Also known as
Tiger Mask · Super Tiger · Sammy Lee · タイガーマスク
Description
Satoru Sayama (born 1957) is a Japanese professional wrestler, martial artist,
and founder of Shooto, one of the first true mixed martial arts organizations.
Originally trained under Antonio Inoki and Karl Gotch, he became famous as the
original Tiger Mask. In 1985 he founded Shooto, creating the first MMA gloves
inspired by Bruce Lee's Enter the Dragon. He trained Yorinaga Nakamura and
other shootists, and promoted Vale Tudo Japan events that led to the rise of
Pride FC.
Teachers (4)
-
Antonio Inoki
(1976–1983)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source
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Sayama trained under Antonio Inoki at New Japan Pro-Wrestling from 1976;
extensively documented in wrestling history
“Primarily trained under New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) founder Antonio Inoki
and his mentor Karl Gotch”
-
Karl Gotch
sports_martial_artsCatch Wrestling
Confirmed
(1976)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources
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Independent sources state it.
“Primarily trained under New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) founder Antonio Inoki
and his mentor Karl Gotch”
visibilityFirst-hand
“He studied and trained in Catch-As-Catch-Can Wrestling under the great Karl
Gotch, a German who is famous for applying over one-thousand submission
techniques.”
-
person
Victor Koga
sports_martial_artsSambo
Probable
history_eduTradition only
Tradition only: every supporting source is the lineage's own account of
itself
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source
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USA Shooto's own history states it; no record from Koga or an independent
source.
visibilityFirst-hand
“Satoru learned Russian Sambo under the first Sambist from Japan, Victor Koga,
who happens to be Japanese and Russian.”
-
person
Toshio Fujiwara
sports_martial_artsMuay Thai
Probable
history_eduTradition only
Tradition only: every supporting source is the lineage's own account of
itself
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source
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fact_check
USA Shooto's own history states it; no record from Fujiwara or an
independent source.
visibilityFirst-hand
“Under Toshio Fujiwara, Satoru developed his Muay Thai kickboxing skills.”
Students (1)
-
Yorinaga Nakamura
sports_martial_artsShooto
Confirmed
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources
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Extensively documented; Nakamura enrolled at Satoru Sayama's Tiger Gym in
1984, became full-time staff in 1985, and won the first Shooto tournament in
1986
“he enrolled at the Tiger Gym of Satoru Sayama. In November 1985, he became a
full-time staff member of Sayama's gym. He trained in Sayama's style of
Shootfighting”
visibilityFirst-hand
“On opening day in 1984, Yorinaga enrolled at the Tiger Gym”
— USA Shooto - Yori Nakamura (official website)
link
Identifiers
https://martial.is/entity/01KYDN1Q2THXHBSXHCS0PH4TEV
Cite and reuse
CC BY-SA 4.0expand_more
Plain text
Muñoz, Frederico (YEAR_PLACEHOLDER). Satoru Sayama. In Martialis: Martial Arts
Lineage Database. https://martial.is/entity/01KYDN1Q2THXHBSXHCS0PH4TEV - CC
BY-SA 4.0. Accessed ACCESSED_DATE_PLACEHOLDER.
BibTeX
@incollection{martialis_01KYDN1Q2THXHBSXHCS0PH4TEV, author = {Muñoz, Frederico},
title = {Satoru Sayama}, booktitle = {Martialis: Martial Arts Lineage Database},
year = {YEAR_PLACEHOLDER}, url =
{https://martial.is/entity/01KYDN1Q2THXHBSXHCS0PH4TEV}, urldate =
{ACCESSED_DATE_PLACEHOLDER}, note = {CC BY-SA 4.0} }
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