A Judo 7th Dan obtained at the age of 29, is the greatest Judoka whoever lived. At 5ft 6ins tall and 84kg, born 10/9/1917, in Kumamoto Prefecture in Kyushu, Japan Masahiko Kimura started Judo at the age of 10. By the time he went to high school he was a 4th Dan.
In 1935 he won his first title, the all Japan Collegiate championships. At the same time he was promoted to 5th Dan, by defeating 8 Kodokan yudansha, aged 18. The secret of Masahiko's success was his belief in himself and his training. At high school he did 300 push-ups per day. At university he did 500 per day. After his first major All Japan title he did 1000 per day. At that time he was also training 4 times a day, 6 hours a day. Masahiko trained at the Taku-Shoku University, local clubs, the Kodokan and police academies. And after training, at midnight, he would then train against a tree. He was quite often called the 'tree killer'.
Masahiko became the All Japan open weight champion in 1937 aged 20. He maintained this title for 13 years, without a single loss. Then in 1950 he left Japan to become a professional fighter. In July 1951 he and two other Judoka were asked to compete in Brazil. Kimura was 34, he was accompanied by a 110 kg 6th Dan, and Kado a 5th Dan. It was to be a contest between Judo and Ju Jutsu fight.
Kado accepted a fight by Helio Gracie, the Brazilian champion. Kado threw Gracie all over the place and after 10 minutes Gracie got a choke on and won. Weeks later Gracie challenged Kimura to a match. There were 20,000 fans and the Gracie clan carried in a coffin for Kimura. The President and Vice President were invited as well.
During the fight Kimura threw Gracie all over the place, after 12 minutes it went to the floor and after a great struggle, Kimura broke Gracie's arm to win the fight. Japanese writer Tomita (son of Tomita, 8th Dan and one of the four Kodokan guardians) praised Kimura as the best Judoka in the Showa era. Tomita wrote, "Kimura no mae Ni Kimura Naku, Kimura no Ato Ni Kimura Nashi" – meaning, "There never was a player like Kimura before or since Masahiko Kimura Shihan, the greatest Judoka who ever lived."
Masahiko Kimura Shihan passed away of lung cancer on 4/18/1993 aged 75.
