Satoru Sayama

佐山聡
Japan
Born 1957-11-27, Tokyo
5.9

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
    Frederico Muñoz
    Researcher, Martialis
    1 source expand_more
    fact_check
    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”
    — Satoru Sayama (Wikipedia EN)link history info
  • Karl Gotch
    sports_martial_artsCatch Wrestling Confirmed
    Confirmed
    Independent sources state it.
    The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.
    (1976)
    fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
    Frederico Muñoz
    Researcher, Martialis
    2 sources expand_more
    fact_check
    Independent sources state it.
    “Primarily trained under New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) founder Antonio Inoki and his mentor Karl Gotch”
    — Satoru Sayama (Wikipedia EN)link history info
    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.”
    — About - USA Shooto link history info
  • Victor Koga
    sports_martial_artsSambo Probable
    Probable
    USA Shooto's own history states it; no record from Koga or an independent source.
    The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
    history_eduTradition only
    Tradition only: every supporting source is the lineage's own account of itself
    fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
    Frederico Muñoz
    Researcher, Martialis
    1 source expand_more
    fact_check
    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.”
    — About - USA Shooto link history info
  • Toshio Fujiwara
    sports_martial_artsMuay Thai Probable
    Probable
    USA Shooto's own history states it; no record from Fujiwara or an independent source.
    The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
    history_eduTradition only
    Tradition only: every supporting source is the lineage's own account of itself
    fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
    Frederico Muñoz
    Researcher, Martialis
    1 source expand_more
    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.”
    — About - USA Shooto link history info

Lineage

Students (1)

  • Yorinaga Nakamura
    sports_martial_artsShooto Confirmed
    Confirmed
    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
    The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.
    location_onSuper Tiger Gym badge (1984–1988)
    fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
    Frederico Muñoz
    Researcher, Martialis
    2 sources expand_more
    fact_check
    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”
    — Yorinaga Nakamura (Wikipedia EN)link history info
    visibilityFirst-hand
    “On opening day in 1984, Yorinaga enrolled at the Tiger Gym”
    — USA Shooto - Yori Nakamura (official website) link

Sources

Satoru Sayama (Wikipedia EN)link history info

Identifiers

https://martial.is/entity/01KYDN1Q2THXHBSXHCS0PH4TEV
Wikidata VIAF

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} }
data_object JSON-LDdata_object Turtle

Database content on this page is CC BY-SA 4.0; the database right is separately reserved. Licensing