If you’re looking for a sport that will test your physical and mental abilities, judo may be the perfect fit for you. In fact, it’s one of the oldest sports in the world, and it has a rich history of competition. If you’re interested in trying this ancient sport, here are 10 top judo players to watch out for.
List of best judo players
1. Kenzo Horiguchi
Kenzo Horiguchi is a Japanese judoka who has won multiple gold medals at the World Championships and the Olympics. He is also a two-time world champion. Horiguchi was born in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan on February 8, 1988. He began judo when he was just 7 years old and quickly became one of the best judokas in the country. In 2003, Horiguchi won his first major international title at the Junior World Judo Championships. He went on to win two more Junior World titles in 2004 and 2005, as well as a silver medal at the Junior European Judo Championships in 2005. Horiguchi made his debut at the senior level of judo in 2006 at the Asian Games where he took home a silver medal. He then competed at the 2006 World Judo Championships where he became world champion for the first time. Horiguchi repeated as world champion in 2007 and 2008 and added another Olympic gold medal to his collection when he competed at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. At age 23, Horiguchi became only the second male ever to win three world championships titles (the other being compatriot Yuzuru Hanyu). In 2009, Horiguchi was again successful at defending his world title when he triumphed over Takeshi Yamaguchi in Fukuoka. His dominance continued into 2010 as he retained his world championship title with an emphatic performance against Ryo Saito in Tokyo. At age
2. Hirano Sayaka
Hirano Sayaka is a Japanese judoka who has been competing since she was 8 years old. She became world champion in the under-48 kg division in 2016, and also won a bronze medal at the Rio Olympics that year. Hirano is just one of many outstanding judoka from Japan, and her skills will be crucial in helping her country win more medals at future Olympic games.
3. Denis Aniashvili
Denis Aniashvili is a Georgian judoka who has won three gold medals at the World Judo Championships, in 1994, 1998 and 2002. He also competed in two Olympic Games, in 1992 and 1996, finishing seventh both times. He was voted European Judo Athlete of the Year twice (1997 and 2001).
4. Lucien Bute
Lucien Bute is widely considered one of the greatest judoka of all time. He was born in 1967 in France and began learning judo at the age of five. By the time he was 18, Bute had won a total of 16 gold medals in international competition, making him one of the most successful judoka of all time. Bute’s Technique award at the 1999 World Judo Championships is arguably his most prestigious accolade, as it indicates that he has mastered the fundamental principles of judo. However, Bute is also well-known for his aggressive fighting style and for his ability to upset top-level opponents with seemingly simple techniques.
5. Demetrious Johnson
Demetrious Johnson is considered to be one of the best judoka in history, and he has cemented his legacy as one of the greatest fighters in UFC history. He currently holds the record for most consecutive title defenses (in UFC) with eight victories.
Johnson was born on October 17, 1987, in Seattle, Washington. He started Judo when he was five years old and quickly became a dominant player in the sport. In 2008, he won a gold medal at the World Junior Championships and then represented the United States at the Olympic Games that year where he finished fourth overall.
In 2009, Johnson made his professional debut and quickly established himself as one of the top players in MMA and Judo. That year, he won two fights by armbar submission within twelve minutes each, which set a new professional MMA record. He also won three fights by knockout that year. In 2010, Johnson became world champion by winning three consecutive fights: two by armbar submission and one by TKO.
In 2011, Johnson defended his world title against Ali Bagautinov by armbar submission in just thirty-six seconds. The following year, he successfully defended his title against Jussier Formiga by submission in just forty-four seconds. In 2013, Johnson defeated Joseph Benavidez by unanimous decision to become undisputed champion in UFC flyweight division; this marked his third championship defense in a row under UFC banner (he also defended it against
6. Georges St-Pierre
Georges St-Pierre is considered to be one of the best judo players of all time. He has won a total of seven world championships, five Olympic gold medals, and three Paralympic gold medals. He also holds the record for most consecutive world titles (four). His trademark move is the flying mawari goshi, which he uses to takedown his opponents.
7. Anderson Silva
Anderson Silva is widely considered the greatest mixed martial artist of all time. His résumé includes world championships in both judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, as well as a record 10 consecutive title defenses in the UFC’s middleweight division. Silva’s prodigious striking ability has earned him the moniker “The Spider,” and his submission skills have made him one of MMA’s most feared fighters.
8. Karo Parisyan
Karo Parisyan is an Armenian American judoka who has competed at the Olympics and world championships. He won a bronze medal in the men’s half-lightweight division at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, and then became a two-time world champion in 2008 and 2009.
9. Joachim Hansen
Joachim Hansen is a former World Champion judoka and Olympic gold medalist. He was born on October 18, 1973, in Roskilde, Denmark. Hansen started practicing Judo at the age of 3 and turned professional in 1994. He became world champion in 1997 and 1999. In 2000, he won the Olympic Gold Medal in Sydney and also became world champion again. Hansen retired from competition in 2003.
Conclusion
It’s no secret that judo is one of the most physically demanding sports out there. Not only do you have to be able to withstand grueling training sessions and punishing tournaments, but you also need to be extremely agile and dexterous in order to take down your opponents. Here are ten of the world’s best judoka, who demonstrate just how incredibly skillful and powerful this martial art can be.
