Also known as

Rubberman Higami · Tetsuro Higami

Description

Japanese judoka and professional wrestler, known as "Rubberman". He studied judo in Los Angeles under Tokugoro Ito and Taro Miyake, wrestled across North America, and after World War II taught judo to schoolboys in Honolulu.

Teachers (2)

• 
  Itō Tokugorō

  swordsKōdōkan Jūdō Probable

  Probable

  Single source.

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  (1917)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Single source.

  “In 1917, he was living in Los Angeles, where his judo teachers included professional wrestler Tokugoro Ito.”

  — Svinth, Joseph R.. (2007-01). Tsutao “Rubberman” Higami. InYo: Journal of Alternative Perspectives on Martial Arts and Sciences link history info
• 
  Miyake Tarō

  swordsKōdōkan Jūdō Probable

  Probable

  Single source.

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Single source.

  “During the early 1920s, while still living in Los Angeles, Higami also trained under Taro Miyake.”

  — Svinth, Joseph R.. (2007-01). Tsutao “Rubberman” Higami. InYo: Journal of Alternative Perspectives on Martial Arts and Sciences link history info

Lineage

• Kōdōkan JūdōItō Tokugorō ← Kanō Jigorō · 2 generations

Students (2)

• 
  Roy Y. Suenaka

  swordsKōdōkan Jūdō Probable

  Probable

  Single source.

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Single source.

  “Examples of his postwar judo students include Al Dacascos, Victor “Sonny” Gascon, Bobby Lowe, Roy Suenaka, and Tony Troche, all of whom subsequently became well-known teachers of assorted Asian martial arts.”

  — Svinth, Joseph R.. (2007-01). Tsutao “Rubberman” Higami. InYo: Journal of Alternative Perspectives on Martial Arts and Sciences link history info
• 
  Harold Sakata

  swordsWrestling Probable

  Probable

  Single source; professional wrestling instruction, stated outright.

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Single source; professional wrestling instruction, stated outright.

  “Sakata’s wrestling instructors included the former professional wrestlers Tetsuro ("Rubberman") Higami and Ben Sherman.”

  — Svinth, Joseph R.. (2001-04). Harold Sakata: Olympic Weightlifter and Professional Wrestler. InYo: Journal of Alternative Perspectives on Martial Arts and Scienceslink history info

Sources