Tadao Yasuda(An điền trung phu,Yasuda Tadao,born 9 October 1963 inŌta,Tokyo)is a Japanese retiredsumowrestler (rikishi),professional wrestlerandmixed martial artist.He competed in sumo from 1979 to 1992 under theshikonaofTakanofuji Tadao,achieving the rank ofkomusubi,and afterward turned to professional wrestling, in which he competed from 1994 to 2011, most notably inNew Japan Pro-Wrestling(NJPW), where he was a one-timeIWGP Heavyweight Champion.He also fought in mixed martial arts from 2001 to 2003, holding a notable win overJérôme Le Banner.
| Takanofuji Tadao | |
|---|---|
| Hiếu nãi phú sĩ trung hùng | |
 Yasuda speaking inShibuya, Tokyo,July 2018 | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | October 9, 1963 Tokyo, Japan |
| Height | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) |
| Weight | 150 kg (331 lb) |
| Career | |
| Stable | Kokonoe |
| Record | 418-459-4 |
| Debut | March, 1979 |
| Highest rank | Komusubi (July, 1990) |
| Retired | May, 1992 |
| Special Prizes | Fighting Spirit (1) |
| Gold Stars | 2 (Futahaguro) |
| * Up to date as of August 2007. | |
Sumo career
editHe made his professional sumo debut in March 1979 at the age of 15, after leaving junior high school. He was recruited byKokonoe stable.In 1980 he adopted theshikonaof Fujinomori, before switching to Takanofuji in 1984. He first reachedsekitoristatus in March 1985 upon promotion to the second highestjūryōdivision, but could manage only 4 wins against 11 losses and was demoted back to the unsalariedmakushitadivision. After winning promotion back tojūryōin January 1986 he made his debut in the topmakuuchidivision only two tournaments later in May 1986.
Takanofuji was ranked in the top division for 33 tournaments, winning onespecial prizefor Fighting Spirit. His twogold starsfor defeatingyokozunawere both earned against Futahaguro (who, asKoji Kitao,also turned to professional wrestling). Takanofuji had the advantage of belonging to astablethat included twoyokozuna,ChiyonofujiandHokutoumi,which under sumo regulations meant he never had to face them in tournament play. However, his height of1.92 m (6 ft3+1⁄2in) meant he had a higher centre of gravity than was ideal for a sumo wrestler,[1]and he seemed to struggle when promoted above the midmaegashiraranks. Though he managed to reach the fourth highestkomusubiranking in July 1990 he could not maintain the rank, winning only two bouts there. He was demoted from the top division after the September 1991 tournament and announced his retirement in May 1992. His career coincided exactly with that of his stablemate Hokutoumi, who made his debut alongside him in March 1979 and also retired in May 1992. At Takanofuji's own request, it was the previous head of Kokonoe stable, ex-yokozunaKitanofuji,his long-time coach, and not his successor, ex-yokozunaChiyonofuji,who performed thetopknotcutting at Takanofuji's official retirement ceremony ordanpatsu-shiki.
Fighting style
editTakanofuji's most common winningkimaritewereyori-kiri(force out),hataki-komi(slap down) andtsuki-otoshi(thrust over).
Professional wrestling career
edit| Tadao Yasuda | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 9, 1963 Tokyo, Japan |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Tadao Yasuda Yasudakinen |
| Billed height | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) |
| Billed weight | 130 kg (290 lb) |
| Trained by | Kensuke Sasaki Shinya Hashimoto Hiroshi Hase Antonio Inoki Genichiro Tenryu |
| Debut | February 24, 1994 |
| Retired | February 4, 2011 |
Reverting to his real name, he joined theNew Japan Pro-Wrestling(NJPW) promotion in June 1993, making his debut in February 1994. Even though he was a sumo champion before, he did not received the same usual special treatment that other sumo championsHiroshi WajimainAll JapanandKoji Kitaoin New Japan received when both also started in professional wrestling. This was mostly because of the issues behind the reasons they joined the sport and how it end up bad for them, as Wajima used professional wrestling to settle his enormous gambling debts, and Kitao engaged in various confrontations with professional wrestling promoters due to being called out for his lazy habits and bad attitude. With that being said, New Japan made Yasuda start from the absolute bottom, presenting him as a young lion instead of a celebrity with past sumo champion status, a decision Yasuda humbly agreed upon. He spent the majority of the 1990s as an undercard wrestler, primarily competing in opening matches or as the fall guy in tag team matches with wrestlers such asShinya HashimotoandKensuke Sasaki,achieving little success. In late 2000, Yasuda, along withKazuyuki Fujita,became somewhat of a pet project forAntonio Inoki,and both of them were sent to the United States to train inmixed martial arts.Yasuda returned to Japan soon after, and was victorious in his first fight against veteranMasaaki SatakeatPride 13.Yasuda's win helped further legitimise him as a pro wrestler in the eyes of Inoki, and this was rewarded with Yasuda reaching the semi-finals of the 2001G1 Climax,where he lost to Keiji Mutoh.[2]After earning one win and one loss in MMA throughout 2001, Yasuda earned the biggest win of his career in December by choking out veteranJerome Le Banner.His defeat of Jerome led to Yasuda's stock in New Japan skyrocketing almost overnight, and Yasuda soon found himself elevated from over the hill veteran to top title contender in early 2002. Yasuda earned the biggest win of his pro wrestling career on February 16, defeating Yuji Nagata in a tournament to win the vacantIWGP Heavyweight Championship.[3]Yasuda held the title for 48 days, before dropping it to Nagata in April. In August 2002, Yasuda andKantaro Hoshinoformed their own faction, theMakai Club,a group of wrestlers primarily with MMA backgrounds who worshipped Antonio Inoki like a god. Yasuda was viewed as the leader of the group, and in early 2003 he partnered up with his second in commandKazunari Murakamito enter theIWGP Tag Team Championship#1 Contender Tournament. Despite losing toJim SteeleandMike Bartonin the final, an injury to Steele would give the title shot to Murakami and Yasuda who unsuccessfully challengedHiroyoshi TenzanandMasahiro Chonoon February 16.[4][5]Having retired from MMA, the aging Yasuda's position in the New Japan card began to fall again, and in late 2004 he left the promotion.[6]After leaving New Japan, he started making sporadic appearances forZERO-ONEandHustle.
In October 2007 he reportedly attempted to commit suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning, using ayeontan.A friend however, interrupted the alleged attempt. He was hospitalized with fears of possiblebrain damage,but this proved not to be the case and he eventually made a return to wrestling.[7]Speaking toTokyo SportsYasuda later denied attempting suicide, saying the poisoning was accidental. On January 11, 2011, Yasuda announced his retirement from professional wrestling. He wrestled his final match on February 4, 2011, in which he was defeated byGenichiro Tenryu.[8]
Mixed martial arts career
editThough very past his prime physically, Yasuda made his transition tomixed martial artsas a NJPW representative in March 2001. He had his debut at the PRIDE 13 against similarly retired kickboxer and karate championMasaaki Satake.Yasuda received damage and bled from his face, but he nullified most of Satake' attacks by rushing him through sumo techniques against the ropes every time they were separated. In the end, the unanimous decision was given to Yasuda for controlling the fight.
Yasuda returned to MMA in theK-1Andy HugMemorial event, taking onRene Roozein a special rules match, but he lost via head kick KO at the third round. He would be more successful in December 2001, when he fought popular K-1 playerJerome Le Bannerat an Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye event: Yasuda managed to take him down and submit him by pressing his forearm against Le Banner's throat, getting the biggest win of his MMA career.
He would later lose to fellow NJPW wrestlerKazuyuki Fujitain a Universal Fighting-Arts Organization event. Yasuda then fought superheavyweight kickboxerJan Nortje,but he had to retire from the match when he hurt a leg seriously. His last fight was a rematch against Rooze, losing the fight again, this time by TKO.
Family
editYasuda's daughter Ayami was born in 1987 and is a model.
Championships and accomplishments
edit- IWGP Heavyweight Championship(1 time)
- IWGP Heavyweight Championship Tournament (2002)[10]
Sumo career record
edit| Year | January Hatsu basho,Tokyo |
March Haru basho,Osaka |
May Natsu basho,Tokyo |
July Nagoya basho,Nagoya |
September Aki basho,Tokyo |
November Kyūshū basho,Fukuoka |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | x | (Maezumo) | West Jonokuchi #7 3–2–2 |
West Jonokuchi #8 5–2 |
West Jonidan #87 3–4 |
East Jonidan #99 5–2 |
| 1980 | East Jonidan #64 3–4 |
West Jonidan #83 4–3 |
East Jonidan #56 5–2 |
West Jonidan #17 1–6 |
West Jonidan #49 3–4 |
West Jonidan #59 5–2 |
| 1981 | West Jonidan #17 5–2 |
West Sandanme #73 3–4 |
West Sandanme #86 7–0–P |
East Makushita #58 1–6 |
West Sandanme #21 3–4 |
West Sandanme #32 4–3 |
| 1982 | East Sandanme #18 5–2 |
East Makushita #53 3–4 |
East Sandanme #6 4–3 |
West Makushita #53 3–4 |
West Sandanme #12 6–1 |
West Makushita #38 4–3 |
| 1983 | West Makushita #31 5–2 |
East Makushita #18 3–4 |
East Makushita #31 4–3 |
West Makushita #21 4–3 |
West Makushita #16 3–4 |
East Makushita #27 2–5 |
| 1984 | West Makushita #43 6–1 |
East Makushita #19 5–2 |
East Makushita #9 4–3 |
West Makushita #5 2–5 |
East Makushita #20 6–1 |
West Makushita #6 5–2 |
| 1985 | West Makushita #1 5–2 |
West Jūryō #10 4–11 |
West Makushita #6 5–2 |
West Jūryō #13 6–9 |
West Makushita #4 4–3 |
West Makushita #2 6–1 |
| 1986 | West Jūryō #9 9–6 |
West Jūryō #2 9–6 |
East Maegashira #14 8–7 |
East Maegashira #10 8–7 |
West Maegashira #3 4–11 ★ |
West Maegashira #9 8–7 |
| 1987 | West Maegashira #5 6–9 |
East Maegashira #9 8–7 |
East Maegashira #5 5–10 |
West Maegashira #9 9–6 |
West Maegashira #1 3–12 ★ |
East Maegashira #9 8–7 |
| 1988 | West Maegashira #2 3–12 |
West Maegashira #9 8–5–2 |
East Maegashira #5 7–8 |
West Maegashira #6 8–7 |
West Maegashira #1 2–13 |
West Maegashira #12 9–6 |
| 1989 | East Maegashira #6 8–7 |
East Maegashira #3 3–12 |
East Maegashira #10 8–7 |
West Maegashira #7 6–9 |
East Maegashira #11 9–6 |
West Maegashira #4 7–8 |
| 1990 | East Maegashira #5 9–6 |
West Maegashira #1 2–13 |
East Maegashira #9 11–4 F |
East Komusubi #1 2–13 |
West Maegashira #9 8–7 |
East Maegashira #4 6–9 |
| 1991 | East Maegashira #7 8–7 |
West Maegashira #2 1–14 |
East Maegashira #15 8–7 |
East Maegashira #11 5–10 |
East Maegashira #15 7–8 |
East Jūryō #3 8–7 |
| 1992 | West Jūryō #2 6–9 |
East Jūryō #6 6–9 |
East Jūryō #10 Retired 4–11 |
x | x | x |
| Record given aswins–losses–absencesTop division championTop division runner-upRetiredLower divisionsNon-participation Sanshōkey:F=Fighting spirit;O=Outstanding performance;T=Technique Also shown:★=Kinboshi;P=Playoff(s) |
||||||
Mixed martial arts record
edit| 6 matches | 2 wins | 4 losses |
| By knockout | 0 | 3 |
| By submission | 1 | 1 |
| By decision | 1 | 0 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 2–4 | Rene Rooze | TKO (punches) | Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2003 | December 31, 2003 | 1 | 0:50 | Kobe,Japan | |
| Loss | 2–3 | Jan Nortje | TKO (injury) | Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2002 | December 31, 2002 | 2 | 0:57 | Saitama,Japan | |
| Loss | 2–2 | Kazuyuki Fujita | Submission (arm triangle choke) | Universal Fighting-Arts Organization: Legend | August 8, 2002 | 1 | 2:46 | Tokyo,Japan | |
| Win | 2–1 | Jérôme Le Banner | Submission (forearm choke) | Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2001 | December 31, 2001 | 2 | 2:50 | Saitama,Japan | |
| Loss | 1–1 | Rene Rooze | KO (kick) | K-1 Andy Memorial 2001 Japan GP Final | August 19, 2001 | 3 | 0:09 | Saitama,Japan | |
| Win | 1–0 | Masaaki Satake | Decision (split) | Pride 13 - Collision Course | March 25, 2001 | 3 | 5:00 | Saitama,Japan |
References
edit- ^Patmore, Angela (1990).The Giants of Sumo.MacDonald & Co.ISBN0-356-18120-0.
- ^"NJPW G1 Climax 2001 - Tag 6".Cagematch.
- ^"NJPW Fighting Spirit 2002 - Tag 10 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database".Archived fromthe originalon 2019-02-18.
- ^"Strong Style Spirit".Puroresufan.com.Retrieved2012-07-31.
- ^"NJPW Fighting Spirit 2003 - Tag 8 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database".Archived fromthe originalon 2020-09-21.
- ^"NJPW Tsuyoku-Are 2004 - Tag 4 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database".Archived fromthe originalon 2019-02-18.
- ^Tadao Yasuda attempts suicide | FightOpinion.com - Your Global Connection to the Fight Industry
- ^"(Results) Tadao Yasuda Produce, 04.02.2011".Purolove.Archivedfrom the original on 2011-02-01.Retrieved2011-02-05.
- ^"Hustle Tournaments".www.prowrestlinghistory.com.Retrieved2018-10-21.
- ^Tadao YasudaCagematch.net retrieved by April 10, 2019
- ^Kreikenbohm, Philip."Tadao Yasuda « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database".www.cagematch.net.Retrieved2018-10-21.
- ^"Takanofuji Tadao Rikishi Information".Sumo Reference.Retrieved2012-08-27.