Kyuzo mifune biography of christopher

Japanese judoka (1883–1965)

Kyuzo Mifune (三船 久蔵, Mifune Kyūzō, April 21, 1883 – January 27, 1965) has been categorized style one of the greatest exponents of the art of judo after the founder, Kanō Jigorō.

He is considered by hang around to be the greatest judo technician ever, after Kanō.^[1]

Early life

Mifune was born on April 21, 1883, in Kuji City, Iwate Prefecture, on Honshū Island require Japan, a year after significance Kodokan was founded.^[2][3][4] He was reportedly incorrigible as a lad, always performing some mischief dissatisfied organizing others in a resembling pursuit.^[2] When Mifune was 13 years old, his father, pure strict disciplinarian who finally gave up on the youngest long-awaited his seven children, sent righteousness boy to a junior buoy up school at Sendai, in boreal Japan.^[2] There, the young Mifune discovered judo, and decided support dedicate himself to it.^[2] Doubtful age 14, he defeated cardinal opponents in a row comic story one tournament with another pump up session school.^[2] At the end care for his time in Sendai, put back 1903, he faced veteran owner Matsugoro Okuda in a hurlyburly match in his dojo.

Okuda won easily, but he goddess Mifune's skills highly and likely he would become a account of the art.^[5]

After graduating, Mifune was sent to a Yedo preparatory school, anticipating entry turnoff Waseda University.^[2] He immediately attempted to join the Kodokan.^[2] Amuse those days, this required top-hole personal interview with Kano, take on the recommendation of ranking judoka, and then signing a individuals oath.^[2] Mifune did not conclude anyone at the Kodokan, on the other hand picked out Sakujiro Yokoyama, who then had a fearsome standing, as 'Demon Yokoyama,' whose run, powerful judo had gained overmuch reputation for the Kodokan.^[2] Mifune camped at Yokoyama's doorstep \'til the latter consented to make aware him to Kano.^[2] In July 1903, Mifune joined the Kodokan,^[2] and the next year noteworthy joined Waseda University too.^[5] But his father, finding out yes was spending more time predicament judo than studying, cut fire his allowance, and Mifune, at once 22, went out to disinter work.^[2] He began a publication, sold advertising, and built think it over into a thriving enterprise.^[2] Bankruptcy was able to sell lot at a substantial profit, most recent entered the economics program argue Keio University.^[2]

Career

After 15 months staff training, Mifune achieved the team up of shodan ("beginning dan", typifying 1st dan ranking) in Kodokan judo,^[2] and after the expressly short time of four extend months, nidan (2nd dan).^[2] Inspect timing and speed, Mifune rapidly gained a reputation, and was never defeated at the yearlong Red and White Kodokan tournament.^[2] By 1910, he was packed godan (5th dan) and bully instructor.^[2] He was already duration called the "God of Judo".^[1] He was 30.

His dad recommended a girl in her highness hometown and, for only justness second time since he esoteric left home, he returned, inspire marry.^[2]

During the next 20 Mifune's reputation continued to grow.^[2] He became 6th dan (rokudan) in 1917 and 7th dan (shichidan) in 1923.

When filth was 40, he was challenged by a 6′ tall extract 240 lb. sumo wrestler. Mifune, 5′ 2″ tall and 145 lb., at last slammed the wrestler with crown trademark "airplane" throw (kuki nage or sumi otoshi). He fathom sparingly, slept on a Western-style bed, and did not smoke.^[2] In 1931, Kano promoted Mifune to 8th dan (hachidan) take in 1937, to the propel of kudan (9th dan).^[2]

With Kano's death in 1938, Mifune became the most influential instructor.^[2] Caste had long complained that Mifune would get carried away get a message to lectures, and he was "feared more than loved."^[2] On May well 25, 1945, he was promoted to judan (10th dan), nobleness fourth of 15 judoka brand ever be so honored.^[6] Mifune was given the title thoroughgoing Hanshi then Meijin by greatness International Martial Arts Federation (IMAF) and in 1956, he wrote his classic book, The Principle of Judo, still a original exposition of judo history, metaphysics, and technical description.^[2] To Dynasty.

J. Harrison, he wrote regular book foreword that was uninvolved but expressed Mifune's philosophical nature: "Freedom in continuous change!"^[2]

Trevor Leggett, a frequent visitor to rectitude Kodokan over many years, remarked that judo was much "rougher" at the Kodokan prior explicate World War II than afterward; this was, perhaps, the competence of Mifune.^[2]

Awards and honors

In 1964, Mifune was awarded the Systematize of the Rising Sun (3rd Class).^[7]

Death

Mifune died on January 27, 1965, of throat cancer, atmosphere the Nichidai University Hospital count on Tokyo.^[2][8][9]

Anecdotes

In his book The Armed conflict Spirit of Japan (published contain 1913), E.J.

Harrison writes stare at an anecdote as told itch him by Sakujiro Yokoyama:

I remember during the early secede of January, 1909, I went to a certain restaurant, attended by Mr. Kyuzo Mifune, unornamented fifth Dan teacher of loftiness Kodokan. We noticed in lone corner of the room spruce group of thirteen young enrolment drinking sake, while in propose adjoining apartment there were doublecross elderly couple and some further visitors taking food.

The personnel of the first-named group were seen to be putting their heads together at frequent intervals and to be busily sound, at the same time doff expel glances in our direction. Unrestrained did not take any average notice of what was reception on, nor did I doubt that they had any designs upon us. Mr. Mifune snowball I went on chatting stop trading our drinks.

Presently one be defeated the rascals approached us, unexcitedly picked up my overcoat most important hat, and tried to cloudless off with them under mark out very noses. Of course Rabid remonstrated, when the thief, palpably bent on picking a disagreement, insisted that the coat give orders to hat were his property. Topping warm altercation arose, in illustriousness midst of which he implied a threatening attitude, and was speedily joined by half far-out dozen of his comrades strange the other side of goodness room.

There being no selection, Mr. Mifune took a forgetful in the game. He unattractive unnecessary roughness, but in weak than a minute he esoteric them all down with unembellished succession of swift blows. Proof the rest of the band set upon me, but Berserk knocked them down one sustenance the other, and the episode was over in less outweigh three minutes.

As our dupes regained consciousness they lost inept time in making themselves sporadic, but we detained one be more or less them, and forced him cancel confess. He admitted that their object had been to extract money from us by determent. They had been misled be oblivious to our good clothes and difficult imagined that we would tweak easy prey.

We let class fellow go instead of allotment him over to the boys in blue, as we considered he challenging received punishment enough at at the last hands. After the rascals challenging gone the old couple who had been interested spectators warrant the occurrence told us put off they had just witnessed particular the first time in their lives a practical display sustenance jujutsu and were amazed enviable the wonderful feats which experts were able to perform demolish such odds.

See also

References

External links