History Wrestling / MasahikoKimura

* UnconsciousObjector: According to Kimura, he once lost consciousness due to exhaustion while training and his body still executed a throw on his opponent. Afterwards, he supposedly had an OutOfBodyExperience, and when he woke up, he characteristically asked his students why they had been looking at his unconscious body instead of training.

As usual, you can find the basics at [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masahiko_Kimura The Other Wiki]].

* AlwaysSomeoneBetter: Unconfirmed and probably not true, but should be stated: Wrestling/BillyRobinson claims to remember that Kimura once travelled to the Snakepit in Wigan and got beat in a catch wrestling match "easily", and not by someone highly skilled.
** If true, it's not so surprising; the catch wrestler would have been more familiar with the rule set and had an advantage.

** At the all Japan judo championships, he defeated the judoka Tokizane, who was an expert in the use of osoto gari, with an osoto gari of his.

* BloodFromEveryOrifice: Downplayed. His headlock on Hélio Gracie was so strong that it supposedly broke a blood vessel in his ear, causing it to bleed all over Kimura’s sleeve.

* BullyingADragon: In his autobiography he recalls several cases of crazy people picking fights with him only to be thoroughly beaten up.

* {{Determinator}}: In 1949, he fought a match against the judoka Ishikawa which lasted fifty minutes, the second longest judo match to the date.

** Some believe that he actually toyed with Hélio Gracie to allow some action in the match and entertain the audience before going to finish him. Whether true or not, he did take his time to throw him around despite knowing it would not knock Gracie, and there is documentation of him locking triangle chokes and bodyscissors (the latter admittedly causing Hélio to faint for a moment) only to release them and follow with another thing. The legendary Georges Mehdi, who witnessed the match, went to say that Kimura played so much with Hélio that the fight "was a joke".

* OddFriendship: With pro wrestler Wrestling/KarlGotch. Not so odd, considering that Gotch was a similar training fanatic with little social skills.

* OpposingCombatPhilosophies: He disdained the Gracie Jiu Jitsu strategy of lying and waiting for an opportunity for hours if needed. Kimura prefered creating his own opportunities by pounding the mat with his opponent.
* PersonAsVerb: He popularized the gyaku-ude-garami in his fight with Hélio, which got it renamed "Kimura lock" or simply "Kimura".

* UnconsciousObjector: According to Kimura, he once lost consciousness due to exhaustion while training and his body still executed a throw on his opponent. Afterwards, he supposedly had an OutOfBodyExperience, and characteristically asked his students when he wake up why they had been looking at his unconscious body instead of training.
* UnknownRival: Possibly Billy Robinson as Billy told people the stories of how Kimura learned the famous hold from Wrestling/KarlGotch, and how Kimura once went to Wigan only to be trashed by someone Billy claims was not that good. We'll probably never know the truth of these matters as both men are gone.
* TheWorfBarrage: A do-jime or bodyscissors was enough to put Hélio Gracie to sleep in his match with Kimura, but when the judoka faced Waldemar Santana years after, the latter shrugged off the technique thanks to his much stronger build.

'''Masahiko Kimura''' (1917-1993) was a UsefulNotes/{{Japan}}ese UsefulNotes/{{Judo}}ka and {{Professional Wrestl|ing}}er, considered the greatest judo practitioner in historiy, a pro wrestling pioneer and one of the first UsefulNotes/MixedMartialArts fighters. He trained in the Kodokan school run by Jigoro Kano, turning out to be a promising rookie and gaining sound accomplishments for his age, among them three all Japan championships. A crazy training fanatic, he swore not being defeated ever, and also trained in karate with Gichin Funakoshi and Mas Oyama to round his skills. However, after leaving the school and failing a career experiment with pro judo, he became a professional wrestler in order to gain money for his ill wife. He roamed the world and eventually landed in Brazil, where he defeated UsefulNotes/BrazilianJiuJitsu figure Hélio Gracie in a famous match. At his return to Japan he founded Kokusai Pro Wrestling association and resumed competing by invitation of Wrestling/{{Rikidozan}}. Kimura formed a star tag team with him and helped to found a branch of Japan Wrestling Assocation which brought Mexican lucha libre to Japan for first time, and also competed in Brazilian vale tudo again. After leaving the business, he returned to judo as director and trainer until his death by lung cancer in 1993.

'''Masahiko Kimura''' (1917-1993) was a UsefulNotes/{{Japan}}ese UsefulNotes/{{Judo}}ka and {{Professional Wrestl|ing}}er, considered the greatest judo practitioner in historiy, a pro wrestling pioneer and one of the first UsefulNotes/MixedMartialArts fighters. He trained in the Kodokan school run by Jigoro Kano, turning out to be a promising rookie and gaining sound accomplishments for his age, among them three all Japan championships. A crazy training fanatic, he swore not being defeated ever, and also trained in karate with Gichin Funakoshi and Mas Oyama to round his skills. However, after leaving the school and failing a career experiment with pro judo, he became a professional wrestler in order to gain money for his ill wife. He roamed the world and eventually landed in Brazil, where he defeated Brazilian jiu-jitsu figure Hélio Gracie in a famous match. At his return to Japan he founded Kokusai Pro Wrestling association and resumed competing by invitation of Wrestling/{{Rikidozan}}. Kimura formed a star tag team with him and helped to found a branch of Japan Wrestling Assocation which brought Mexican lucha libre to Japan for first time, and also competed in Brazilian vale tudo again. After leaving the business, he returned to judo as director and trainer until his death by lung cancer in 1993.

* AlwaysSomeoneBetter: Unconfirmed and probably not true, but should be stated: Billy Robinson claims to remember that Kimura once travelled to the Snakepit in Wigan and got beat in a catch wrestling match "easily", and not by someone highly skilled.

* UrExample: He popularized the gyaku-ude-garami in his fight with Hélio, which got it renamed "Kimura lock" or simply "Kimura".

* {{Badass}}: He beat Hélio Gracie without much resistance and after 4 straight loses early in his life was undefeated in judo matches for the rest of his life.

'''Masahiko Kimura''' (1917-1993) was a UsefulNotes/{{Japan}}ese judoka and {{Professional Wrestl|ing}}er, considered the greatest judo practitioner in historiy, a pro wrestling pioneer and one of the first UsefulNotes/MixedMartialArts fighters. He trained in the Kodokan school run by Jigoro Kano, turning out to be a promising rookie and gaining sound accomplishments for his age, among them three all Japan championships. A crazy training fanatic, he swore not being defeated ever, and also trained in karate with Gichin Funakoshi and Mas Oyama to round his skills. However, after leaving the school and failing a career experiment with pro judo, he became a professional wrestler in order to gain money for his ill wife. He roamed the world and eventually landed in Brazil, where he defeated Brazilian jiu-jitsu figure Hélio Gracie in a famous match. At his return to Japan he founded Kokusai Pro Wrestling association and resumed competing by invitation of Wrestling/{{Rikidozan}}. Kimura formed a star tag team with him and helped to found a branch of Japan Wrestling Assocation which brought Mexican lucha libre to Japan for first time, and also competed in Brazilian vale tudo again. After leaving the business, he returned to judo as director and trainer until his death by lung cancer in 1993.

* AsleepInClass: He recalled it happening to him very often, as he liked to spend the nights training. Badass as he could later be, it is not difficult to imagine an anime-like scene of a young Masahiko dozing off over his desk [[ConvenientlySeated next to the classroom's windows]] with Gozo Shioda poking him with the elbow to awake him before the stern Japanese teacher realized and [[ChuckingChalk threw him a chalk.]]

* IKnowKarate: He learnt the Shotokan and Goju-Ryu styles of karate, mostly to strengthen his hands, and was also friends and training partners with Masutatsu Oyama. Also his judo skills speak or itself.

* CombatPragmatist: When pitted in self-defense situations, he would use headbutts and groin attacks along with his already dreadful judo.

* AlwaysSomeoneBetter: Unconfirmed and probably not true, but should be stated: Billy Robinson claims to remember that Kimura once travelled to the Snakepit in Wigan and got beat "easily", and not by someone highly skilled.

* ArchEnemy: The Sharpe Brothers during his tag team with Rikidozan.

* BashBrothers: With Rikidozan, at least until their falling out.

* IKnowKarate: He learnt the Shotokan and Goju-Ryu styles of karate, mostly to strengthen his hands, and was friends and training partners with Masutatsu Oyama.

* TakeAThirdOption: Back when Kimura was in military service, an instructor of jukendo or bayonet fighting called him for a demonstration in front of the rest of recruits. Knowing that he would get beaten down or even injuried if he attacked and probably punished if he did not, Masahiko took a different approach: he threw his rifle to the instructor, and when the guy guarded up to deflect it, Kimura tackled him low to with a double leg takedown and pinned him on the ground until the fight was broken up.

* TheWorfEffect: He got beat up by Wrestling/{{Rikidozan}} in a pro wrestling match that turned into a shoot. To be fair, Rikidozan had naturally the advantage of surprise over the unaware Masahiko, and he went for Kimura's neck in his first attack to incapacitate him fast and ensure the judoka didn't hit back.

* BloodKnight: Kimura lived to train and fight.

* CharlesAtlasSuperpower: His way of train gave him a prodigious strength, supposedly making him able to rip maples trees up from the ground with throws.

* CombatPargmatist: When pitted in self-defense situations, he would use headbutts and groin attacks along with his already dreadful judo.
* CurbStompBattle: Against Hélio Gracie. Without being in danger at any time, Masahiko threw him several times, pinned him when he thought it was the time and then submitted him at will with the famous armlock.

'''Masahiko Kimura''' (1917-1993) was a UsefulNotes/{{Japan}}ese judoka and {{Professional Wrestl|ing}}er, considered the greatest judo practitioner in historiy, a pro wrestling pioneer and one of the first UsefulNotes/MixedMartialArts fighters. He trained in the Kodokan school run by Jigoro Kano, turning out to be a promising rookie and gaining sound accomplishments for his age, among them three all Japan championships. A crazy training fanatic, he swore not being defeated ever, and also trained in karate with Gichin Funakoshi and Mas Oyama to round his skills. However, after a failed career experiment with pro judo, he left the school and roamed the world, eventually landing in Brazil, where he defeated Brazilian jiu-jitsu figure Hélio Gracie in a famous match and had some other vale tudo bouts. At his return to Japan he became a professional wrestler by invitation of Wrestling/{{Rikidozan}}, forming a star tag team with him and helping to found a branch of Japan Wrestling Assocation which brought Mexican lucha libre to Japan for first time. After leaving pro wrestling, he returned to judo as director and trainer until his death by lung cancer in 1993.

* AlwaysSomeoneBetter: Unconfirmed and probably not true, but should be stated: Billy Robinson claims that Kimura once travelled to the Snakepit in Wigan and got beat "easily", and not by someone highly skilled.

** He defeated Hélio Gracie, master of a groundfighting based art, via ground hold.

* BullyingADragon: In his autobiography he recalls several cases of crazy people picking fights with him only to be used to wipe the floor.

** Many pundits believe that he actually toyed with Hélio Gracie to allow some action in the match in order to entertain the audience. The legendary Georges Mehdi, who witnessed the match, went to say that Kimura played so much wit Hélio that the fight "was a joke".
** According to Donn Draeger, Kimura liked to lie down on his back during the grappling training and let any partner to have one of his arms, only to escape any hold they tried.

* OpposingCombatPhilosophies: He disdained the Gracie Jiu Jitsu strategy of lying and waiting for an opportunity during hours if needed. Kimura prefered creating his own opportunities by pounding the mat with his opponent.

* UnconsciousObjector: According to Kimura, he once lost consciousness out of exhaustion while training and his body still executed a throw on his opponent. Afterwards, he supposedly had an OutOfBodyExperience, and characteristically asked his students when he wake up why they had been looking at his unconscious body instead of training.

* TheWorfEffect: He got beat up by Wrestling/{{Rikidozan}} in a pro wrestling match that turned into a shoot.

* {{Badass}}: He beat Hélio Gracie without much resistance and was undefeated in judo matches after 4 straight loses early in his life.

* {{Badass}}: He beat Hélio Gracie without much resistance.

* AlwaysSomeoneBetter: Unconfirmed, probably not true but should be stated, Billy Robinson once said that Kimura once travelled to the Snakepit in Wigan and got beat "easily", and not by someone highly skilled.

* AsleepInClass: He recalled it happening to him very often, as he liked to spend the nights training.
* {{Badass}}: He beat Helio Gracie without much resistance.

* BullyingADragon: In his autobiography he recalls several cases of crazy people picking fights with him only to be used to wipe the floor by a judo legend.

* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: Kimura's interviews and autobiography sometimes have him sharing rather ''abnormal'' thoughts. For instance, he didn't like the concept of sleeping because he considered it was too similar to death and he would rather be training than slumbering. And if it doesn’t look that grave, here is another: he once stabbed himself in the abdomen with his wakizashi to see if he can really die or not.

* IKnowKarate: He learnt the Shotokan and Goju-Ryu styles of Karate, mostly to strengthen his hands and was friends with Masutatsu Oyama.

** Many pundits believe that he actually toyed with Hélio Gracie to allow some action in the match to entertain the audience. The legendary Georges Mehdi, who witnessed the match, went to say that Kimura played so much wit Hélio that the fight "was a joke".

* OneHitKill: It's said that most of judo matches with Kimura did not last more than 10 seconds.

* ReligiousBruiser: His "religious" beliefs are hard to describe, but he prayed to the gods and buddhas before important matches.

* TheWorfEffect: He got beat up by Wrestling/Rikidozan in a pro wrestling match that turned into a shoot.

* UrExample: He popularized the gyaku-ude-garami in his fight with Hélio, which got it renamed "Kimura lock" or simply "Kimura".

* {{Badass}}

* AbsurdlyHighStakesGame: After four loses which made him devote to training, Masahiko seriously swore that if he lost a judo match again, he would perform ''seppuku''. Fortunately for him, he retired unbeaten.

* UnconsciousObjector: According to Kimura, he once lost consciousness out of exhaustion while training and his body still executed a throw on his opponent. Afterwards, he supposedly had an OutOfBodyExperience.

-->''"Kimura no maei ni Kimura naku, Kimura no ato ni Kimura nashi."''[[note]]''"There never was a Kimura before Kimura, and there will never be a Kimura after Kimura."''[[/note]]