Hitoshi Saito
Encyclopedia
is a retired judoka who won two consecutive gold medals at the Olympic games.
. He continued to practice judo at the Kokushikan high school, and won the inter-high school judo group competition during his junior year. He entered Kokushikan University
in 1979, and faced Yasuhiro Yamashita
a total of 7 times in the finals of the All-Japan Judo Championships
, Jigoro Kano Cup
, and All-Japan University Judo Championships. He lost to Yamashita in each tournament final, but drew with him several times during other matches. Saito continued to work at Kokushikan University after graduating in 1983, and won the gold medal in the heavyweight (+95 kg) division of the 1984 Summer Olympics
and in the open weight division of the 1983 World Judo Championships
. In the 1985 World Judo Championships
, he faced Cho Yong-Chul
of South Korea
and was forced to retire from the match after his arm was dislocated by a standing armlock applied by Cho. He also injured his right knee prior to the All-Japan Championships in 1987, but made his return at the 1988 All-Japan Championships, winning the championship for the first time to gain his second trip to the Olympic games. Saito faced Cho Yong-Chul
again in the semi-finals of the 1988 Summer Olympics
, competing under tremendous pressure after every other Japanese judoka in the 1988 Olympics had been defeated before reaching the finals. He defeated Cho by decision, and won the final against Henry Stöhr
to capture his second Olympic gold medal.
Saito retired shortly afterwards, and became an instructor for Kokushikan University and the All Japan Judo Federation. He also served as a coach for the Japanese judo team during the 2004 Summer Olympics
. He holds a 7th dan rank
in judo, and maintains a close friendship with his former rival, Yasuhiro Yamashita
.
Biography
Saito began judo in junior-high school, and in 1974, he was scouted to transfer to the Kokushikan junior-high school, located in Setagaya, TokyoSetagaya, Tokyo
is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo in Japan. It is also the name of a neighborhood within the ward. The ward calls itself the City of Setagaya in English...
. He continued to practice judo at the Kokushikan high school, and won the inter-high school judo group competition during his junior year. He entered Kokushikan University
Kokushikan University
is a private university in Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan.Combined teams of the Graduate School of Engineering and the Department of Science and Engineering competed against 130 team and came in 11th place in the 27th Formula SAE in 2007...
in 1979, and faced Yasuhiro Yamashita
Yasuhiro Yamashita
is one of the most successful judo competitors of all time. He currently works as an instructor or advisor for numerous organizations, including Tokai University, the International Judo Federation, and the...
a total of 7 times in the finals of the All-Japan Judo Championships
All-Japan Judo Championships
is a judo tournament held every year in Japan. The men's tournament is held in Nippon Budokan on April 29 and the women's tournament is held in Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium in April. The Kodokan and All-Japan Judo Federation sponsor the championship....
, Jigoro Kano Cup
Jigoro Kano Cup
The Grand Slam Tokyo is an international judo competition held as part of the IJF Grand Slam series. The 2010 event is planned for December 11-13.- Men :- Women :...
, and All-Japan University Judo Championships. He lost to Yamashita in each tournament final, but drew with him several times during other matches. Saito continued to work at Kokushikan University after graduating in 1983, and won the gold medal in the heavyweight (+95 kg) division of the 1984 Summer Olympics
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
and in the open weight division of the 1983 World Judo Championships
1983 World Judo Championships
The 1983 World Judo Championships were the 13th edition of the World Judo Championships, and were held in Moscow, Soviet Union from October 13–16 1983.-Men:- Medals table :...
. In the 1985 World Judo Championships
1985 World Judo Championships
The 1985 World Judo Championships were the 14th edition of the World Judo Championships, and were held in Seoul, South Korea from September 26–29 1985.-Men:- Medals table :...
, he faced Cho Yong-Chul
Cho Yong-Chul
Cho Yong-Chul is a South Korean judoka.At the 1985 World Judo Championships in Seoul, Cho won a gold medal, beating two-time Olympic champion Hitoshi Saito by armlock submission in the final....
of South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
and was forced to retire from the match after his arm was dislocated by a standing armlock applied by Cho. He also injured his right knee prior to the All-Japan Championships in 1987, but made his return at the 1988 All-Japan Championships, winning the championship for the first time to gain his second trip to the Olympic games. Saito faced Cho Yong-Chul
Cho Yong-Chul
Cho Yong-Chul is a South Korean judoka.At the 1985 World Judo Championships in Seoul, Cho won a gold medal, beating two-time Olympic champion Hitoshi Saito by armlock submission in the final....
again in the semi-finals of the 1988 Summer Olympics
Judo at the 1988 Summer Olympics
The Judo competition at the 1988 Summer Olympics continued the seven weight classes first used at the 1980 Games. The open division was eliminated from the competition. Women's judo made its first appearance at the Olympic Games, as a demonstration sport...
, competing under tremendous pressure after every other Japanese judoka in the 1988 Olympics had been defeated before reaching the finals. He defeated Cho by decision, and won the final against Henry Stöhr
Henry Stöhr
Henry Stöhr is an East German judoka, who competed for the SC Dynamo Hoppegarten/ Sportvereinigung Dynamo.He was born in Reichenbach.Stöhr won medals at international competitions included over 15 national titles....
to capture his second Olympic gold medal.
Saito retired shortly afterwards, and became an instructor for Kokushikan University and the All Japan Judo Federation. He also served as a coach for the Japanese judo team during the 2004 Summer Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
. He holds a 7th dan rank
Dan rank
The ranking system is a Japanese mark of level, which is used in modern fine arts and martial arts. Originally invented in a Go school in the Edo period, this system was applied to martial arts by Kanō Jigorō, the founder of judo and later introduced to other East Asia countries.In the modern...
in judo, and maintains a close friendship with his former rival, Yasuhiro Yamashita
Yasuhiro Yamashita
is one of the most successful judo competitors of all time. He currently works as an instructor or advisor for numerous organizations, including Tokai University, the International Judo Federation, and the...
.