Also known as

Description

Rikidōzan (1924–1963), born Kim Sin-rak, was a Korean-born Japanese professional wrestler and the 'Father of Japanese Professional Wrestling'. Initially a sumo wrestler, he founded the Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance in 1953 and became Japan's first post-war hero by defeating American wrestlers. He trained Antonio Inoki, who later founded New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Rikidōzan was stabbed by a yakuza member and died in 1963 at age 39.

Teachers (2)

• 
  Bobby Bruns

  linkCatch Wrestling 2

  Probable

  Rikidōzan trained under Bobby Bruns when transitioning to professional wrestling in Japan; confirmed by Bruns's Wikipedia biography

  (1951-1952)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  Rikidōzan trained under Bobby Bruns when transitioning to professional wrestling in Japan; confirmed by Bruns's Wikipedia biography

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  Rikidōzan (Wikipedia EN)linkinfo

  Bobby Bruns (Wikipedia EN)linkinfo
• 
  Harold Sakata

  linkCatch Wrestling 2

  Probable

  Sakata trained Rikidōzan alongside Bobby Bruns during the 1951-1952 Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance tour; confirmed by Sakata's Wikipedia biography

  (1951-1952)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  Sakata trained Rikidōzan alongside Bobby Bruns during the 1951-1952 Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance tour; confirmed by Sakata's Wikipedia biography

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  Rikidōzan (Wikipedia EN)linkinfo

  Harold Sakata (Wikipedia EN)linkinfo

Students (1)

• 
  Antonio Inoki

  (1960-1963)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Inoki was recruited by Rikidozan in Brazil and trained under him at the Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance; extensively documented in wrestling history

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Inoki spent much of his youth in Brazil where he met Rikidozan, who convinced Inoki to return to Tokyo to join his Japanese Wrestling Association"

  — Antonio Inoki (Wikipedia EN)linkinfo

Sources