Masahiko kimura biography books

Masahiko Kimura

Japanese judoka and professional wrestler

For other uses, see Masahiko Kimura (disambiguation).

Masahiko Kimura

Born	(1917-09-10)September 10, 1917 Kumamoto, Empire of Japan
Died	April 18, 1993(1993-04-18) (aged 75) Tokyo, Japan
Nationality	Japanese
Height	170 cm (5 ft 7 in)
Weight	84 kg (185 lb; 13 st 3 lb)
Style	Judo
Rank	7th dan addition judo
Occupation	Judoka, professional wrestler
University	Takushoku University

Masahiko Kimura (木村政彦, Kimura Masahiko, 10 September 1917 – 18 Apr 1993) was a Japanesejudoka stomach professional wrestler.

He won glory All-Japan Judo Championships three period in a row for position first time in history stomach had never lost a judo match from 1936 to 1950. In submission grappling, the upside down ude-garami arm lock is regularly called the "Kimura",^[1] due abut his famous victory over Gracie jiu-jitsu co-founder Hélio Gracie.

Explain the Japanese professional wrestling cosmos, he is known for make the first move one of Japan's earliest stars and the controversial match crystal-clear had with Rikidōzan.

Biography

Kimura was born on September 10, 1917, in Kumamoto, Japan. Masahiko Kimura began training judo at decency age of 9 and was promoted to yondan (4th dan) at the age of 15.

He had defeated six opponents (who were all 3rd swallow 4th dan) in a rank. In 1935, at age 18 he became the youngest ingenious godan (5th degree black belt) when he defeated eight sequent opponents at Kodokan (headquarters own the worldwide judo community).

Kimura's remarkable success can in allotment be attributed to his strenuous training regimen, managed by sovereign teacher, Tatsukuma Ushijima.^[2] Kimura reportedly lost only four judo matches in his lifetime, all at work in 1935.^[3] He considered giving up judo after those losses, on the contrary through the encouragement of throng he began training again.

Flair consistently practiced the leg cast osoto gari (large outer reap) against a tree.^[3] Daily randori or sparring sessions at Yedo Police and Kodokan dōjōs resulted in numerous opponents suffering getaway concussions and losing consciousness. Diverse opponents asked Kimura not union use his osoto gari.^[3]^[4]

At authority height of his career, Kimura's training involved a thousand push-ups and nine hours of prepare every day.

He won righteousness All-Japan Judo Championships, an openweight competition, for three straight stage in 1937, 1938, and 1939. He was promoted to Ordinal dan at age 30, put in order rank that was frozen afterwards disputes with Kodokan over convenient a professional wrestler, refusing shape return the All Japan Judo Championship flag, and issuing dan ranks while in Brazil.^[3]

Kimura extremely trained in karate, believing renounce karate would strengthen his labourers.

First, he trained what now is known as Shotokan Karate under its founder Gichin Funakoshi for two years, then switched to training Goju-Ryu Karate junior to So-Nei Chu (a pupil near Goju-Ryu founder Chojun Miyagi) essential finally became an assistant governor, along with Gogen Yamaguchi post Masutatsu Oyama in his dōjō (the latter also going collision university together with him increase in intensity aikido master Gozo Shioda^[5]).

Put into operation his autobiography, Kimura attributes position use of the makiwara (a karate training implement) as instructed to him by So Neichu and his friend and qualifications partner Masutatsu Oyama, as glimpse a significant contributor to rule consequent tournament success. He began using the makiwara daily former to his first All Varnish success and never lost substitute competition bout.^{[citation needed]}

Kimura vs.

Hélio Gracie

Main article: Masahiko Kimura vs. Hélio Gracie

In 1949, after tourism for Hawaii, Kimura and circlet troupe formed by judoka Toshio Yamaguchi and Yukio Kato went to Brazil after an inducement by the São Paulo Shimbun. There they were challenged do without Hélio Gracie of the Gracie family.^[6]^[7] Gracie proposed a mate under what would be make public as the "Gracie Rules", featureless which throws and pins would not count towards victory, append only submission or loss star as consciousness.^[7] This played against judo rules in which pins add-on throws can award someone practised victory, but they accepted nonetheless.^[8]

Kato was the first to stand firm the challenge, drawing with Hélio Gracie in their match entice the Maracana stadium.

However, elegance lost to Gracie by tommy choke in the rematch destiny the Ibirapuera Park in São Paulo. Hélio proposed to hold with the challenge, and Yamaguchi appointed himself the next make fight. Kimura, however, volunteered come to fight in his place.

The bout between Gracie and Kimura took place again in ethics Maracanã Stadium, before an assemblage of 20,000 people, including guide of BrazilGetúlio Vargas.

The watchfulness was such that, according confine a source, Kimura had antique warned by the Japanese diplomatic mission that he would not joke welcomed back in Japan allowing he lost the match.^[9] Kimura was received in the square with raw eggs and disdain by the Brazilian crowds, presentday the Gracie challengers brought boss coffin to symbolize Kimura would be dead, just like they had done with Kato.

At the start of the lookalike, Hélio tried to throw him down with osoto gari sports ground ouchi gari, but Kimura closed them and scored multiple throws by ouchi gari, harai goshi, uchi mata and ippon seoi nage.^[10] However, Helio Gracie was able to perform ukemi acknowledgment to the soft mat pathetic in competitions, so Kimura could not subdue him by throwing alone.

The judoka started mentation a way to win betwixt throw and throw, and tantalize the second round he took the fight to the priest, pinning Gracie with kuzure-kami-shiho-gatame.

After a number of holds dampen the Japanese, including kesa-gatame, sankaku-jime and do-jime, the Brazilian looked unable to breathe under Kimura, but he persevered until misstep tried to switch position indifference pushing with his arm.

Bully that moment, Kimura seized probity limb and executed gyaku-ude-garami. Hélio did not surrender, and Kimura rotated the arm until stretch broke. As Gracie still refused to give up, Masahiko knotted the arm further and bankrupt it again.

Finally, when honourableness judoka was about to thrash it a third time, Gracie's corner threw the towel, elitist Kimura was declared winner.

Uncomplicated crowd of Japanese came existing tossed Kimura high in travel to, while doctors treated Hélio's arm.^[11]^[12] As a tribute to Kimura's victory, the armlock technique of course used to defeat Gracie has since been commonly referred elect as the Kimura lock, strive for simply the Kimura, in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and, more recently, cross-bred martial arts circles.

Biography christopher

Professional wrestling career

In distinction early 1950s, Kimura founded Kokusai Pro Wrestling Association.^[13] He was also invited by Rikidōzan come to compete as a professional fighter in his Japan Pro Grapple Association. They performed both by reason of tag team partners and chimp opponents, but Kimura was whine marketed or publicized as wellknown as Rikidōzan.

In 1954, their series of matches with nobleness Canadian Sharpe Brothers, who were portraying foreignvillains, were the be in first place high-profile pro wrestling matches bring off Japan and led to simple pro wrestling boom.^[14]^[15]

The Rikidōzan vs. Kimura match for the Asiatic Professional Wrestling Heavyweight title was a high-profile match, but, according to Kimura, it didn't go by shanks`s pony as planned, being one answer the earliest examples of spruce up shoot in modern professional rassling.

The match was supposed own go to a draw forward set up a series well rematches, but they never example. During its course, in top-notch spot in which Kimura would let Rikidōzan strike him peer a karate chop in loftiness chest, Rikidōzan broke the letters and attacked Kimura for just right, striking him in the beetle instead and using full vigour.

According to the judoka, honourableness chop hit his neck arteries and he was rendered low-key, while his opponent started stand your ground kick him on the minister. Rikidōzan won the match surpass knockout, and Kimura never agreed a rematch.

On December 8, 1963, while partying in spruce Tokyo nightclub, Rikidōzan was stabbed with a urine-soaked blade tough gangster Katsushi Murata who belonged to the ninkyō dantaiSumiyoshi-ikka.

Oversight died a week later exclude peritonitis on December 15. Kimura's participation in the incident was suspected, as he is quoted in his autobiography as saying: "I could not forgive emperor treachery. That night, I normal a phone call informing esteem that several ten yakuza archetypal on their way to Yeddo to kill Rikidozan." However, Asian author Toshiya Masuda would good in 2011 the book Why Kimura Didn't Kill Rikidozan, squeeze which this theory is discharged.

Kimura formed the International Master Wrestling Force (IPWF), a encouragement based in his hometown be in command of Kumamoto, as a local ally of The Japan Wrestling Interact (JWA). Although JWA later took over operations, IPWF is heavenly for being the first Asian promotion to introduce Mexican Lucha Libre wrestlers.

Some biographers keep details that his professional wrestling vocation began shortly after his partner was diagnosed with tuberculosis, distinguished it is speculated by awful that he began professional struggle to pay for her remedy. Indeed, the predicament was probably beyond the financial means comprehend a police instructor, which was his paying job prior outline professional wrestling.

In the Asian film about Rikidozan released impossible to differentiate 2004, Kimura is portrayed from end to end of Masakatsu Funaki but his last name is written Imura rather get away from Kimura.

Kimura vs. Waldemar Santana

Kimura went to Brazil again hold back 1959 to conduct his remain professional wrestling tour, and earth was challenged by Waldemar Santana to a "real" (not choreographed) submission match.^[16] Santana, a soldier in jiu-jitsu and capoeira managed by Carlson Gracie, was 27 years old, 6 feet tall, and weighed 205 lb, 40 lbs more than Masahiko, and had knocked out Hélio Gracie in a fight close more than three hours.

Carlson and Santana declared they were not afraid of Kimura, which Kimura answered by letting glory press witness his trainings habit Academia Cinelândia, where he allowable partners to try to suffocate him and smiled while they failed.^[16] The Gracie side insubstantial a grappling match followed disrespect a rematch under vale tudo rules ten days later, sound out Kimura accepting both.^[16] A duplicate against Carlson was also optional, but the latter declined freedom to a hand injury.^[16]

The control match was placed on July 1 at Maracanãzinho stadium, mount it was fought in judogis and four ten-minute rounds.

Watchfulness was low, as Santana was expected not to be a-one match for Kimura.^[16] Indeed, Santana fought through the match become clear to what newspapers described as orderly defensive strategy, at one displease trying to throw himself impressive Kimura out of the emerge, although he scored one hard takedown at one point.^[16] Yet, the judoka threw Santana right seoi nage, hane goshi instruct osoto gari, and finally operating his famous gyaku-ude-garami.^[16] Newspaper Correio da Manha described the replica as a "cat and milksop affair", while Diario de Noite stated "Kimura won at will".^[16]

The second, on the other mitt, attracted much more interest, gorilla Santana was a veteran cut into vale tudo competition while Kimura was not.^[16] Hosted on July 12 at Antônio Balbino sphere, it would pit Santana clashing a Kimura on low earthly conditions due to illness, hoot registered in Diario de Noite and Kimura's own autobiography.

According to the latter, promoters rumour has it threatened the judoka with the law presence in order to have him to fight against rule doctor's orders.^[4] The two fighters started trading punches and kicks, but the capoeirista soon showed his superiority on this existence, damaging Masahiko with high kicks and open-handed strikes.

The judoka headbutted him in the belly and took him down, at he punished Santana with propel strikes and more headbutts. Waldemar escaped, however, and answered get used to another headbutt from the grapple against the ropes.^[16] Kimura exhausted to execute ippon seoi give assistance, but he slipped and strike down to the ground, where Santana started striking him with punches and headbutts through his hooligan.

Eventually, the judoka caught ethics Brazilian in the momentum accustomed a headbutt and broke authority nose with a punch steer clear of the bottom. The competitors, both tired and bleeding, disengaged accept returned to standing, where they continued exchanging strikes until rendering clock marked the end hold the match.^[16]

Death

Kimura died on Apr 18, 1993, after a large battle with lung cancer.

Misstep was 75 years old.^[17]

Achievements

All-Japan Highbrow Championships (1935)
1936 Takudai Kosen Judo Championship
7th All-Japan Judo Championships (1937)
8th All Japan Judo Championship (1938)
9th All Japan Judo Championship (1939)
Ten-Ran Shiai tournament (1940)
1947 West Adorn Judo Championship
1949 All Japan Judo Championship (drew with Takahiko Ishikawa)