Kyuzo Mifune
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Kyuzo Mifune 三船 久蔵 |
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K. Mifune
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| Born |
April 21, 1883 Iwate Prefecture, Japan |
| Died | January 27, 1965 (aged 81) Tokyo, Japan |
| Native name | 三船 久蔵 |
| Style | Judo |
| Teacher(s) | Kanō Jigorō |
| Rank | 10th dan judo (Kodokan) |
Kyuzo Mifune (三船 久蔵 Mifune Kyūzō?, April 21, 1883 – January 27, 1965) has been categorized as one of the greatest exponents of the art of judo after the founder,Kanō Jigorō. He is considered by many to be the greatest judo technician ever, after Kanō.
Mifune was born on April 21, 1883, in Kuji City, Iwate Prefecture, on Honshū Island in Japan, a year after the Kodokan was founded. He was reportedly incorrigible as a boy, always performing some mischief or organizing others in a similar pursuit. When Mifune was 13 years old, his father, a strict disciplinarian who finally gave up on the youngest of his seven children, sent the boy to a junior high school at Sendai, in northern Japan. There, the young Mifune discovered judo, and decided to dedicate himself to it. At age 14, he defeated nine opponents in a row at one tournament with another high school.
After graduation, Mifune was sent to a Tokyo preparatory school, anticipating entry into Waseda University. He immediately attempted to join the Kodokan. In those days, this required a personal interview with Kano, upon the recommendation of ranking judoka, and then signing a blood oath. Mifune did not know anyone at the Kodokan, but picked out Sakujiro Yokoyama, who then had a fearsome reputation, as 'Demon Yokoyama,' whose fast, powerful judo had gained much reputation for the Kodokan. Mifune camped at Yokoyama's doorstep until the latter consented to recommend him to Kano. In July 1903, Mifune joined the Kodokan. His father, finding out he was spending more time at judo than studying, cut off his allowance, and Mifune, now 22, went out to find work. He began a newspaper, sold advertising, and built it into a thriving enterprise. He was able to sell it at a substantial profit, and entered the economics program at Keio University.
After 15 months of training, Mifune achieved the rank of shodan ('beginning dan,' indicating 1st dan ranking) in Kodokan judo, and after the remarkably short time of four more months, nidan (2nd dan). Through timing and speed, Mifune quickly gained a reputation, and was never defeated at the annual Red and White Kodokan tournament. By 1912, he was ranked rokudan (6th dan) and an instructor. He was already being called the 'God of Judo.' He was 30. His father recommended a girl in his hometown and, for only the second time since he had left home, he returned to marry.
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