Masahiko Kimura | |
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Born | Kumamoto, Empire of Japan | September 10, 1917
Died | April 18, 1993 Tokyo, Japan | (aged 75)
Nationality | Japanese |
Height | 170 cm (5 ft 7 in) |
Weight | 84 kg (185 lb; 13 st 3 lb) |
Style | Judo & Karate |
Rank | 7th dan in judo |
Occupation | Judoka, professional wrestler |
University | Takushoku University |
Masahiko Kimura (木村 政彦, Kimura Masahiko, September 10, 1917 – April 18, 1993) was a Japanese judoka and professional wrestler who is widely considered the greatest judoka of all time.[1][2][3] He won the All-Japan Judo Championships three times in a row for the first time in history and had never lost a judo match from 1936 to 1950. In submission grappling, the reverse ude-garami arm lock is often called the "Kimura",[4] due to his famous victory over Gracie jiu-jitsu co-founder Hélio Gracie. In the Japanese professional wrestling world, he is known for being one of Japan's earliest stars and the controversial match he had with Rikidōzan.