

Although none of the four Kieran Kichuk children were required to compete in sports, daily running became a family tradition. This early exposure to athletics fueled Kieran’s interest in competitive sports, leading him to participate in track and field events. He specialized in the 1500-meter race and cross-country running, competing at regional and provincial levels.

In 2009, at the age of 13, Kieran was inspired by George Saint Pierre’s achievements in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and decided to explore martial arts. He initially trained in Muay Thai and jiu-jitsu, but after six months, he chose to focus entirely on grappling. This decision led him to leave his high school track team to join the wrestling program, where he later reached the provincial level.

Kieran’s journey in jiu-jitsu began under the guidance of Steve Lin, a black belt who played a crucial role in his development, mentoring him from white belt to brown belt. In 2010, Lin’s gym became affiliated with Team Lloyd Irvin, which allowed Kieran to connect with Lloyd Irvin and his elite competition squad, Medal Chasers, over the years.

In late 2017, Kieran began training under Fernando Zulick, also known as “Gringo.” Zulick later promoted him to black belt on December 20, 2020.