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Masutaro Otani

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Masutaro Otani
Born25 March 1896
Goto Islands, Japan
Died23 January 1977 (age 80)
Northampton, United Kingdom
OccupationJapanese martial arts instructor
Organization(s)British Judo Council and MOSJ
SuccessorRobin Otani

Masutaro Otani (大谷 益太郎, Otani Masutaro, 25 March 1896 - 23 January 1977), known as Otani, was a Japanese master of judo and a pioneer of judo in the United Kingdom[1] and the leading student of Yukio Tani. He was best known for his speed and agility, and was reputed to be the fastest-throwing exponent ever seen.[2] He is most notable as the founder of the British Judo Council alongside Kenshiro Abbe. He held the rank of 8th dan in judo. He died on 23 January 1977 at age 80.

Biography

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Otani was a pioneer of judo in Britain.[1] He began judo young, practising judo and kendo at school.[3] He then left Japan as a teenager and moved to Colombo, Sri Lanka, where he began training under Seizo Usui for two years. He arrived in the United Kingdom in 1919 in Liverpool[4] before moving to London where he joined the Budokwai.[5] At the Budokwai he trained mostly under Yukio Tani, who was the chief instructor, but had also trained under Hikoichi Aida. Otani was soon sent out to Oxford and Cambridge universities where he taught judo.[6]

He had many public wrestling bouts[7] against the United Kingdom and Europe's best wrestlers before founding his own club in 1945 named the Jubilee Judo Club in Harlesden.[8] In 1948, the British Judo Association was created, which Otani's own Jubilee Judo Club was inducted into.[1] However, disappointed with the direction judo was heading in the United Kingdom, Otani's loyal students founded an organisation on his behalf named the Masutaro Otani Society of Judo and appointed him president.[8] In 1955, Kenshiro Abbe arrived in London by personal invitation of the London Judo Society (LJS) but after several disagreements he left and partnered with Otani.[6] Abbe founded a 'British Judo Council'[1] in the 1950s with help from Otani, who became its 'master'. Students from the MOSJ and Abbe's BJC would begin training at both organisations and in 1969 Abbe returned to Japan and Otani became president of both organisations, before amalgamating them in 1970 to create the modern day British Judo Council, of which he was president.[9]

1933 Frankfurt

Personal life

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On 23 January 1977[10], Otani had a stroke, before being taken to Northampton General Hospital where he died at 80 years old, 8th dan. Upon his death, his son, Robin Otani, became president.[11]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Caffary, Brian (May 1989). Judo Handbook. Smithmark Publishers, Incorporated. p. 7. ISBN 978-0-8317-5274-3.
  2. ^ "Liverpool Echo page 14". Liverpool Echo (14): 14. 1958-03-13.
  3. ^ Rashid, Abdul; Ellis, Henry (2020-08-25). The founding of Jujutsu, Judo & Aikido in the United Kingdom. Abdul Rashid. p. 16. ISBN 979-8-6752-3321-2.
  4. ^ Rogers, Dave (2004). Positive Aikido: A True Story of Traditional Teachings. Trafford Publishing. p. 103. ISBN 978-1-4120-4668-8.
  5. ^ DeMarco, Michael (2018-04-24). Jujutsu and Judo in the West: Uke Becomes Tori. Via Media Publishing. p. 12. ISBN 978-1-7170-3015-3.
  6. ^ a b Rogers, Dave (2004). Positive Aikido: A True Story of Traditional Teachings. Trafford Publishing. p. 151. ISBN 978-1-4120-4668-8.
  7. ^ "Otani". Wrestling Heritage. 2023-08-06. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
  8. ^ a b Rashid, Abdul; Ellis, Henry (2020-08-25). The founding of Jujutsu, Judo & Aikido in the United Kingdom. Abdul Rashid. p. 175. ISBN 979-8-6752-3321-2.
  9. ^ Marks, Roger (2008). Judo. Grange. p. 151. ISBN 978-1-84804-021-2.
  10. ^ Rogers, Dave (2004). Positive Aikido: A True Story of Traditional Teachings. Trafford Publishing. p. 12. ISBN 978-1-4120-4668-8.
  11. ^ Rashid, Abdul; Ellis, Henry (2020-08-25). The founding of Jujutsu, Judo & Aikido in the United Kingdom. back cover: Abdul Rashid. ISBN 979-8-6752-3321-2.
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