Masahiko Kimura

Masahiko Kimura (1917-1993) was one of the greatest judoka (judo practitioners) ever to have lived. By the age of 18 he had achieved the astonishing level of 5th degree black belt (5th dan) He won the 1937 All Japan Championship at age 20 and remained undefeated for the next 13 years until his retirement. At the height of his training, he would do 1000 push-ups and practice for 9 hours every day. In the course of his life he had only 4 competition losses, and notably fought Helio Gracie of the famous Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (also known as Gracie Jiu Jitsu) family in a no-holds-barred fight. . Kimura said to the diminutive Gracie (whom he outweighed by at least 50 lbs) that if he lasted 3 minutes against him, the fight would be considered a win for Gracie. Gracie lasted over 5 minutes before succumbing to a bent arm lock. The mutual show of respect between the two fighters after the fight was extraordinary with Kimura asking Gracie to come to Japan to teach his unique brand of fighting. Gracie's tribute was less direct but just as respectful, as the bent arm lock he was caught with is still affectionately taught as "the Kimura".

References

• Masahiko Kimura Biography
• My Judo Excerpts from the book by Masahiko Kimura