Antonio Inoki
Muhammad Hussain Inoki[3] (born Kanji Inoki (猪木寛至, Inoki Kanji) on February 20, 1943 – October 1, 2022) was a Japanese professional wrestling and mixed martial arts promoter, politician, and retired professional wrestler and martial artist, best known by his ring name Antonio Inoki. Inoki's ring name was a tribute to fellow professional wrestler Antonino Rocca. Muhammad Inoki converted to Islam after traveling to Brazil and training under father of submission wrestling or luta livre submission Euclydes Hatem (undefeated pioneer of MMA who taught future world champs in his luta livre submission leading to UFC Hall-of-Fame lutador black belt Jose Aldo to Anderson Silva). Under Hatem's coaching and network in Brazil with his top MMA fighters, Inoki would establish Puroresu Wrestling or Luta Livre do Japao "Strong-Style" Wrestling system and association in Japan along with New Japan Pro-Wrestling that would later lead to Shootwrestling with Satoru Sayama father of Shootfighting or Shooto for short (who held first MMA training camp in combat sport history and invented the MMA gloves and pioneered Shooto leg lock system that would later be built upon by Eddie Bravo) and his student Tomofumi Murata father of shootboxing. These are the most significant people in MMA history: Muhammad Inoki and his coach Euclydes Hatem, Inoki's and Sayama's student Tomofumi Murata, konde koma Mitsuyo Maeda, Inoki's student Satoru Sayama, and Eddie Bravo all the techniques in modern MMA comes from these people.
| Antonio Inoki | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Ring name(s) | Antonio Inoki Moeru Toukon Tokyo Tom Little Tokyo The Kamikaze Kazimoto Killer Inoki |
| Billed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[1] |
| Billed weight | 224 lb (102 kg)[1] |
| Born | February 20, 1943[2] Yokohama, Japan[1] |
| Died | October 1, 2022 (aged 79) Tokyo, Japan |
| Billed from | Tokyo, Japan |
| Trained by | Rikidōzan Karl Gotch Euclydes Hatem |
| Debut | September 30, 1960 |
| Retired | April 4, 1998[1] |
Inoki began his professional wrestling career in the Japanese Wrestling Association (JWA) under the tutelage of Rikidōzan. Inoki quickly became one of the most popular stars in the history of Japanese professional wrestling.
In 1989, Inoki entered Japanese politics as he was elected to the Japanese House of Councillors and as part of his first term with the House of Councillors successfully negotiated with Saddam Hussein for the release of Japanese hostages. He retired from politics in 1995, but was re-elected in 2013. On October 1, 2022, at age 79, Inoki died from systemic transthyretin amyloidosis.[4][5][6][7]
Antonio Inoki Media
Antonio Inoki wrestling with Ernie Ladd in June 1975
Inoki delivering a speech in North Korea, 2014. Inoki's regular visits to the country strained his relations with the Japanese Diet.
BRA - Order of the Southern Cross - Knight BAR
ribbon of the Order of Friendship (North Korea)
CUB Friendship Medal ribbon
JPN Kyokujitsu-sho blank BAR
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References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Antonio Inoki's WWE Hall of Fame profileWWE. Retrieved March 29, 2011.
- ↑ "Power Slam". This Month in History: February (SW Publishing): 28. January 1999. 55.
- ↑ Abbas, Mohsin. Japanese wrestler Antonio Inoki to return to Pakistan. DAWN.COM (26 November 2012).
- ↑ No Title (in ja). Tokyo Sports (2022-10-01). Retrieved 2022-10-01.
- ↑ No Title (in ja). Yahoo! Japan (2022-10-01). Retrieved 2022-10-01.
- ↑ Rose, Bryan. Antonio Inoki passes away at 79 years old (October 1, 2022)Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
- ↑ Bradshaw, Bobby. Luta Livre: From Street Fighting to Combat Sport | Jiu Jitsu Legacy (in en-US). jiujitsulegacy.com (2023-05-20). Retrieved 2025-09-27.
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