Nobuhiko Takada
Statistics
Height	6 ft 0 in (184 cm)
Weight	210 lb (95 kg)
Nationality	Japanese
Born	April 12, 1962 (1962-04-12) (age 45)
Town of birth	Kanagawa Prefecture
Team/Association	Takada Dojo
Fighting style	puroresu
Mixed martial arts record
Wins	2
By submission	2
Losses	6
Draws	2

Nobuhiko Takada (Japanese:髙田延彦, born April 12, 1962) is a Japanese mixed martial arts fighter and professional wrestler. He is best known for helping to popularize shoot-style professional wrestling, as one of the biggest stars of the Universal Wrestling Federation and Union of Wrestling Force International in the 80s and 90s. He has also competed for PRIDE Fighting Championships and New Japan Pro Wrestling. Image File history File links Flag_of_Japan. ... is the 102nd day of the year (103rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Kanagawa Prefecture ) is a prefecture located in the southern Kantō region of HonshÅ«, Japan. ... The Takada Dojo is a mixed martial arts academy in Tokyo, Japan. ... Puroresu is Japanese professional wrestling, as seen in FMW, New Japan Pro Wrestling, and All Japan Pro Wrestling. ... is the 102nd day of the year (103rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... For the fighting styles that combine different arts, see hybrid martial arts. ... ... Shoot style is a form of professional wrestling in which strikes and holds are real and still, however the matches are still predetermined. ... The original Japanese-based Universal Wrestling Federation (UWF) was a Japanese professional wrestling promotion from 1984 to 1986, formed by wrestlers who had left New Japan Pro Wrestling. ... Union of Wrestling Force International, better known as UWF International or simply UWFI, was a professional wrestling promotion in Japan from 1991 to 1996. ... PRIDE Fighting Championships (PRIDE or PRIDE FC for short) was a mixed martial arts organization based in Japan. ... New Japan Pro Wrestling (新日本プロレス, shin nihon puroresu) is a major professional wrestling federation in Japan, founded by Antonio Inoki in 1972. ...

Early Years: New Japan and the first UWF

Nobuhiko Takada made his professional wrestling debut in 1980 against Norio Honaga, for New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he started his career as a Junior Heavyweight. He left NJPW in 1984, along with Rusher Kimura, Akira Maeda, Ryuma Go, Mach Hayato, and Gran Hamada, to form the original Universal Wrestling Federation. Akira Maeda is a Korean Japanese professional wrestler, also known as Kwik-kik-Lee for his time on the British Wrestling show World of Sport . ... Gran Hamada (real name Hiroaki Hamada) is Japanese professional wrestler, the first to adopt the high-flying Mexican lucha libre style. ... The name Universal Wrestling Federation may refer to: An American professional wrestling promotion, forerunner to the WCW. See Universal Wrestling Federation (United States). ...

The original UWF dissolved in 1986, Takada and Akira Maeda returned to NJPW and formed a UWF stable. Only a few months later, Takada defeated Shiro Koshinaka to capture the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, which he held for four months. In 1987, Takada moved to the Heavyweight ranks. Along with Akira Maeda, he won the IWGP World Tag Team Championship from rival, Koshinaka & Keiji Muto. He left NJPW in 1988 to form the second incarnation of the Universal Wrestling Federation, becoming one of its top stars. Akira Maeda is a Korean Japanese professional wrestler, also known as Kwik-kik-Lee for his time on the British Wrestling show World of Sport . ... The IWGP (International Wrestling Grand Prix) Junior Heavyweight Championship is the top singles title in New Japan Pro Wrestlings Junior Heavyweight division. ... Akira Maeda is a Korean Japanese professional wrestler, also known as Kwik-kik-Lee for his time on the British Wrestling show World of Sport . ... The IWGP World Tag Team Championship is the main heavyweight tag team title in New Japan Pro Wrestling. ... Keiji Mutoh (武藤敬司 Mutō Keiji) was born December 23, 1962 in Yamanishi, Japan. ... The name Universal Wrestling Federation may refer to: An American professional wrestling promotion, forerunner to the WCW. See Universal Wrestling Federation (United States). ...

Leader of the UWFI Boom

In 1990, the UWF closed its doors for the last time. Takada formed the Union of Wrestling Force International, using former UWF wrestlers, while Maeda formed Fighting Network RINGS. As the top star of the UWFI, Takada had feuds with Gary Albright and Vader. In 1992, Takada was awarded an old NWA World Heavyweight Title belt by Lou Thesz, after defeating Albright, and was proclaimed the "Real Pro-Wrestling World Heavyweight Champion". He defended the title until Thesz withdrew the belt in 1995, losing the Title once, to Super Vader. The high point of his reign came on December 5, 1993, when he defeated Super Vader before 46,168 fans at Tokyo's Meiji-Jingu Stadium. Union of Wrestling Force International, better known as UWF International or simply UWFI, was a professional wrestling promotion in Japan from 1991 to 1996. ... RINGS was a Japanese professional wrestling promotion from 1991 to 2002. ... Gary Albright (May 18, 1963 - January 7, 2000, born in Nebraska) was an American professional wrestler. ... For the football player of the same name see Leon White (football player). ... This article includes a list of works cited or a list of external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... For the football player of the same name see Leon White (football player). ... For the football player of the same name see Leon White (football player). ... Meiji-Jingu Stadium (Meiji Shrine Stadium) is a stadium in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan. ...

Return to New Japan

In 1995, Takada returned to NJPW as the key figure in the landmark New Japan vs UWFI program. On October 9, 1995, Takada's match against IWGP Champion, The Great Muta, drew 67,000 fans to the Tokyo Dome, drawing the largest crowd and gate in Japanese Wrestling history, at the time. Three months later, Takada defeated Muto in a rematch, before 64,000 fans, to capture the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, becoming the only wrestler to hold all three major New Japan Titles. Takada dropped the Title to Shinya Hashimoto on April 29, 1996, drawing a crowd of 65,000 and a gate of $5.7 million. When it was all said and done, the New Japan vs UWFI was the biggest moneymaking feud in Japanese pro-wrestling history. Keiji Mutoh , born December 23, 1962) is a Japanese professional wrestler who first gained international fame in the National Wrestling Alliance. ... The International Wrestling Grand Prix (IWGP) World Heavyweight Championship is the top professional wrestling title in Japanese promotion New Japan Pro Wrestling. ... Shinya Hashimoto (July 3, 1965 - July 11, 2005), was a Japanese professional wrestler. ...

Transition to MMA

In 1996, the UWFI folded. Takada entered the world of mixed martial arts by joining PRIDE Fighting Championships. For the fighting styles that combine different arts, see hybrid martial arts. ... PRIDE Fighting Championships (PRIDE or PRIDE FC for short) was a mixed martial arts organization based in Japan. ...

Though Takada's Submission Arts Wrestling skills were never doubted either by the Japanese public or the matchmakers, it was his conditioning that would make the essential difference. Takada, being in his 30s at the time of his debut and in less than perfect conditioning, owing to the grueling Japanese pro wrestling circuit, posed little challenge for the experienced, well conditioned mixed martial arts fighters.

Nobuhiko Takada's very debut in MMA was against Rickson Gracie, which ended in Gracie winning via armbar. Takada would then go on to finish maverick Kyle Sturgeon by a heel hook at PRIDE 3, of note is that this fight is believed to be "worked" or fixed. Takada wanted a rematch with Rickson Gracie, to which Gracie agreed, saying that "I feel Takada is a warrior and deserves the chance to try and redeem himself"[1]. The match however, ended by Takada losing via armbar in a match that lasted 9 minutes and 30 seconds, a feat rarely achieved by most who fought Rickson Gracie. Takada fought his next match at PRIDE 5, against Mark Coleman. Though, in better condition, Coleman was caught unprepared by a heel hook from Takada and submitted, resulting in Takada's greatest victory to date, though several industry experts viewed this as a fixed fight. [2]. After controlling most of the fight from the top, Coleman refused to move past Takada's open guard, while commentator Bas Rutten could be heard saying "what is he doing?" After some stalling by Coleman, Takada slipped on the heel hook. Takada was then pitted against Mark Kerr, a freestyle wrestler with similar ground and pound fighting style as Mark Coleman. However, Kerr was able to slip on a submission hold and make Takada tap out in just over 3 minutes at PRIDE 6. Then at PRIDE 7 he beat Alexander Otsuka by a TKO when he put him in a rear naked choke and passed out and the referee stopped the fight(which the fight was removed from the Pride 7 DVD). Critics questioned the outcome of both this fight and the Kyle Sturgeon fight, suspecting that both were worked in Takada's favor to prevent his record from becoming too poor. This article or section is incomplete and may require expansion and/or cleanup. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Sebastiaan Bas Rutten (born February 24, 1965) is a Dutch mixed martial arts fighter and color commentator. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... In professional wrestling, a work is slang for a staged event (that is, one that enforces kayfabe). ...

Arguably, the most interesting match in Takada's career occurred at PRIDE Grand Prix 2000-opening Round. He was pitted against Royce Gracie, the match went the distance and to a decision. The Brazilian master could neither control nor submit Takada in the assigned 15-minute time limit. However, the judges ruled in favor of Gracie and he advanced to the next round. Takada's next MMA event participation was in PRIDE 11, where he lost to a young Igor Vovchanchyn via submission (strikes). Nobuhiko Takada would then go on to draw the likes of Mike Bernardo and Mirko Filipović before entering his final match against former student, Kiyoshi Tamura (Tamura won by a KO). Royce Gracie, pronounced Hoyce Gracie (born December 12, 1966) is a professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. ... Igor Yaroslavovich Ice Cold Vovchanchyn (Russian: Игорь Ярославович Вовчанчин. June 8, 1973) is a Mixed martial arts USSR - born fighter. ... Mirko Filipović (born on September 10, 1974), often billed as Mirko Cro Cop, is a Croatian law enforcement officer turned kickboxer turned mixed martial artist (MMA). ... Kiyoshi Tamura (born December 12, 1969) is a Japanese middleweight professional Wrestler and Mixed Martial Arts fighter. ...

The impact of these performances was immense. Though Takada was originally brought in to attract fans, the show of strength and resilience against the likes of Rickson Gracie, Mirko Filipović and Royce Gracie and the win over Mark Coleman, even after the age and condition disadvantage established to some his legendary status in mixed martial arts history. Takada would then go on to establish one of the "super gyms"[3] in mixed martial arts, the Takada Dojo.

On the other hand, portions of the MMA community today have cast doubt upon Takada's achievements in the sport. His two wins are widely rumoured to have been worked matches with the Coleman match in particular taking much scrutiny. Dave Meltzer of the widely respect Wrestling Observer website and newsletter himself has backed up this claim [4]. In addition, other matches of his have also cast doubt on the integrity of his MMA career. One example of this can be seen in the 2000 Pride GP Opening Round against Royce Gracie where Takada attempted no offense throughout the fight and seemed content to lie in Gracie's guard while grabbing his gi to avoid submission attempts. This was noted on numerous occasions by the commentary team. His match with Bernardo was comically lacking in offense from both men, featuring Takada laying on his back or posturing to shoot for the entire match, without landing a single meaningful blow. His match with Mirko Filipović at Pride 17 is another such example with Takada spending almost the entire 15 minutes avoiding his Croatian opponent (the match was not surprisingly removed from the Region 1 release of the Pride 17 DVD).

Mixed martial arts record

Post MMA contributions

Takada has a MMA dojo of his own, Takada Dojo, where he's helped train such fighters as Kazushi Sakuraba. The Takada Dojo is a mixed martial arts academy in Tokyo, Japan. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Takada is the figurehead of PRIDE Fighting Championships, as well as the president of the HUSTLE promotion in Japan, while also portraying as the main heel and leader of the "Takada Monster Army" under the name "Generalissimo Takada" PRIDE Fighting Championships (PRIDE or PRIDE FC for short) was a mixed martial arts organization based in Japan. ... Hustle may mean: Hustle (TV series), a BBC TV drama series shown on BBC One. ...

Takada returned to the ring at the HUSTLE-Aid show as the Esperanza, and made short work of his opponent TAJIRI. At HustleMania II, he defeated Razor Ramon HG in what was billed as HG's retirement match (HG continued wrestling for HUSTLE despite the billing), giving him a Tombstone Piledriver on the ramp after the match that caused "erectile dysfunction" to HG. Yoshihiro Tajiri , born September 29, 1970 in Yokohama, Japan), is a Japanese professional wrestler, best known for his appearances in the United States with Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment. ... A picture of Hard Gay in action, taken from the Japanese television show Bakuten. ... A piledriver is a professional wrestling driver move in which the wrestler grabs his/her opponent, turns him/her upside-down, and drops into a sitting or kneeling position, driving the opponents head into the mat. ...

Personal life

Takada is married to actress Aki Mukai, whose battle with ovarian cancer is well known in Japan. Takada and Mukai attempted to have children through the use of IVF on an American surrogate mother, but the Japanese courts in the beginning refused to consider the resulting twins as their natural sons. Actors in period costume sharing a joke whilst waiting between takes during location filming. ... Ovarian cancer is a malignant tumor (a kind of neoplasm) located on an ovary. ... In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a technique in which egg cells are fertilized outside the mothers body in cases where conception is difficult or impossible through normal intercourse. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into surrogacy. ...

On October 2, 2006, the Tokyo High Court admitted registration of the twins, Banri and Shota, as their natural sons. However, on March 23rd, 2007, the Supreme Court overturned this decision, citing current law which states that only the woman who gives birth to a child can be registered as the child's actual mother. is the 275th day of the year (276th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Championships and accomplishments

Professional Wrestling

• New Japan Pro Wrestling

• IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• IWGP World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Akira Maeda

• WAR

• WAR World Six-Man Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Naoki Sano & Masahito Kakihara

• Wrestling Observer Newsletter

• Best Technical Wrestler award in 1987
• Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 1996)

New Japan Pro Wrestling (新日本プロレス, shin nihon puroresu) is a major professional wrestling federation in Japan, founded by Antonio Inoki in 1972. ... The IWGP (International Wrestling Grand Prix) Junior Heavyweight Championship is the top singles title in New Japan Pro Wrestlings Junior Heavyweight division. ... The IWGP (International Wrestling Grand Prix) Junior Heavyweight Championship is the top singles title in New Japan Pro Wrestlings Junior Heavyweight division. ... The International Wrestling Grand Prix (IWGP) World Heavyweight Championship is the top professional wrestling title in Japanese promotion New Japan Pro Wrestling. ... The International Wrestling Grand Prix (IWGP) World Heavyweight Championship is the top professional wrestling title in Japanese promotion New Japan Pro Wrestling. ... The IWGP World Tag Team Championship is the main heavyweight tag team title in New Japan Pro Wrestling. ... The IWGP World Tag Team Championship is the main heavyweight tag team title in New Japan Pro Wrestling. ... Akira Maeda is a Korean Japanese professional wrestler, also known as Kwik-kik-Lee for his time on the British Wrestling show World of Sport . ... Wrestling And Romance, and later Wrestle Association R, was a professional wrestling promotion founded and run by Genichiro Tenryu as the successor to Super World of Sports, and which lasted from 1992 to 2000. ... The WAR World Six-Man Tag Team Championship was a tag team title contested for in the Japanese professional wrestling promotion Wrestle Association R (WAR). ... The WAR World Six-Man Tag Team Championship was a tag team title contested for in the Japanese professional wrestling promotion Wrestle Association R (WAR). ... Naoki Sano(佐野直喜) is a Japanese professional wrestler. ... Dave Herbert Meltzer (born October 24, 1961 in San Jose, California) is the editor of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, an insider newsletter for the world of professional wrestling. ... The Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (WON HOF for short) is a professional wrestling hall of fame that exists only on paper. ... The Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (WON HOF for short) is a professional wrestling hall of fame that exists only on paper. ...

External links

• Professional MMA record
• PRIDE profile