Tribute to History's Greatest Fighters

[DokterVet]

Ok, here's the deal. Let's compile a list of history's greatest fighters. They have to have been accomplished in their own art(or perhaps created their own), and have been world class legendary fighters that astounded the martial arts community for one reason or another. Each person can only pick ONE fighting legend, then give the art and a brief synopsys of the person and his achievements.

 

Also, try to pick a variety of different martial arts styles, so we don't have a list of 20 Gracies! It is okay to have a few from the same or similar arts if they are all legends.

 

I'll start with mine:

 

Masutatsu Oyama (Kyokushin karate) 1923 - 1994

 

Mas Oyama is known as the founder of Kyokushin karate, and as one of the most formidable fighters of the twentieth century. He learned both Shotokan and Goju-ryu, but eventually began training full contact with bare knuckles.

 

He fought 47 live bulls in his career, killing four instantly. He also accepted challenges from fighters of all disciplines, defeating all of them. He stressed the importance of proper karate technique in tournament and fighting situations and was known to break ribs easily, even those of muscular opponents. He could break rocks with his hands as well. He trained alone in the mountains for 18 months at one time.

 

In 1964, the Oyama dojo sent 3 fighters to accept a challenge from Muay Thai in Thailand. Oyama's fighters defeated 2 of the 3 Thai fighers.

 

(source: kyukushinmail.com)

 

http://www.karate-kosho.net/top-mas.oyama_gakubuchi01.jpg

 

Masutatsu Oyama (c/o karate-kosho.net)

 

I look forward to hearing about other fighting legends.

[Dober]

Helio Grace (1913 to Current) - founder of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

 

----------------------------------------------

 

One young but skilled master of a number of jiu-jitsu styles, Jigoro Kano, founded his own ryu and created the martial art Judo (aka Kano-ryu jiu-jitsu) in the 1880's. One of Kano's primary insights was to include full-power practice against resisting, competent opponents, rather than solely rely on the partner practice that was much more common at the time.

 

One of Kano's students was Mitsuo Maeda, who was also known as Count Koma ("Count of Combat"). Maeda emigrated to Brazil in 1914. He was helped a great deal by the Brazilian politician Gastão Gracie, whose father George Gracie had emigrated to Brazil himself from Scotland. In gratitude for the assistance, Maeda taught jiu-jitsu to Gastao's son Carlos Gracie. Carlos in turn taught his brothers Osvaldo, Gastão Jr., Jorge, and Helio.

 

 

From my head :

 

Helio and his brothers further refined what they had learnt in brutal street and ring fights. Helio is now 88 years old and is still an active participant in the sport. He is my fighting legend.

 

http://www.gracieacademy.com/images/family/helio2.jpg

 

http://www.joediamondkarate.com/_borders/helio.jpg

Edited March 23, 2003 by Dober

[DokterVet]

Great! I knew he'd be one of the first to be mentioned. How about a picture?

 

Edit: Cool!

Edited March 23, 2003 by DokterVet

[Dober]

There you go.

[BKJ1216]

Hey woudl Kanken Toyama be conisdered fighter or master?

[Smith amp Wesson]

Probally those original Olypians that fought anything goes.

[TJS]

He also accepted challenges from fighters of all disciplines

 

that right there says it all, the greatest men are always the ones willing to do this, in a world where everyone claims to be the best the ones who are willing to prove it usallly are.

 

that's why i respect men like these so much.

[Dober]

As did Helio, actaully I think Helio had to do all the challenging!

[Lee]

Bruce Lee (1940 - 1973) - Founder of Jeet Kune Do and Jun Fan Gung Fu

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Bruce Lee was one of the greatest Martial Artist of the 20th century. He is also considered the "FATHER" of the Modern Action Movie, made Kung Fu internationally famous, and brought realistic violence to Hong Kong movies. His personal training consisted of day-by-day exercising (500 kicks per leg and up to 2000 punches per day). This made Bruce Lee one of the deadliest and most physically fit man on the planet. An American born Chinese his original Martial Arts training was from Wing Chun, however Bruce would later incorporate techniques from many other fighting styles including Western Boxing and Fencing to create Jeet Kune Do (which means "Way of the Intercepting Fist"). Although Bruce had admiration for tradition, he was not a slave to it. If there was a better way to do something he would incorperate it into his Jeet Kune Do. Bruce saw the faults of many martial arts styles in that they were restrictive and had set routines that did not teach one the flexibility and adaptability needed in a real fight. Since every person is different there is no such thing as a technique or way of fighting that will suit or work on everyone, and so one should find for himself what techniques are right for him and effective. Bruce was perhaps the creater of sparring with protective gear because Bruce realized the necessity of real fighting experience for self-defense and for students to find for themselves what worked and what didn't. Decades after his death his art of Jeet Kune Do is still debated amongst the martial arts community (Is it an art, a method or concept). The reasons for these frequently asked questions were brought on by Bruce Lee's own description of Jeet Kune Do as "Using no way as way" and "Having no limitation as limitation". The most famous rule is "absorb what is useful, reject what is useless, add what is specifically your own."

 

http://www.angelfire.com/fl/dawgpac/bruce02.jpg

[Dober]

Nice, keep them coming.