Kenichi Yamanaka Explained

Kenichi Yamanaka
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is a retired Japanese judoka.

Career

He was born in Sasebo, Nagasaki and brought up in Bungotakada, Ōita.^[1] He began judo at the age of a junior high school first grader.^[1]

In 1965, when he was student of Tenri University, got silver medal of World Championships. He also participated All-Japan Judo Championships three times, as a representative of Kinki region in 1964, 1965 and Kyūshū region in 1966.^[2] He was known as a rival of Isao Okano.^[3]

He became a teacher of the senior high school in Ōita Prefecture after graduation at a university in 1966, and entered Kuraray in 1967.^[1] He became the teacher again in 1969.^[1]

As of 2010, Yamanaka coaches judo at his dojo, since 1976.^[1] Among his students is former Asian champion Takamasa Anai.^[4] and retired sumo wrestler Chiyotaikai Ryūji.^[1]

Achievements

• 1964 - All-Japan Championships (Openweight only) loss
• 1965 - World Championships (-80 kg) 2nd
• 1965 - All-Japan Championships (Openweight only) loss
• 1966 - All-Japan Championships (Openweight only) loss
• 1968 - All-Japan Selected Championships (Middleweight) 3rd

Notes and References

1. News: . 原石の時代 ～人生の師が語るアスリート -突っ張り道爆走 大分・秀鋭館道場山中圏一師範が語る千代大海- . 2005-06-29 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407024836/http://www.nishinippon.co.jp/nishispo/genseki/050629.html . 2010-04-07 .
2. News: Kodokan and All-Japan Judo Federation. 激闘の轍 -全日本柔道選手権大会60年の歩み-. 2009-04-29.
3. News: Baseball Magazine Sha Co., Ltd. 近代柔道 2011年2月号 道場紀行<69> -大分県大分市 秀鋭館道場-. 2011-01-22.
4. News: . 柔道連載・王道をゆく(中) -一本気柔道の源流- . 2009-07-26 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090812093250/http://sankei.jp.msn.com/sports/martialarts/090726/mrt0907262041006-n1.htm . 2009-08-12 .