Rikidōzan

Also known as

百田 光浩 · Momota Mitsuhiro · 김신락 · Kim Sin-rak

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

  sports_martial_artsCatch Wrestling Probable

  Probable

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

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

  (1951–1952)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

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

  “Trainer: Bobby Bruns, Harold Sakata”

  — Rikidōzan (Wikipedia EN)link history info

  alt_routeIndirect

  “In 1951, he became the debut opponent of Rikidozan, the man who built professional wrestling in Japan into a viable spectator sport.”

  — Bobby Bruns (Wikipedia EN)link history info
• 
  Harold Sakata

  sports_martial_artsCatch Wrestling Probable

  Probable

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

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

  (1951–1952)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

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

  “Trainer: Bobby Bruns, Harold Sakata”

  — Rikidōzan (Wikipedia EN)link history info

  “Sakata also wrestled in Japan for the Japanese Wrestling Association between 1955 and 1957, and was an early mentor and sometimes-tag-partner to Rikidōzan.”

  — Harold Sakata (Wikipedia EN)link history info

Students (1)

• 
  Antonio Inoki

  (1960–1963)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Independent sources state it.

  “Inoki met Rikidōzan at the age of 17 in Brazil and went back to Japan for the Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance (JWA) as his disciple.”

  — Antonio Inoki (Wikipedia EN)link history info

  “Rikidozan was immediately impressed by Inoki’s stature, height, and natural athleticism, and returned to Japan with Inoki in tow to commence his training.”

  — (2022-10-04). Antonio Inoki Changed the World link info

Sources

Identifiers