Katsuyori Shibata - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

is a Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist

Mixed martial arts

Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...

. In professional wrestling, he is known for his hard hitting offense and his realistic bouts.

New Japan Pro Wrestling (1999–2004)

Shibata is the son of former JWA

Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance

Nihon Puroresu Kyōkai was the first professional wrestling promotion to be based in Japan. It operated from 1953 to 1973. Founded by Rikidōzan when he established a territory that would represent the National Wrestling Alliance in Japan...

and NJPW mid-carder and referee Katsuhisa Shibata. He was an amateur wrestler during his school days and was competing at national level in 1997. His pro

Professional wrestling

Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...

debut was October 10, 1999 facing close friend Wataru Inoue

Wataru Inoue

is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working for New Japan Pro Wrestling.-Professional wrestling career:Inoue made his debut in 1999 on the Japanese independent circuit, then climbed the ladder to get to New Japan Pro Wrestling in 2004...

on New Japan Pro Wrestling

New Japan Pro Wrestling

is a major professional wrestling promotion in Japan, founded by Antonio Inoki in June 1972 and owned by Yuke's since 2005, when Inoki sold the promotion. Naoki Sugabayashi is the current President of the promotion and has held that position from 2007. Owing to its TV program aired on TV Asahi, it...

. In 2000, Shibata too part in the 2000 Young Lion's Cup eventually finishing 3rd place with 6 points. Eventually, he and Wataru worked their way up the junior ranks together, though Shibata was a slight step ahead of Inoue throughout their joint rise, and subsequently challenged for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship

The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling junior heavweight championship owned by the New Japan Pro Wrestling promotion. "IWGP" is the acronym of NJPW's governing body, the International Wrestling Grand Prix. The title was introduced on February 6, 1986 at a NJPW show....

first against Kendo Kashin

Kendo Kashin

Tokimitsu Ishizawa , better known by his ring name Kendo Kashin , is a Japanese professional wrestler...

on October 28, 2001 but lost. Shibata and Inoue also challenged for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship

The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team championship owned by the New Japan Pro Wrestling promotion. "IWGP" is the acronym of NJPW's governing body, the International Wrestling Grand Prix. The title was introduced on August 8, 1998 at a NJPW live event...

on two occasions both against The World Class Tag Team

The World Class Tag Team

The World Class Tag Team is a professional wrestling tag team that currently work in New Japan Pro Wrestling. One of the most accomplished tag teams in puroresu, the team has won numerous tag team titles and six-man tag tean titles in over seven promotions....

but lost both times. By 2003, Shibata graduated to the heavyweight division and joined the Makai Club

Makai Club

Makai Club was a professional wrestling stable that competed in New Japan Pro Wrestling, it was led by Tadao Yasuda and managed by Kantaro Hoshino.-History:...

wrestling as himself and as Makai #4. From there, he continued to rise in the ranks. In July 2003, Shibata challenged for both the IWGP Tag Team Championship and the IWGP U-30 Openweight Championship but failed to win either title. Shibata then entered the 2003 G-1 Climax where he placed 3rd in his block with 5 points. Shibata continued to grow in 2004. On July 19, 2004, he received his first shot at the IWGP Heavyweight Championship against Kazuyuki Fujita

Kazuyuki Fujita

is a Japanese professional wrestler, mixed martial artist and a former amateur wrestler. He has fought in mixed martial arts promotions including PRIDE, K-1 and currently fighting in Sengoku....

but lost by knockout. On month later, he entered the 2004 G-1 Climax and won his block scoring 8 points and defeated several former IWGP Champions including Masahiro Chono

Masahiro Chono

, is a Japanese professional wrestler. He primarily wrestles for New Japan Pro Wrestling , but has also made appearances for the now defunct World Championship Wrestling, as a member of the New World Order. Chono was also known as Mister Black Jack when he first started as a villain. He is a...

, Shinsuke Nakamura

Shinsuke Nakamura

is a Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist currently working for New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is a former three-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion.-Super Rookie :...

, and Genichiro Tenryu

Genichiro Tenryu

Genichiro Tenryu , real name Genichiro Shimada , is a Japanese professional wrestler. At age 13, he entered sumo wrestling and stayed there for 13 years, after which he turned to Western-style professional wrestling...

but would lose in the semi-finals to eventual winner: Hiroyoshi Tenzan

Hiroyoshi Tenzan

is a Japanese professional wrestler who currently works for New Japan Pro Wrestling, and is better known by his ring name . With Satoshi Kojima, in 2008, they won the Real World Tag League in All Japan Pro Wrestling and the G1 Climax Tag League in NJPW becoming in the only tag team which has done...

. Following the G-1, Shibata joined Masahiro Chono's new stable: Black New Japan

Black New Japan

Black New Japan was a professional wrestling stable that competed in New Japan Pro Wrestling. Black New Japan was led by Masahiro Chono and was one of many of Chono's anti-New Japan stables.-History:...

where he remained until eventually leaving New Japan in January 2005.

Freelance (2005–2006)

In 2005, Shibata left New Japan, becoming a free lancer and has most notably fought for Big Mouth LOUD

Big Mouth Loud

Big Mouth LOUD was a professional wrestling promotion based in Japan. Big Mouth LOUD was based on the style of New Japan Pro Wrestling, but was not officially tied to New Japan...

and Pro Wrestling NOAH

Pro Wrestling NOAH

is a major Japanese professional wrestling promotion, founded in 2000 by former All Japan Pro Wrestling ace Mitsuharu Misawa. NOAH is broadcast weekly in Japan...

. One of his more famous matches was a heated confrontation with former amateur

Amateur wrestling

Amateur wrestling is the most widespread form of sport wrestling. There are two international wrestling styles performed in the Olympic Games under the supervision of FILA : Greco-Roman and freestyle. Freestyle is possibly derived from the English Lancashire style...

wrestler Jun Akiyama

Jun Akiyama

is a Japanese professional wrestler who currently works for Pro Wrestling Noah and All Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is the current AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion. Akiyama is known for his serious style and outstanding, time-tested work as a tag team wrestler...

. In Loud, Shibata took on several big names including Satoshi Kojima

Satoshi Kojima

is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently signed to New Japan Pro Wrestling. As a singles wrestler, he was the first wrestler to hold NJPW's IWGP Heavyweight Championship and All Japan Pro Wrestling's Triple Crown Championship simultaneously...

, Kensuke Sasaki

Kensuke Sasaki

is a Japanese professional wrestler who currently wrestles for various promotions through his own agency, Kensuke Office. He is the first of two men ever to hold all 3 of puroresu's major heavyweight titles , the other being Yoshihiro Takayama.-Early years :Kensuke Sasaki...

, & TARU

Yoshikazu Taru

Yoshikazu Taru is a Japanese professional wrestler, better known by his ring name TARU. He works for All Japan Pro Wrestling and El Dorado Wrestling.-Professional wrestling career:...

. In NOAH, Shibata teamed with KENTA

Kenta Kobayashi

, also known by his ring name KENTA, is a Japanese professional wrestler currently signed to Pro Wrestling Noah, where he is a former three-time Global Honored Crown Junior Heavyweight Champion...

on several occasions including challenging for the GHC Tag Team Championship

GHC Tag Team Championship

The Global Honored Crown Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team title in Japanese promotion Pro Wrestling Noah. It was created on October 19, 2001, when Scorpio & Vader defeated Jun Akiyama & Akitoshi Saito in a tournament final...

and defeating Go Shiozaki

Go Shiozaki

is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working for Pro Wrestling Noah, where he is the current GHC Heavyweight Champion. In addition to Noah, he has previously worked in the American-based promotion Ring of Honor and its former sister promotion Full Impact Pro, where he won the latter's...

and Mitsuharu Misawa

Mitsuharu Misawa

was a Japanese professional wrestler. He made his professional debut on August 21, 1981 for All Japan Pro Wrestling . From 1984 until 1990, Misawa wrestled as the second generation Tiger Mask, as All Japan Pro Wrestling had purchased the rights of the Tiger Mask gimmick from New Japan Pro Wrestling...

where Shibata pinned the future heavyweight champion: Shiozaki. On January 4, 2006, Shibata returned to New Japan at Toukon Shidou Chapter 1 where he defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi

Hiroshi Tanahashi

is a Japanese professional wrestler who works primarily for New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is the current IWGP Heavyweight Champion in his fifth reign.-Early life:...

. Shibata most recent match was on December 31, 2006, where he defeated Kazuhiro Hamanaka. By January 2007, Shibata left wrestling to focus on Mixed Martial Arts

Mixed martial arts

Mixed martial arts career

Shibata debuted in Mixed Martial Arts on May 15, 2004 at JF Jungle Fights 2 where he defeated Webster Dauphiney by an Arm Triangle Choke in Round 1. Shibata returned to MMA in 2007 where he joined Fighting and Entertainment Group's

Fighting and Entertainment Group

Fighting and Entertainment Group is the leading Japanese combat sport promoter. Its current president is Sadaharu Tanikawa and it is the parent company behind the mixed martial arts series Dream and formerly, the largest kickboxing promotion in the world, K-1.On December 31, 2010 after the Dream...

K-1 Hero's, In his K-1 HERO'S debut on March 12, 2007 at HERO's 8, he defeated Yoshihisa Yamamoto by TKO in 9 seconds. After two victories, Shibata went on a five fight losing streak. He lost to Ralek Gracie

Ralek Gracie

Ralek Gracie is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and mixed martial artist. He is the son of Rorion Gracie and a member of the legendary Gracie family, and is the nephew of former UFC Champion Royce Gracie and Rickson Gracie. He has a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under his father Rorion,...

at K-1 HERO's – Middleweight Tournament Opening Round by Submitting to an armbar. Shibata then lost to Kazushi Sakuraba

Kazushi Sakuraba

is a Japanese professional mixed martial artist and former professional wrestler. He has competed in pro-wrestling for New Japan Pro Wrestling, UWFi and Kingdom Pro Wrestling. He has fought in MMA competition in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, PRIDE Fighting Championships, K-1 Hero's and Dream...

at K-1 HERO'S- Tournament Final once again submitting to an armbar. Shibata fought his last K-1 HERO's fight at K-1 OLYMPIA HERO'S 2007 in KOREA on October 28, 2007 against Heo Min Seok. Shibata lost the fight by TKO in the 2nd round.

In 2008, Shibata began fighting for FEG's new organization: DREAM

DREAM (mixed martial arts)

Dream is a mixed martial arts organization promoted by former PRIDE FC executives and K-1 promoter Fighting and Entertainment Group. DREAM replaced FEG's previous-run mixed martial arts fight series, Hero's. The series retains many of the stylistic flourishes and personnel from Pride FC...

. His first fight at DREAM was a loss to Jason "Mayhem" Miller at DREAM 3 by TKO. His next fight was against Yoshihiro Akiyama

Yoshihiro Akiyama

, born Choo Sung-hoon , is a Japanese mixed martial artist and judoka. He is a fourth-generation Japanese of Korean descent and acquired Japanese nationality in 2001....

losing to him by Submission. Shibata then fought at DEEP where he drew with Yasuhito Namekawa

Yasuhito Namekawa

is a Japanese mixed martial artist who competes in the light heavyweight division. Namekawa made his Mixed martial arts debut for Fighting Network Rings in 1998. He fought in mainly Shoot fighting bouts until 1999 when Rings introduced the King of King Rules. Throughout his career, Namekawa has...

at DEEP – 38 Impact. He then lost to Hayato Sakurai

Hayato Sakurai

is a Japanese mixed martial artist. He was born in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. He has a professional MMA record of 35-11-2 as of April 5, 2009. Sakurai has been fighting in mixed martial arts since October 1996 and was at one time considered pound for pound one of the greatest fighters...

by TKO at Dynamite!! 2008

Dynamite!! 2008

Dynamite!! 2008 was the annual kickboxing and mixed martial arts event held by K-1 & DREAM on New Year's Eve, Wednesday, December 31, 2008, at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan...

.

After going winless for 2 years, Shibata would score his biggest victory to date at DREAM 8

Dream 8

DREAM.8: Welter Weight Grand Prix 2009 First Round was a mixed martial arts event promoted by Fighting and Entertainment Group's mixed martial arts promotion Dream on April 5, 2009. Unlike Dream's past tournaments, the Welter Weight Grand Prix is only scheduled to have eight participants...

when he defeated Ikuhisa Minowa

Ikuhisa Minowa

is a Japanese mixed martial artist and pro wrestler currently competing in Dream as . He was a long time veteran of Pride Fighting Championships and Pancrase and has also competed in other mixed martial arts promotions such as K-1 HERO'S, Cage Rage, UFC, and DEEP. At 5'9" he is notable for taking...

by Unanimous Decision. Later that year at DREAM 12, he defeated fellow New Japan Pro Wrestling

New Japan Pro Wrestling

alumni: Tokimitsu Ishizawa

Kendo Kashin

Tokimitsu Ishizawa , better known by his ring name Kendo Kashin , is a Japanese professional wrestler...

by TKO. At Dynamite!! 2009

Dynamite!! 2009

Dynamite!! 2009 was a mixed martial arts and kickboxing events promoted by Fighting and Entertainment Group, held in the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan on December 31, 2009. The event included bouts that encompass the DREAM, Sengoku Raiden Championship, K-1, and K-1 World MAX banners...

, Shibata lost to Hiroshi Izumi by unanimous decision.

Shibata returned to DEEP for two appearances in 2010. On June 6, 2010 he lost to Young Choi by unanimous decision. On Cotober 24, he then faced DEEP Light Heavyweight Champion Yoshiyuki Nakanishi at DEEP: 50th Impact which he lost by TKO.

His most recent fight was a defeat to Satoshi Ishii at K-1 World Max 2010 on November 8, 2010.

Championships and accomplishments

New Japan Pro Wrestling
New Japan Pro Wrestling
is a major professional wrestling promotion in Japan, founded by Antonio Inoki in June 1972 and owned by Yuke's since 2005, when Inoki sold the promotion. Naoki Sugabayashi is the current President of the promotion and has held that position from 2007. Owing to its TV program aired on TV Asahi, it...
- Fighting Spirit Award (2004)
- Tag Team Best Bout (2004) with Masahiro Chono
  Masahiro Chono
  , is a Japanese professional wrestler. He primarily wrestles for New Japan Pro Wrestling , but has also made appearances for the now defunct World Championship Wrestling, as a member of the New World Order. Chono was also known as Mister Black Jack when he first started as a villain. He is a...
  
  vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan
  Hiroyoshi Tenzan
  is a Japanese professional wrestler who currently works for New Japan Pro Wrestling, and is better known by his ring name . With Satoshi Kojima, in 2008, they won the Real World Tag League in All Japan Pro Wrestling and the G1 Climax Tag League in NJPW becoming in the only tag team which has done...
  
  and Shinsuke Nakamura
  Shinsuke Nakamura
  is a Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist currently working for New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is a former three-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion.-Super Rookie :...
  
  on October 24

Mixed martial arts record

|-
| Loss
|align=center| 4–11–1
|

Satoshi Ishii

is a Japanese judoka and mixed martial artist noted for winning a gold medal in Olympic Judo at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China, a silver medal at the 2006 Asian Games and two All-Japan Judo Championships...

| Submission (kimura)
| K-1 World MAX 2010 World Championship Tournament Final

K-1 World MAX 2010 World Championship Tournament Final

K-1 World MAX 2010 –70 kg World Championship Tournament Final was a martial arts event to be held by the K-1 on Monday, November 8, 2010 at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan. It will be the 9th inaugural K-1 World Max Final, the culmination of a year full of regional elimination tournaments...

|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 3:30
|Tokyo, Japan
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 4–9–1
|

Yoshiyuki Nakanishi

Yoshiyuki Nakanishi is an Japanese light heavyweight mixed martial artist from Shiga.-Sambo :* 3 July 2005 won All-Japan sambo championship 31 in weight category -100, finally defeated Hasegara Tomohiro....

| TKO (punches)
| Deep: 50th Impact

Deep: 50th Impact

Deep: 50th Impact was a mixed martial arts event promoted by Deep It took place on October 24, 2010 at the JCB Hall in Tokyo, Japan.-Fight card:...

|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 4:06
|Tokyo, Japan
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 4–8–1
|

Hiroshi Izumi

Hiroshi Izumi is a Japanese judoka and mixed martial artist.He won the Men's -90kg category silver medal at the Athens Olympics in 2004 and the gold medal at the World judo championship games in Cairo, Egypt on 2005....

| Decision (unanimous)
| Dynamite!! 2009

Dynamite!! 2009

|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
|Saitama, Japan
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 4–6–1
|

Osaka

is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...

, Japan
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 3–6–1
|

Ikuhisa Minowa

| Decision (unanimous)
| Dream 8

Dream 8

|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 5:00
|Nagoya, Japan
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 2–6–1
|

Hayato Sakurai

| TKO (punches)
| Dynamite!! 2008

Dynamite!! 2008

Dynamite!! 2008 was the annual kickboxing and mixed martial arts event held by K-1 & DREAM on New Year's Eve, Wednesday, December 31, 2008, at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan...

Saitama, Saitama

' is the capital and the most populous city of Saitama Prefecture in Japan, situated in the south-east of the prefecture. Its area incorporates the former cities of Urawa, Ōmiya, Yono and Iwatsuki. It is a city designated by government ordinance...

Yasuhito Namekawa

Yoshihiro Akiyama

, born Choo Sung-hoon , is a Japanese mixed martial artist and judoka. He is a fourth-generation Japanese of Korean descent and acquired Japanese nationality in 2001....

Osaka

Saitama, Saitama

Seoul

Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...

Kazushi Sakuraba

Yokohama

is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...

Ralek Gracie

Yokohama

, Japan
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 2–0
|

Yoshihisa Yamamoto
| TKO (punches)
| Hero's 8

Hero's 8

Hero's 8 was a mixed martial arts event held by the Hero's promotion on March 12, 2007 at the Nagoya Rainbow Hall in Nagoya, Japan.-Results:...

|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 0:09
|Nagoya, Japan
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 1–0
|

Webster Dauphiney
| Submission (arm-triangle choke)
| Jungle Fight 2

Jungle Fight 2

Jungle Fight 2 was a mixed martial arts event held by Jungle Fight on May 15, 2004 at May 15, 2004 in Manaus, Brazil.-Results: Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Charlie BrownGonzaga defeats Brown via Submission in round 3 at ?:??...

Manaus

Manaus is a city in Brazil, the capital of the state of Amazonas. It is situated at the confluence of the Negro and Solimões rivers. It is the most populous city of Amazonas, according to the statistics of Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, and is a popular ecotourist destination....

, Brazil
|

External links

Professional wrestling profile

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