Tokugoro Ito (1878-January 22, 1939) was a Japanese judoka and professional wrestler. [1] Ito was one of the founding fathers of mixed martial arts in Brazil. [2]
Tokugoro Ito (1878-January 22, 1939) was a Japanese judoka and professional wrestler. [1] Ito was one of the founding fathers of mixed martial arts in Brazil. [2]
Ito was an instructor of judo at Tokyo Imperial University in Japan. [3] In 1911, Akitaro Ono and Tokugoro Ito joined Mitsuyo Maeda and Soshihiro Satake in Cuba. The four men were known as the "Four Kings of Cuba". [4]
Ito's first wrestling match against someone was not Japanese occurred in 1909. [3] Ito defeated American Wrestler Eddie Robinson. [5] In 1914, Ito engaged in many matches. He initially lost but later defeated Ad Santel in a wrestling match. [6] The loss was a result of Ito being thrown on his head by Santel. [3] Ito at the time was a 5th degree black belt in judo. [7] He additionally defeated Joe Acton.
In his later years he founded the Rafu Judo Dojo in Los Angeles and previously was a leader of the Seattle Dojo from 1907 to 1911. [8] His notable students included Tsutao Higami. [9] Ito was also an instructor of Geo Omori and Sanpo Toku.
Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a self-defence martial art and combat sport based on grappling, ground fighting, and submission holds. BJJ focuses on taking ones opponent down to the ground, gaining a dominant position, and using a number of techniques to force them into submission via joint locks or chokeholds.
Mitsuyo Maeda, a Brazilian naturalized as Otávio Maeda , was a Japanese judōka and prizefighter in no holds barred competitions. He was known as Count Combat or Conde Koma in Spanish and Portuguese, a nickname he picked up in Spain in 1908. Along with Antônio Soshihiro Satake, he pioneered judo in Brazil, the United Kingdom, and other countries.
Shoot wrestling is a combat sport that originated in Japan's professional wrestling circuit (Puroresu) of the 1970s. Professional wrestlers of that era attempted to use more realistic or even "full contact" moves in their matches to increase their excitement, diminishing or eschewing the theatrical elements and acrobatics, looking more similar to an actual, unscripted fight. The name "shoot wrestling" comes from the professional wrestling term "shoot", which refers to any unscripted occurrence within a scripted wrestling event. Shoot wrestling incorporated realistic moves from submission grappling and various kickboxing styles. It was particularly inspired and influenced by catch wrestling, a form of wrestling with submissions that was the predominant style of professional wrestling in the 19th and early 20th century, at the time not yet predetermined.
Joshua Lawrence Barnett is an American mixed martial artist, submission wrestler, professional wrestler, and color commentator currently signed to Bellator MMA. Barnett previously competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he was the youngest-ever UFC Heavyweight Champion. Barnett was the final Openweight King Of Pancrase, a finalist in both the 2006 PRIDE Openweight Grand Prix and the 2012 Strikeforce Heavyweight Championship Grand Prix. He has also competed in Affliction, World Victory Road, DREAM and Impact FC.
Adolph Ernst, better known for his ring name Ad Santel, was a German-American professional wrestler, considered one of the greatest practitioners of catch wrestling. He was a World Light Heavyweight Champion for several years. Santel also billed himself as the World Judo Champion during his feud with the Kodokan judo school.
Catch wrestling is a classical hybrid grappling style and combat sport. It was popularised by wrestlers of travelling funfairs who developed their own submission holds, or "hooks", into their wrestling to increase their effectiveness against their opponents. Catch wrestling derives from various different international styles of wrestling: several English styles. The training of some modern submission wrestlers, professional wrestlers and mixed martial artists is founded in catch wrestling.
Rigan Machado is an 8th degree red and White belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, earning his rank under Carlos Gracie, Jr. He is a former Pan American Champion and a veteran medalist of the ADCC. Machado currently teaches out of his Beverly Hills, California academy and is instructor to several Los Angeles–based celebrity students.
The WEW Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling championship, originally created in Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (FMW) as the WEW Singles Championship, later being renamed as the WEW World Heavyweight Championship. After FMW closed in 2002, the title became the WEW Heavyweight Championship in the World Entertainment Wrestling promotion, although carrying a new lineage.
Daisuke Sekimoto is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently signed to Big Japan Pro Wrestling (BJW) in the Strong BJ division. He is also known for his appearances in Pro Wrestling Zero1-Max. He is a three-time BJW World Strong Heavyweight Champion, while also being a former one-time NWA Pan-Pacific Premium Heavyweight Champion, one-time wXw Unified World Wrestling Champion and a two-time Zero1 World Heavyweight Champion. Other major singles championships include the BJW Heavyweight Championship, the KO-D Openweight Championship and the Strongest-K Championship. Also a successful tag team wrestler, he has held the AJPW World Tag Team Championship three times, the All Asia Tag Team Championship two times, the BJW Tag Team Championship twelve times and the KO-D Tag Team Championship two times with his most successful tag team combination being with Yuji Okabayashi.
Antonio Satake, born Soshihiro Satake, was a Japanese-born Brazilian martial artist and teacher. One of the teachers of Brazilian martial artist Luiz França, together with Geo Omori and Mitsuyo Maeda, Satake was one of the primary founders of Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ). He pioneered judo in Brazil, the United Kingdom, and other countries.
Jyoji Omori or Geo Omori as he became known in Brazil, was a Japanese-born Brazilian martial artist who is credited for being one of the creators of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Luta Livre, known in Brazil as Luta Livre Brasileira or Luta Livre Submission, and also Brazilian Submission Wrestling, is a Brazilian martial arts and combat sport created by Euclydes Hatem in Rio de Janeiro. Primarily a mixture of catch wrestling and kosen judo, there is also ground striking with the hands, feet, knees and elbows. Notable practitioners include Marco Ruas, Ebenezer Fontes Braga, Johil de Oliveira, Alexandre Franca Nogueira, Renato Sobral, Gesias Cavalcante, Pedro Rizzo, Darren Till and José Aldo.
Kaito Kiyomiya is a Japanese professional wrestler who is currently signed to Pro Wrestling Noah, where he is a former two-time GHC Heavyweight Champion. He also makes appearances for partner promotion New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
Shuji Ishikawa is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently signed to All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), where he is a former Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion, World Tag Team Champion and the winner of the 2017 Champion Carnival.
Tetsuya Endo is a Japanese professional wrestler, who has worked for DDT Pro-Wrestling (DDT) since his debut in April 2012. He is a three time KO-D Openweight Champion and a former four time KO-D Tag Team Champion.
Shigeo Miyato is a Japanese catch wrestling instructor and retired professional wrestler, best known for his work in Universal Wrestling Federation (UWF) and New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW). A former student of legendary wrestlers Billy Robinson and Lou Thesz, Miyato is currently head coach at the UWF Snake Pit in Japan.
Soma Takao is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently working for the Japanese professional wrestling promotion DDT Pro-Wrestling (DDT). Takao has taken part in every edition of DDT's flagship annual event, Peter Pan, where he had a series of 13 straight victories.
Tenka Sanbun no Kei was a series of professional wrestling events co-promoted by Big Japan Pro Wrestling (BJW), DDT Pro-Wrestling (DDT) and Kaientai Dojo (K-Dojo) between 2007 and 2015. Tenka Sanbun no Kei was a series of tours in which BJW, DDT and K-Dojo held shows in the morning, afternoon and night at the same venue on the same day. The name "Tenka Sanbun no Kei" is a reference to the historical events surrounding the Longzhong Plan during the Three Kingdoms period.
The December 31 Korakuen Hall Show is a professional wrestling event produced annually on December 31 at Korakuen Hall by various independent professional wrestling promotions such as Big Japan Pro Wrestling (BJW), DDT Pro-Wrestling (DDT) and Kaientai Dojo (K-Dojo).
Theodore Thye was an American wrestler, promotor and manager in the United States.