Taro Miyake
Encyclopedia
Taro Miyake (c. 1881-1935) was a Japanese professional wrestler. In 1905 he departed Japan
for London
, where he famously defeated the reigning champion in the jiujitsu style, Yukio Tani
. Miyake and Tani then joined forces, opening a jiujitsu school and co-authoring a book titled "The Game of Jiu-Jitsu". He is credited for helping establish judo
in the United Kingdom
during the turn of the century
.. In London, he sat for the well-known English artist and lithographer Albert de Belleroche.
Miyake toured all over the U.S. in the 1920s. In 1928 Miyake returned to Japan and toured there with three other wrestlers, but professional wrestling
was not popular in Japan back then and the shows did not sell tickets. He was also known for having defeated Yukio Tani
. As of 1932, in his 50s, he was still competing in bouts at Madison Square Garden
. He died in 1935.
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...
for London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where he famously defeated the reigning champion in the jiujitsu style, Yukio Tani
Yukio Tani
was a Japanese jujutsu instructor and professional challenge wrestler.The precise details of Tani's early jujutsu training in Japan are unclear, but he is known to have studied at two Fusen-ryu dojo as well as at the "Handa School of Jiujitsu" in Osaka...
. Miyake and Tani then joined forces, opening a jiujitsu school and co-authoring a book titled "The Game of Jiu-Jitsu". He is credited for helping establish judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
during the turn of the century
Turn of the century
Turn of the century, in its broadest sense, refers to the transition from one century to another. The term is most often used to indicate a non-specific time period either before or after the beginning of a century....
.. In London, he sat for the well-known English artist and lithographer Albert de Belleroche.
Miyake toured all over the U.S. in the 1920s. In 1928 Miyake returned to Japan and toured there with three other wrestlers, but professional wrestling
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...
was not popular in Japan back then and the shows did not sell tickets. He was also known for having defeated Yukio Tani
Yukio Tani
was a Japanese jujutsu instructor and professional challenge wrestler.The precise details of Tani's early jujutsu training in Japan are unclear, but he is known to have studied at two Fusen-ryu dojo as well as at the "Handa School of Jiujitsu" in Osaka...
. As of 1932, in his 50s, he was still competing in bouts at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
. He died in 1935.
Career highlights
- Lost to Ad SantelAd SantelAd Santel, , was a practitioner of catch wrestling. Ad Santel fought one of the early clash-of-the-styles matches in modern martial arts history against Tokugoro Ito, a 5th degree black belt in Judo from Japan. Santel defeated Ito when a slamming takedown rendered the Judoka unable to continue the...
in Seattle, WA on October 20, 1917 (KO from Half nelson Slam) - Won over John Berg in Spokane, WA on March 15, 1918
- Lost to Canadian Jack Taylor in Vancouver, BC on January 23, 1919
- Lost to Jim LondosJim LondosChristos Theofilou or Christopher Theophelus better known as "The Golden Greek" Jim Londos, was a professional wrestler who was one of the most popular stars wrestling offered during the Great Depression.-Career:Jim Londos was born Christos Theofilou in 1897 in Argos, Greece. as the youngest of...
on April 8, 1920 - Lost to Canadian Jack Taylor in Casper, WY in April, 1921
- Lost to Ed "Strangler" Lewis"Ed Lewis (wrestler)Robert Herman Julius Friedrich , was a professional wrestler best known by his ring name Ed "Strangler" Lewis, whose career spanned four decades.-Wrestling career:...
in Chicago, IL on December 31, 1923 - Won over Fred Bilger in St. Louis MO on February 19, 1924
- Lost to Oresti Vadalfi in St. Louis MO December 4, 1924
- Won over Bull MontanaBull MontanaBull Montana , was a professional wrestler and American actor.Lewis Montagna came to the U.S. as a child. The hulking, plug-ugly Montagna became a professional wrestler under the name of Bull Montana...
in Columbus, OH on March 2, 1927 - Won over Ray Carpenter in Columbus, OH on March 9, 1927
- Won over Jack Kogut in Columbus, OH on March 16, 1927
- Lost to Ray Carpenter in Columbus, OH on March 23, 1927
- Lost to Jim Londos in Brooklyn, NY on March 11, 1931
- Lost to Jim Londos in Louisville, KY on May 16, 1931
- Lost to ”Tiger” Nelson in Washington DC May 28, 1931
- Lost to Helio GracieHélio GracieHélio Gracie was a Brazilian martial artist who, together with his brother Carlos Gracie, founded the martial art of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, known internationally as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu...
in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil May 14, 1934