Yokoyama Sakujiro

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Yokoyama Sakujiro (1864–1912) was a famous Japanese martial artist and one of the earliest students of Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo. He was known for his big size, fierce fighting style, and strong influence on the Kodokan, the school that helped create modern judo. He was nicknamed the “Demon Yokoyama.”

Early life
- Born in Tokyo, Japan. From a young age he trained in traditional jujutsu styles, including Tenjin Shin’yō-ryū and Kitō-ryū.
- He worked with the police in Yamagata and may have studied other jujutsu schools as well.
- In 1886 he visited the Kodōkan to challenge Kano, but after being defeated by the smaller Shirō Saigō, he decided to study Kano’s teachings and helped build the Kodokan’s reputation.

Fighting style and reputation
- Yokoyama was large and physically powerful. He trained hard, even swinging a heavy tetsubo (club) outside the dojo to increase strength.
- His favorite throw was called tengu nage. He was known for a brutal, no-nonsense approach to training and fighting.

Key matches and events
- In 1886 he fought for the Kodokan against Yoshin-ryu in the Kodokan-Totsuka rivalry.
- His most famous opponent was Hansuke Nakamura of Ryoi Shinto-Ryu. Their 55-minute bout ended in a hard-fought draw, with both men showing great strength on their feet and on the ground.
- Around 1890 he fought Senjuro Kanaya of Takenouchi-ryū; the match ended in a dramatic draw after Yokoyama pressed Kanaya against a dojo pillar.
- In 1894 Yokoyama defeated Nakamura in a rematch, further cementing his fearsome reputation. That year Nakamura also took part in an exhibition at Kodokan with Keitaro Inoue.

Later life
- In 1904 Yokoyama earned the 7th dan, the highest rank in judo at the time.
- English journalist Ernest J. Harrison later shared a Yokoyama anecdote to illustrate the fighting spirit of Japanese martial artists.

Death
- Yokoyama died in 1912, reportedly killed in a duel.

Legacy
- He is remembered as one of Kodokan’s Four Guardians and a pioneer who helped shape early judo through his strength, skill, and tough approach to training and competition.