Yasuhiro Yamashita

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Yasuhiro Yamashita (born June 1, 1957) is one of the most successful Japanese Judo competitors of all time and the youngest winner of the open category of the All-Japan judo championship.[1]

Contents

[edit] Biography

Yasuhiro Yamashita was born on June 1, 1957 at Yabecho, in Kumamoto Prefecture, Kyushu. He attended Tokai University and is a disciple of the legendary Isao Inokuma, the former youngest All-Japan judo champion.

[edit] Competitive career

He became the youngest judoka to win the All-Japan judo championship by defeating the famous Sumio Endo while at the age of 19 in 1977,[1] a title he would defend successfully another 8 times consecutively for the impressive record of 9 All-Japan championship titles.[1] He is a 3 time world champion and won a Gold Medal at the 1984 Olympic Games,[1] the only Summer Olympic Games he attended since Japan didn't participate in the 1980 Summer Olympics at Moscow due to the American-led boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics. After the Olympics he retired from competitive status, and is currently the youngest living holder of the rank of 8th degree black belt[citation needed] in Kodokan Judo.

[edit] Major competitive accomplishments

  • 85 All-Japan Championships - Tokyo, Japan
  • 84 Olympic Games (Open) - Los Angeles, CA, USA
  • 84 All-Japan Championships - Tokyo, Japan
  • 83 World Championships (+95kg) - Moscow, Russia
  • 83 All-Japan Championships - Tokyo, Japan
  • 82 All-Japan Championships - Tokyo, Japan
  • 81 World Championships (+95kg & Open) - Maastricht, Holland
  • 81 All-Japan Championships - Tokyo, Japan
  • 80 All-Japan Championships - Tokyo, Japan
  • 79 World Championships (+95kg) - Paris, France
  • 79 All-Japan Championships - Tokyo, Japan
  • 78 All-Japan Championships - Tokyo, Japan
  • 77 All-Japan Championships - Tokyo, Japan

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Ohlenkamp, Neil (June 2005). The Story of Yasuhiro Yamashita. Retrieved on February 6, 2007.
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