Mari Kaneko - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

is a Japanese

Japanese people

The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...

female karateka and mixed martial arts

Mixed martial arts

Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...

(MMA) fighter. Kaneko has competed for MMA promotions Ax, Smackgirl

Smackgirl

Smackgirl was a Japanese mixed martial arts promotion focused solely on female fighters. The promotion also held grappling and amateur events along with its main line of professional MMA cards. After financial difficulties throughout 2008 the promotion was sold to Marverous Japan Co.,Ltd...

, Deep and Jewels

Jewels (mixed martial arts)

Jewels is a mixed martial arts organization owned by Marverous Japan Co., Ltd. focused on female fighters. It's the direct successor of Smackgirl...

Background

Kaneko was born on June 24, 1972 in Suwa

Suwa, Nagano

is a city located in Nagano, Japan.As of October 1, 2010, the city had an estimated population of 51,084 and a density of 468.40 persons per km². The total area of the city is 109.06 km²....

, Nagano Prefecture

Nagano Prefecture

is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of the island of Honshū. The capital is the city of Nagano.- History :Nagano was formerly known as the province of Shinano...

, Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

Martial arts training

In 1999, Kaneko won the All-Japan Amateur Shooto

Shooto

Shooto is a mixed martial arts organization that is governed by the Shooto Association and the International Shooto Commission. Shooto was originally formed in 1985, as an organization and as a particular fighting system derived from shoot wrestling. Practitioners are referred to as shooters,...

Championships in the women's flyweight and also the bantamweight divisions of East Japan. In 2000 she conquered the Central Japan Amateur Shooto Championships in the featherweight division.

In 1999 Kaneko was the runner-up

Runner-up

Runner-up is a term used to denote a participant which finishes in second place in any of a variety of competitive endeavors, most notably sporting events and beauty pageants; in the latter instance, the term is applied to more than one of the highest-ranked non-winning contestants, the...

in the Real Fighting Karate-do Championships, repeating this feat in 2000.

From 2001 to 2003 she won the Real Fighting Karate-do Championships and was the runner up in 2004.
In 2009 and 2010 Kaneko was the runner up of the All-Japan Real Fighting Karate Championships -52 kg, being defeated in the final both times by Saori Ishioka

Saori Ishioka

is a Japanese female mixed martial artist, kickboxer and karateka. She has participated in MMA promotions Smackgirl and Jewels. Her nickname is Shooting Star.-Background:...

Mixed martial arts career

Kaneko made her MMA debut on at Club Fight Round 1 where she was defeated by Japanese women's MMA pioneer Yoko Takahashi

Yoko Takahashi (fighter)

is a Japanese female mixed martial arts fighter and kickboxer and former boxer and professional wrestler. Takahashi is a former Smackgirl open weight champion...

via submission (achilles lock).

At Smackgirl: Episode 0 on , Kaneko defeated Miwako Ishihara in 36 seconds with an armbar

Armlock

An armlock in grappling is a single or double joint lock that hyperextends, hyperflexes or hyperrotates the elbow joint and/or shoulder joint. An armlock that hyperflexes or hyperrotates the shoulder joint is referred to as a shoulder lock, and an armlock that hyperextends the elbow joint is called...

submission.

Kaneko got her second submission loss against Ikuma Hoshino

Ikuma Hoshino

is a retired Japanese female mixed martial arts fighter and judoka. Her real name is . Her nicknames are and .She participated in MMA promotions ReMix, Smackgirl, Shooto and Ax.-Background:Hoshino was born on in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan...

, who defeated Kaneko with a guillotine choke

Guillotine choke

The guillotine choke is a chokehold in martial arts and wrestling applied from in front of the opponent. The choke involves using the arms to encircle the opponent's neck in a fashion similar to a guillotine. The technique is either a type of tracheal compression restraint that prevents air flow...

on at Smackgirl: Indeed.

At Smackgirl: Burning Night on Kaneko defeated Mika Harigai with an armbar submission in the first round.

On , Kaneko was knocked out

Knockout

A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...

with knees in the first round by at the time debutant Izumi Noguchi at Ax Vol. 2: we want to shine.

Kaneko rebounded with an armbar submission victory over Naoko Torashima at Smackgirl: God Bless You on .

Kaneko was defeated again by a MMA debutant when she faced Tomomi Sunaba

Tomomi Sunaba

, better known in Japan by her ring name , is a Japanese female mixed martial artist and kickboxer. Sunaba has fought in several kickboxing and MMA promotions....

, who won by split decision

Split decision

A split decision is a winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts and others sports involving striking in which two of the three judges score for the same fighter as the winner, while the third judge scores for the other...

on at Smackgirl: Golden Gate 2002.

On at Smackgirl: Summer Gate 2002 Kaneko defeated kickboxer Hisae Watanabe

Hisae Watanabe

is a Japanese female mixed martial artist and kickboxer.She stands out with her distinctive two-piece leopard-print outfit and matching hair, which was formerly auburn or red but is now blond...

by armbar submission in the second round.

Kaneko got another win on at Smackgirl: Japan Cup 2002 Opening Round, where she defeated Aya Koyama by unanimous decision

Unanimous decision

A unanimous decision is a winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts and others sports involving striking in which all three judges agree on which fighter won the match....

during the first round of the middleweight tournament.

At Smackgirl: Japan Cup 2002 Episode 2 on during the semi-finals of the middleweight tournament, Kaneko was able to avenge her previous defeat at the hands of Tomomi Sunaba, defeating Sunaba this time by unanimous decision and advancing to the final.

On at Smackgirl: Japan Cup 2002 Grand Final, Kaneko faced MMA star Yuka Tsuji

Yuka Tsuji

is a Japanese female mixed martial artist whose nickname is Vale Tudo Queen.Tsuji is a former Smackgirl tournament winner, Smackgirl Lightweight Champion and Valkyrie Featherweight Champion...

, who defeated Kaneko by unanimous decision in the final of the middleweight tournament.

At the event Arkadia held in Hakuba, Nagano

Hakuba, Nagano

is a village located in Kitaazumi District, Nagano, Japan.-Town:As of 2007, the village has an estimated population of 9,246 and a density of 50.71 persons per km². The total area is 182.34 km²....

, Kaneko defeated Keiko Matsukawa via armbar submission in the first round on .

In a rematch of their 2001, Kaneko and Izumi Noguchi fought at the event Smackgirl: Third Season V on , with Noguchi winning the bout by unanimous decision.

On , Kaneko participated in the event where she defeated Asami Kodera

Asami Kodera

, occasionally nicknamed Asami, is a Japanese female mixed martial artist. She currently fights in the Jewels promotion, where she won the 2009 Jewels Rough Stone Grand Prix .-Mixed martial arts career:...

via submission (rear naked choke

Rear naked choke

The Rear naked choke is a chokehold in martial arts applied from an opponent's back. Depending on the context, the term may refer to one of two variations of the technique, either arm can be used to apply the choke in both cases...

) in the first round of the tournament, actress, pro-wrestler

Professional wrestling

Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...

and race queen

Race queen

is a Japanese term for a type of promotional model found as part of a pit crew in certain kinds of motor racing, such as F1 races. The equivalent British term is "Pit babe".-History:...

Mizuho Ishikawa via submission (armbar) in the semi-finals before finally losing the final against Hisae Watanabe, whom Kaneko had defeated in 2002, via unanimous decision.

At Deep 18th Impact on , Kaneko tied

Tie (draw)

To tie or draw is to finish a competition with identical or inconclusive results. The word "tie" is usually used in North America for sports such as American football. "Draw" is usually used in the United Kingdom, Ireland and the Commonwealth of Nations and it is usually used for sports such as...

with Satoko Shinashi

Satoko Shinashi

is a female Japanese mixed martial arts fighter.She specializes in Judo, Sambo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and is known for using a variety of armbars to submit her opponents....

, the second women at the time to get a draw against the then unbeaten Shinashi.

Kaneko and Satoko Shinashi had an immediate rematch at Deep 19th Impact on in which Shinashi defeated Kaneko by unanimous decision. This was also Kaneko retirement

Retirement

Retirement is the point where a person stops employment completely. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours.Many people choose to retire when they are eligible for private or public pension benefits, although some are forced to retire when physical conditions don't allow the person to...

match from MMA.

After returning to karate competitions, Kaneko also returned to MMA on at Jewels 6th ring
Jewels 6th Ring
Jewels 6th Ring was a mixed martial arts event held by MMA promotion Jewels. It took place on at Shinjuku Face in Kabukicho, Tokyo, Japan.-Background:...

, defeating Abe Ani Combat Club

Abe Ani Combat Club

The Abe Ani Combat Club is a mixed martial arts gym and training camp located in Japan. The gym is renowned mostly for its female staple of fighters who were regular competitors in the Smackgirl promotion. On its roster are prominent MMA stars such as Megumi “Mega Megu” Fujii and Hitomi Akano...

member Rina Tomita by unanimous decision after dominating the fight despite her four-year absence.

MMA tag matches

Kaneko participated in three MMA tag matches in a one-day tournament at Smackgirl: Strongest Tag Tournament 2002 on in which she was partnered with Miwako Ishihara and both defeated Yoko Takahashi and Hisae Watanebe in the first round, Aya Koyama and Hikaru Shinohara in the semi-finals, and Naoko Torashima and Kazue Terui in the final to win the tournament.

Mixed martial arts record

|-
|Win
|align=center|10-8-1
|

Rina Tomita
|Decision (3-0)
|Jewels 6th Ring

Jewels 6th Ring

Jewels 6th Ring was a mixed martial arts event held by MMA promotion Jewels. It took place on at Shinjuku Face in Kabukicho, Tokyo, Japan.-Background:...

Tokyo

, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...

, Japan

Japan

|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|9-8-1
|

Satoko Shinashi

is a female Japanese mixed martial arts fighter.She specializes in Judo, Sambo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and is known for using a variety of armbars to submit her opponents....

Bunkyo, Tokyo

is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. Situated in the middle of the ward area, Bunkyō is a residential and educational center. Beginning in the Meiji period, literati like Natsume Sōseki, as well as scholars and politicians have lived there...

, Tokyo

Tokyo

, Japan

Japan

|
|-
| Draw
|align=center|9-7-1
|

Hisae Watanabe

is a Japanese female mixed martial artist and kickboxer.She stands out with her distinctive two-piece leopard-print outfit and matching hair, which was formerly auburn or red but is now blond...

Koto, Tokyo

is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. As of 2008, the ward has an estimated population of 442,271 and a population density of 11,070 persons per km². The total area is 39.48 km². The ward refers to itself as Kōtō City in English....

, Tokyo

Tokyo

, Japan

Japan

|
|-
|Win
|align=center|9-6-0
|

Asami Kodera

Minato, Tokyo

is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. As of 1 March 2008, it had an official population of 217,335 and a population density of 10,865 persons per km². The total area is 20.34 km².Minato hosts 49 embassies...

, Tokyo

Tokyo

, Japan

Japan

|
|-
|Win
|align=center|7-5-0
|

Hakuba, Nagano

is a village located in Kitaazumi District, Nagano, Japan.-Town:As of 2007, the village has an estimated population of 9,246 and a density of 50.71 persons per km². The total area is 182.34 km²....

, Nagano Prefecture

Nagano Prefecture

is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of the island of Honshū. The capital is the city of Nagano.- History :Nagano was formerly known as the province of Shinano...

, Japan

Japan

|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|6-5-0
|

Yuka Tsuji

is a Japanese female mixed martial artist whose nickname is Vale Tudo Queen.Tsuji is a former Smackgirl tournament winner, Smackgirl Lightweight Champion and Valkyrie Featherweight Champion...

Chiyoda, Tokyo

is one of the 23 special wards in central Tokyo, Japan. In English, it is called Chiyoda ward. As of October 2007, the ward has an estimated population of 45,543 and a population density of 3,912 people per km², making it by far the least populated of the special wards...

, Tokyo

Tokyo

, Japan

Japan

|
|-
|Win
|align=center|6-4-0
|

Tomomi Sunaba

, better known in Japan by her ring name , is a Japanese female mixed martial artist and kickboxer. Sunaba has fought in several kickboxing and MMA promotions....

|Decision (3-0)
|Smackgirl: Japan Cup 2002 Episode 2
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Koto, Tokyo|Koto, Tokyo, Japan
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|5-4-0
|

Shibuya, Tokyo

is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. As of 2008, it has an estimated population of 208,371 and a population density of 13,540 persons per km². The total area is 15.11 km²....

, Tokyo

Tokyo

, Japan

Japan

|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|1-2-0
|

Ikuma Hoshino

|Submission (guillotine choke)
|Smackgirl: Indeed
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|1:50
|Shibuya, Tokyo|Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|1-1-0
|

Yoko Takahashi

is a Japanese singer from Tokyo, perhaps best known for performing , the opening theme song of the anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion. She also performs the closing theme, an "acid bossa" version of "Fly Me to the Moon" and , the closing theme of Evangelion: Death and Rebirth...

Karate

All-Japan RF Karate Championships 1999 runner-up
All-Japan RF Karate Championships 2000 runner-up
All-Japan RF Karate Championships 2001 winner
All-Japan RF Karate Championships 2002 winner
All-Japan RF Karate Championships -50 kg 2003 winner
All-Japan RF Karate Championships -50 kg 2004 runner-up
All-Japan RF Karate Championships -52 kg 2009 runner-up
All-Japan RF Karate Championships -52 kg 2010 runner-up

Mixed martial arts

All-Japan Amateur Shooto Championships women's flyweight 1999 winner
Smackgirl Japan Cup 2002 middleweight runner-up
Strongest Queen Tournament 2004 runner-up

External links

Profile at Fightergirls.com
Profile at Deep

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