Masahiko Kimura

Masahiko Kimura (Japanese木村 政 彦; born September 10, 1917 in Kumamoto Prefecture, † 18 April 1993) was a Japanese judoka who has purchased the 7th dan at the age of 29 years. Many refer to him as the greatest judoka who ever lived. He won the All-Japan Championships three times in a row (1937-1939) and remained unbeaten from 1937 until his resignation in 1950. Notoriety in martial arts circles, he obtained also by his victory over the co-founder of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Helio Gracie, in 1951. The arm lever used by him in this fight, which he was able to defeat Helio, has since then and in wide circles of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu referred to in the field of mixed martial arts as a Kimura lock, or just as Kimura.