Masahiko Kimura (1917-1993) from Kumamoto was an outstanding judo player. He started very early and at the age of 16, thanks to his outstanding judo techniques, was promoted 4th dan.
He was so outstanding, that most of the times he won all his fights one after the other. He was very strong and only few opponents such as Niyajima from the Meiji University, Kenishiro Osawa, Kenshiro Abe and Hideo Yamamoto, won when they faced him. His best judo technique was osotogari. He practiced it so many times until it became a lethal weapon and especially after his losses, which almost made him quit judo.
He had a great come back in October 1935 wining his first Title at the University Championships and did so also in 1937 (being held every second year). He was the first student to be allowed to enter the Professional Japanese Judo Championships and so at the end of 1937 he won the All Japanese National Judo Championships and did so for the following thirteen years until he retired
In the 1940 edition he won against the 5th dan Yasuichi Matsumoto, who became later the legendary Judo Professor at Tenri University from 1960 to 1980. Matsumoto was not only known because of his outstanding height, but also for the great contribution he gave to Tenri's judo with his techniques, which up to today have left a signature. I have been his student for two years from 1964 to 1966.
In 1947 Kimura was promoted to 7th dan and in 1949, after having won against all famous champions of those days he faced his last Championship. For the fourth time he met Takahiko Ishikawa in the final, which lasted twenty minutes and ended up with no score. Mifune, the most famous 10th dan of judo's history, declared the match even.
In July 1951 Kimura was invited to Brazil in order to compete in a "mixed martial arts" match: jujutsu and judo. He accepted and left Japan with Yamaguchi (6th dan) and Kado (5th dan), who had accepted the challenge of Helio Gracie (the Brazilian Champion for twenty years).
According to the rules, the fight could end for following reasons: surrender, if the trainer threw the towel, by decision of the commission. Throws and ground techniques would not be considered. Kado was defeated by the Brazilian, who almost became a National hero and challenged Yamaguchi the following week. The latter did not accept, but Kimura did instead.
Kimura, being an outstanding champion, tried different judo techniques on his opponent facing twenty thousand spectators including the Brazilian President and Vice- President. He won the match with an arm lock and of course it was a strong affirmation for Kodokan Judo. Nevertheless due to the rules, which banished "mixed martial arts" matches, Kimura lost his membership and was never accepted again.
He was so outstanding, that most of the times he won all his fights one after the other. He was very strong and only few opponents such as Niyajima from the Meiji University, Kenishiro Osawa, Kenshiro Abe and Hideo Yamamoto, won when they faced him. His best judo technique was osotogari. He practiced it so many times until it became a lethal weapon and especially after his losses, which almost made him quit judo.
He had a great come back in October 1935 wining his first Title at the University Championships and did so also in 1937 (being held every second year). He was the first student to be allowed to enter the Professional Japanese Judo Championships and so at the end of 1937 he won the All Japanese National Judo Championships and did so for the following thirteen years until he retired
In the 1940 edition he won against the 5th dan Yasuichi Matsumoto, who became later the legendary Judo Professor at Tenri University from 1960 to 1980. Matsumoto was not only known because of his outstanding height, but also for the great contribution he gave to Tenri's judo with his techniques, which up to today have left a signature. I have been his student for two years from 1964 to 1966.
In 1947 Kimura was promoted to 7th dan and in 1949, after having won against all famous champions of those days he faced his last Championship. For the fourth time he met Takahiko Ishikawa in the final, which lasted twenty minutes and ended up with no score. Mifune, the most famous 10th dan of judo's history, declared the match even.
In July 1951 Kimura was invited to Brazil in order to compete in a "mixed martial arts" match: jujutsu and judo. He accepted and left Japan with Yamaguchi (6th dan) and Kado (5th dan), who had accepted the challenge of Helio Gracie (the Brazilian Champion for twenty years).
According to the rules, the fight could end for following reasons: surrender, if the trainer threw the towel, by decision of the commission. Throws and ground techniques would not be considered. Kado was defeated by the Brazilian, who almost became a National hero and challenged Yamaguchi the following week. The latter did not accept, but Kimura did instead.
Kimura, being an outstanding champion, tried different judo techniques on his opponent facing twenty thousand spectators including the Brazilian President and Vice- President. He won the match with an arm lock and of course it was a strong affirmation for Kodokan Judo. Nevertheless due to the rules, which banished "mixed martial arts" matches, Kimura lost his membership and was never accepted again.
By Aida Guemati
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