Masahiko Kimura, the fighter who broke Helio Gracie arm
In 1951, Masahiko Kimura defeated Helio Gracie in a judo/jiujitsu submission match
in Brazil. Kimura triumphed with a move that broke his adversary's arm.
The reverse ude-garami (shoulder lock) he used would later be known as the "Kimura."
Kimura was an amazing martial artist who was promoted to yondan (fourth dan) at age 15 after only six years of practice. In 1935.
he became the youngest godan (fifth degree black belt) after defeating eight opponents at the Kodokan Dojo. By age 20, he had become the All Japan Open Weight Judo Champion, a title he maintained for 13 years.
Kimura was known for his intense and difficult workouts, which at one point consisted of 1,000 push-ups and nine hours of daily practice. His wins outside of Japan helped expose martial arts to the world.
“After several challenge matches in Brazil Grand Master Helio Gracie found out that the best Japanese Jiu-Jitsu fighter ever Masahiko Kimura was gonna be in Brazil so Grand Master Helio Challenged him to a match!
Kimura said! Listen Helio, You’re good but not good enough to fight me! Instead, I’m gonna have you fight number 2 Japanese Jiu-Jitsu Fighter a guy named Kato and Kato will beat you just as easy as I would!
Grand Master Helio Gracie fought Kato and after 6 minutes choked Kato out.
So when Kato went unconscious the Japanese Champ had no choice but to accept a challenge from Helio.
After the fight, Kimura went to Gracie Academy and invited Helio to teach Jiu-Jitsu in the imperial academy in Japan, but after a consideration, Helio Declined it.”
Here is the full story said by GM Kimura himself about his fight with Helio Gacie:
“20,000 people came to see the bout including President of Brazil. Helio was 180cm [5’11”] and 80 kg [176#]. When I entered the stadium, I found a coffin. I asked what it was. I was told, “This is for Kimura. Helio brought this in.” It was so funny that I almost burst into laughter. As I approached the ring, raw eggs were thrown at me. The gong rang. Helio grabbed me by both lapels and attacked me with O-soto-gari and Kouchi-Gari. But they did not move me at all. Now it’s my turn. I blew him away up in the air by O-Uchi-gari, Harai-Goshi, Uchimata, Ippon-seoi. At about 10 minute mark, I threw him by O-soto-gari. I intended to cause a concussion. But since the mat was so soft that it did not have much impact on him. While continuing to throw him, I was thinking of a finishing method. I threw him by O-Soto-gari again. As soon as Helio fell, I pinned him by Kuzure-kami-Shiho-gatame. I held still for 2 or 3 minutes and then tried to smother him by belly. Helio shook his head trying to breathe. He could not take it any longer and tried to push up my body extending his left arm. That moment, I grabbed his left wrist with my right hand and twisted up his arm. I applied Udegarami.
I thought he would surrender immediately. But Helio would not tap the mat. I had no choice but keep on twisting the arm. The stadium became quiet. The bone of his arm was coming close to the breaking point. Finally, the sound of bone breaking echoed throughout the stadium. Helio still did not surrender. His left arm was already powerless. Under this rule, I had no choice but twist the arm again. There was plenty of time left. I twisted the left arm again. Another bone was broken. Helio still did not tap. When I tried to twist the arm once more, a white towel was thrown in.
I won by TKO. My hand was raised high. Japanese Brazilians rushed into the ring and tossed me up in the air. On the other hand, Helio let his left arm hang and looked very sad withstanding the pain.”
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