Kimura's Judo Career During the Depression

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The first all japan championship held since 1940 was was contested on may 2nd 1948 kimura Likely would have been a favorite boys denied entry because of his refusal to return the championship flag. The 1949 championships was the highlight of kimura's judo career leaving him with four wins and a co-championship. He remembered his match against ishi kawa one of the toughest and most consistent opponents after a second overtime the judges decision had to be rendered.

Masahiko Kimura (木村政彦, Kimura Masahiko, September 10, 1917 – April 18, 1993) was a Japanese judoka and professional wrestler who is widely considered one of the greatest judoka of all time.^[1]^[2]^[3] He won the All-Japan Judo Championships three times in a row for the first time in history and had never lost a judo match from 1936 to 1950. An author said," In the history of judo, no one is the strongest before Kimura and no one is the strongest after Kimura."^[4] He has often been described as the strongest judoka in history.^[5] In submission grappling, the reverse ude-garami arm lock is often called the "Kimura",^[6] due to his famous victory over Gracie jiu-jitsu founder Hélio Gracie. In the Japanese professional wrestling world, he is known for the controversial match he had with Rikidōzan.