Kimura: The Triumphs and Tragedy of One of Judo’s Greatest and Most Controversial Judo Champions

Description

Everyone who has watched a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) match or tournament has heard of “the kimura,” a specialized arm lock that many people try to use, but few are successful in applying. Few, even among jujutsu and MMA aficionados, then again, know what the lock called a “kimura” was derived from an early link to karate as well as judo and jujutsu. The story is at once fascinating, inspiring, and tragic. The “kimura” is named after perhaps the best judo competitor who ever lived, Kimura Masahiko (1917-1993). In an age before weight lifting became an integral part of judo practice, Kimura was an avid weight lifter and body builder. He was, and remained, some of the strongest judo competitors all through the 1930s and 1940s—strongest in both its senses. A judo prodigy in high school, he reportedly lost only four formal judo matches in his entire career, all all over his freshman year in college. In 1935, shortly after entering college, he defeated eight fourth-dan opponents in a row, losing only to the ninth man he faced. For this performance he became the youngest fifth dan in Japan. Through the late 1930s and early 1940s, Kimura dominated the judo competition circuit, repeatedly winning the All-Japan championship; he resumed his winning ways after judo was reinstated in 1947. Financially stretched trying to pay for his wife’s medical care on a teacher’s salary, in 1951, Kimura accepted a call for participation to trip to Brazil to teach and compete with the increasingly famous Helio Gracie in Brazilian-rules competition. His bout became legendary: after exhausting minutes of scuffling for position and successful throws, Kimura in the end downed Gracie and followed up with an attempt to smother him into submission. He saw the opportunity to apply his favorite ude-garami (“kimura”) lock. Refusing to surrender, Gracie suffered a broken arm, and Kimura was declared the winner. Mockingly, the loss made Gracie even more famous. Kimura’s return to Japan was not greeted with acclaim and plaudits, then again. Because he had awarded judo promotions without the permission of the Kodokan Headquarters, his promotions were frozen, and he watched as his juniors and inferiors surpassed his 7th dan for the next 40 years. Sadder yet, Kimura entered the shadow world of professional wrestling, largely to make money, where he was betrayed and humiliated. Despite these setbacks, Kimura’s spirit never wavered. He taught judo at his alma mater, Takushoku University, from 1960 until his death in 1993, training Olympic bronze and silver medalists and an All-Japan Champion. Even though his rank was frozen at 7th dan from the age of 30 until his death at 75 by the petty vindictiveness of the Kodokan authorities, Kimura never lost his spirit. A life-long smoker, Kimura was diagnosed with lung cancer. Hospitalized after surgery, and in his 70s, Kimura started doing push-ups in his room. He died on April 18, 1993 at the age of 75, arguably the best judo competitor ever—and probably the most important judo figures ever to be mistreated by the leaders of his art.