Masahiko Kimura

Masahiko Kimura was a famous fighter from Japan.

He was very good at judo. He won many big matches in a row.

He practiced very hard every day. He did many push-ups to stay strong. He even practiced his moves against a tree!

Kimura traveled to Brazil to fight.

He fought a man named Helio Gracie. Kimura won the big match.

He used a special arm lock to win. People still call that move the "Kimura" today. It is a very famous move.

Later, he became a star in wrestling. He was a great athlete in his time. People still remember his skill.

Masahiko Kimura was a famous Japanese fighter.

He was a master of judo. He won the All-Japan Judo Championships three times in a row. From 1936 to 1950, he never lost a judo match. Kimura trained with great focus. His teacher, Tatsukuma Ushijima, taught him that judo was very serious. Kimura even practiced his leg throws against a tree. He was very strong. He did a thousand push-ups every day.

In 1949, Kimura went to Brazil. He fought Hélio Gracie in a big match. The match was in a huge stadium. Kimura won by using a special arm lock. This move is still called the "Kimura" today.

Later, Kimura became a professional wrestler. He fought a star named Rikidōzan. Their big match in 1954 was very famous. It was a difficult match that did not go as planned. Kimura was a great athlete. People still remember his skill and his many wins.

Masahiko Kimura was a famous Japanese judoka and professional wrestler.

He was known for being incredibly skilled at judo. Kimura won the All-Japan Judo Championships three times in a row. He achieved this in 1937, 1938, and 1939. From 1936 to 1950, he never lost a single judo match. This made him one of the greatest fighters in history. People still remember him for his amazing strength and focus.

Kimura practiced his moves with extreme dedication. He often performed a thousand push-ups every day. He also practiced for nine hours every single day. To master his leg throws, he practiced against a tree. This move is called osoto gari, or a large outer reap. He even trained in karate to make his hands stronger. He used a tool called a makiwara to help his training. These hard habits helped him win many important matches.

Kimura's journey began in Kumamoto, Japan. He was born there on September 10, 1917. He started training in judo when he was only nine years old. He wanted to earn high ranks to prove himself. He became a 1st dan black belt at Chinsei Junior High. By age 15, he reached the rank of yondan, or 4th dan. In 1935, at age 18, he became the youngest godan. This means he was a 5th degree black belt.

One of his most famous moments happened in Brazil.

In 1949, Kimura went to Brazil to fight Hélio Gracie. The big match took place at the Maracanã Stadium. There were 20,000 people watching the fight in person. Kimura won the match using a special arm lock. This move is called gyaku-ude-garami. Today, many fighters call this move the "Kimura" lock. It is used in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and mixed martial arts.

Later in life, Kimura became a professional wrestler.

He worked with the famous star Rikidōzan in Japan. They even worked together as tag team partners. In 1954, they had a very famous match for a championship. This match was difficult because it did not go as planned. It was one of the earliest examples of a "shoot" in wrestling. This means the fight became real instead of staying a show. Even after that hard match, Kimura's name remained legendary.

Masahiko Kimura was a legendary Japanese judoka and professional wrestler.

He is widely considered one of the greatest martial artists in history. Between 1936 and 1950, he never lost a single judo match. He also won the All-Japan Judo Championships for three consecutive years from 1937 to 1939. His life was defined by intense discipline and remarkable physical skill. He achieved high ranks in judo at a very young age. By age 15, he had already reached the rank of yondan, or 4th dan.

Kimura's training was famously fanatical and rigorous. His teacher, Tatsukuma Ushijima, managed his strict regimen. At the height of his career, Kimura performed one thousand push-ups every day. He also engaged in nine hours of practice daily. To master his osoto gari, a large outer reap leg throw, he practiced against a tree. He even studied karate to increase his hand strength. He trained in Shotokan and Goju-Ryu styles. He used a makiwara, which is a striking post, to prepare for his tournament successes.

His rise through the ranks was rapid and often driven by intense motivation. He began training at age nine to prove himself to his teacher. He earned his 1st dan by throwing five students during a promotion test. In 1935, at age 18, he became the youngest godan, or 5th degree black belt, ever recorded. This happened after he defeated eight consecutive opponents at the Kodokan. The Kodokan is the worldwide headquarters for the judo community. Despite his success, he faced challenges, including a period where he lost four matches in 1935. He almost quit, but friends encouraged him to continue his path.

Kimura's skill extended beyond the dojo and into unexpected situations. During his service in the Amaki Air Defence Unit, he faced a Jukendo master. Jukendo is a martial art involving the use of a wooden sword. Kimura used a Morote Gari, or double leg takedown, to win the fight. Later, after World War II, he defended the honor of judo against US Army Military Police. He defeated four men who were harassing Japanese citizens. His actions were so impressive that a US Captain even asked him to teach judo to the Military Police. This captain eventually earned a 1st degree black belt from Kimura.

One of the most significant moments in martial arts history occurred in 1949 in Brazil.

Kimura traveled there and was challenged by Hélio Gracie, a co-founder of Gracie jiu-jitsu. The match took place at the Maracanã Stadium before 20,000 spectators. The fight followed "Gracie Rules," which focused on submissions rather than throws or pins. Kimura used various throws like uchi mata and ippon seoi nage to dominate the match. Eventually, he took the fight to the ground using kuzure-kami-shiho-gatame, a type of pin. He then executed a gyaku-ude-garami, a reverse arm lock, to win the match.

This victory left a lasting legacy in the world of combat sports. The specific arm lock Kimura used is now known globally as the "Kimura." This name is used by practitioners of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and mixed martial arts. The technique remains a fundamental part of modern grappling. Kimura's ability to win under such intense pressure, including warnings from the Japanese embassy, solidified his status as a global icon. His victory changed how people viewed the effectiveness of traditional judo against different grappling styles.

In the early 1950s, Kimura transitioned into professional wrestling. He founded the Kokusai Pro Wrestling Association and worked with the famous Rikidōzan.

They were both stars in the Japanese professional wrestling scene. However, their relationship faced a major turning point during a 1954 championship match. This match is noted as an early example of a "shoot," where a scripted event becomes a real fight. During the bout, Rikidōzan struck Kimura in the neck with full force instead of following the script. This caused Kimura to lose consciousness. This controversial event marked a complex chapter in his storied career.