Yukio Tani
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese jujutsu
instructor and professional challenge wrestler.
The precise details of Tani's early jujutsu training in Japan
are unclear, but he is known to have studied at two Fusen-ryu dojo
as well as at the "Handa School of Jiujitsu" in Osaka
. Tani is also often said to have been a student of Tenjin Shinyo-ryu
jujutsu.
Beginning in late 1900, through the influence of Edward William Barton-Wright
, the founder of Bartitsu
, the nineteen year old Yukio Tani travelled to London
and began appearing at music halls, giving demonstrations of jujutsu and placing challenges to all comers. On stage Tani was known as the "pocket Hercules" and was famous throughout all levels of London society. Along with fellow jujutsu practitioner Sadakazu Uyenishi
, Tani was also employed as a jujutsu instructor at Barton Wright's "Bartitsu School of Arms and Physical Culture" at 67b Shaftesbury Avenue
in London's Soho
district.
After breaking with Barton-Wright in 1903, Tani joined forces with veteran show business promoter William Bankier, who had himself been a music hall performer under the name "Apollo, the Scottish Hercules". Bankier managed Tani on the Music Hall circuit, where he would challenge anyone willing to test his skill. With the temptation of winning £1 for lasting each minute, for a bout of up to 5 minutes, or £5 to £100 for winning, there was never a shortage of challengers.
The rules of these matches required Tani's opponents to wrestle according to competitive jujutsu rules, which meant that they had to avoid being forced to submit within a defined period of time. As the concept and practice of submission wrestling
was foreign to most European wrestlers during this period, this did offer Tani a tactical advantage in his challenge matches.
At 5 feet 6 inches (1.67m) Tani allegedly lost only one music hall match and that was to a fellow Japanese national (Taro Miyake
in 1905. During one week at the Oxford Music Hall
, Yukio Tani met and defeated thirty-three men, some of whom were well known continental wrestlers. In one six-month tour Tani defeated an average of 20 men a week, a total of over 500 challengers over the period of the tour. http://ejmas.com/jalt/jaltart_Noble_1000.htm
In 1904 Tani and Miyake opened the Japanese School of Jujutsu that was located at 305, Oxford Street W, London. This school was to remain open for a little over two years, one of his pupils being the stage actress Marie Studholme
. http://www.budokwai.org
Tani also partnered with Miyake in co-authoring a book, "the Game of Jujitsu", which was first published in 1906.
In 1918 Tani became the first professional teacher at the London Budokwai
, initially teaching jiujitsu. During a visit to the Budokwai by Jigoro Kano, the founder of Kodokan
judo
, in 1920, Tani was awarded the second-degree black belt rank in judo. http://www.budokwai.org Eventually Tani reached the rank of 4th-dan. http://ejmas.com/jalt/jaltart_Noble_1000.htm
Yukio Tani suffered a stroke in 1937 but continued to teach from the sidelines of the Budokwai mats until his death on January 24, 1950.
Jujutsu
Jujutsu , also known as jujitsu, ju-jitsu, or Japanese jiu-jitsu, is a Japanese martial art and a method of close combat for defeating an armed and armored opponent in which one uses no weapon, or only a short weapon....
instructor and professional challenge wrestler.
The precise details of Tani's early jujutsu training in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
are unclear, but he is known to have studied at two Fusen-ryu dojo
Dojo
A is a Japanese term which literally means "place of the way". Initially, dōjōs were adjunct to temples. The term can refer to a formal training place for any of the Japanese do arts but typically it is considered the formal gathering place for students of any Japanese martial arts style to...
as well as at the "Handa School of Jiujitsu" in Osaka
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...
. Tani is also often said to have been a student of Tenjin Shinyo-ryu
Tenjin Shinyo-ryu
, literally meaning "Divine True Willow School", can be classified as a traditional school of jujutsu. It was founded by Iso Mataemon Minamoto no Masatari in the 1830s...
jujutsu.
Beginning in late 1900, through the influence of Edward William Barton-Wright
Edward William Barton-Wright
Edward William Barton-Wright C.E., M.J.S. was a British entrepreneur specialising in both self defence training and physical therapy...
, the founder of Bartitsu
Bartitsu
Bartitsu is an eclectic martial art and self-defence method originally developed in England during the years 1898–1902. In 1901 it was immortalised by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, author of the Sherlock Holmes mystery stories...
, the nineteen year old Yukio Tani travelled to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and began appearing at music halls, giving demonstrations of jujutsu and placing challenges to all comers. On stage Tani was known as the "pocket Hercules" and was famous throughout all levels of London society. Along with fellow jujutsu practitioner Sadakazu Uyenishi
Sadakazu Uyenishi
Sadakazu Uyenishi was amongst the first Japanese jujitsu practitioners to both teach jujitsu and to compete using the art outside of Japan.- Early years and martial arts training :...
, Tani was also employed as a jujutsu instructor at Barton Wright's "Bartitsu School of Arms and Physical Culture" at 67b Shaftesbury Avenue
Shaftesbury Avenue
Shaftesbury Avenue is a major street in central London, England, named after Anthony Ashley Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury, that runs in a north-easterly direction from Piccadilly Circus to New Oxford Street, crossing Charing Cross Road at Cambridge Circus....
in London's Soho
Soho
Soho is an area of the City of Westminster and part of the West End of London. Long established as an entertainment district, for much of the 20th century Soho had a reputation for sex shops as well as night life and film industry. Since the early 1980s, the area has undergone considerable...
district.
After breaking with Barton-Wright in 1903, Tani joined forces with veteran show business promoter William Bankier, who had himself been a music hall performer under the name "Apollo, the Scottish Hercules". Bankier managed Tani on the Music Hall circuit, where he would challenge anyone willing to test his skill. With the temptation of winning £1 for lasting each minute, for a bout of up to 5 minutes, or £5 to £100 for winning, there was never a shortage of challengers.
The rules of these matches required Tani's opponents to wrestle according to competitive jujutsu rules, which meant that they had to avoid being forced to submit within a defined period of time. As the concept and practice of submission wrestling
Submission wrestling
Submission wrestling or Combat wrestling in Japan, is a formula of competition and a general term describing the aspect of martial arts and combat sports that focus on clinch and ground fighting with the aim of obtaining a submission using submission holds...
was foreign to most European wrestlers during this period, this did offer Tani a tactical advantage in his challenge matches.
At 5 feet 6 inches (1.67m) Tani allegedly lost only one music hall match and that was to a fellow Japanese national (Taro Miyake
Taro Miyake
Taro Miyake was a Japanese professional wrestler. In 1905 he departed Japan for London, where he famously defeated the reigning champion in the jiujitsu style, Yukio Tani. Miyake and Tani then joined forces, opening a jiujitsu school and co-authoring a book titled "The Game of Jiu-Jitsu"...
in 1905. During one week at the Oxford Music Hall
Oxford Music Hall
Oxford Music Hall was a music hall located in Westminster, London at the corner of Oxford Street and Tottenham Court Road. It was established on the site of a former public house, the Boar and Castle, by Charles Morton, in 1861. The hall was converted into a legitimate theatre in 1917, but the...
, Yukio Tani met and defeated thirty-three men, some of whom were well known continental wrestlers. In one six-month tour Tani defeated an average of 20 men a week, a total of over 500 challengers over the period of the tour. http://ejmas.com/jalt/jaltart_Noble_1000.htm
In 1904 Tani and Miyake opened the Japanese School of Jujutsu that was located at 305, Oxford Street W, London. This school was to remain open for a little over two years, one of his pupils being the stage actress Marie Studholme
Marie Studholme
Marie Studholme , born Caroline Maria Lupton or Marion Lupton, was an English actress and singer known for her supporting and sometimes starring roles in Victorian and Edwardian musical comedy...
. http://www.budokwai.org
Tani also partnered with Miyake in co-authoring a book, "the Game of Jujitsu", which was first published in 1906.
In 1918 Tani became the first professional teacher at the London Budokwai
Budokwai
is the oldest Japanese martial arts club in Europe. It was founded in 1918 by Gunji Koizumi and initially offered tuition in jujutsu, kendo, and other Japanese arts. It was the first Judo club in Europe with membership open to the general public.-History:...
, initially teaching jiujitsu. During a visit to the Budokwai by Jigoro Kano, the founder of Kodokan
Kodokan
, or the Kodokan Institute, is the headquarters of the worldwide judo community. Literally, kō means "to lecture" or "to spread information," dō means "the way," and kan is "a public building or hall," together translating roughly as "a place for the study or promotion of the way." The Kodokan was...
judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
, in 1920, Tani was awarded the second-degree black belt rank in judo. http://www.budokwai.org Eventually Tani reached the rank of 4th-dan. http://ejmas.com/jalt/jaltart_Noble_1000.htm
Yukio Tani suffered a stroke in 1937 but continued to teach from the sidelines of the Budokwai mats until his death on January 24, 1950.
Sources
- InYo: Blood on the Sun: Yukio Tani, Noble at ejmas.com
- http://www.redroseju-jitsu.org.uk/ju-jitsuuk.html
- History at homepage.ntlworld.com
- Yukio Tani - Martial Edge at www.martialedge.net