Tokugoro Ito (1879-1938) was a Japanese judoka and

professional wrestler Professional wrestling is a form of theater that revolves around staged wrestling matches. The mock combat is performed in a ring similar to the kind used in boxing, and the dramatic aspects of pro wrestling may be performed both in the ring o ...

. Ito was one of the founding fathers of

mixed martial arts Mixed martial arts (MMA), sometimes referred to as cage fighting, no holds barred (NHB), and ultimate fighting, and originally referred to as Vale Tudo is a full-contact combat sport based on striking, grappling and ground fighting, inc ...

in Brazil.

Early years

Ito was an instructor of

judo is an unarmed modern Japanese martial art, Olympic sport (since 1964), and the most prominent form of jacket wrestling competed internationally.『日本大百科全書』電子版【柔道】(CD-ROM version of Encyclopedia Nipponica, "Judo"). ...

Tokyo Imperial University , abbreviated as or UTokyo, is a public research university located in Bunkyō, Tokyo, Japan. Established in 1877, the university was the first Imperial University and is currently a Top Type university of the Top Global University Project by ...

in Japan. In 1911, Akitaro Ono and Tokugoro Ito joined Mitsuyo Maeda and

Soshihiro Satake Antonio Satake, born Soshihiro Satake, was a Japanese-born Brazilian martial artist and teacher. One of the teachers of Brazilian martial artist Luiz França, together with Geo Omori and Mitsuyo Maeda, Satake was one of the primary founders ...

Cuba Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...

. The four men were known as the "Four Kings of Cuba".

Wrestling

Ito's first wrestling match against someone was not Japanese occurred in 1909. Ito defeated American Wrestler Eddie Robinson. In 1914, Ito engaged in many matches. He initially lost but later defeated

Ad Santel Adolph Ernst (April 7, 1887 – November 10, 1966), better known for his ring name Ad Santel, was a German-American professional wrestler, considered one of the greatest practitioners of catch wrestling ever. He is also considered to be one of th ...

in a wrestling match. The loss was a result of Ito being thrown on his head by Santel. Ito at the time was a 5th degree black belt in judo. He additionally defeated

Joe Acton Joseph Acton (8 March 1852 – 26 June 1917), known by his ringname "Little Joe" or "Limey Joe", was a British professional wrestler and world champion who competed in England and America during the late 19th century. Acton is one of a handful ...

Later years

In his later years he founded the Rafu Judo Dojo in Los Angeles. His notable students included Tsutao Higami He was also the founder of the

Seattle Dojo The Seattle Dojo is located at 1510 S. Washington in the Squire Park neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. It is the oldest judo dojo in the continental United States, having been founded sometime before 1907 in what is today the International Di ...

. Ito was also an instructor of

Geo Omori or Geo Omori as he became known in Brazil, was a Japanese-born Brazilian martial artist who is credited for being one of the creators of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.Sanpo Toku.

References

Sources

* {{refend 19th-century births Place of birth missing 20th-century deaths Japanese male judoka Japanese jujutsuka 20th-century professional wrestlers Japanese catch wrestlers Japanese male mixed martial artists Mixed martial artists utilizing judo Mixed martial artists utilizing jujutsu Mixed martial artists utilizing catch wrestling American male professional wrestlers Japanese male professional wrestlers