Guys & Girls
I have been trying with various degrees of success to research the history of Judo in the UK.
I have been practicing Judo for a little over 50 years, recently I was fortunate enough to train at the Kodokan in Tokyo, which is the spiritual home of Judo.
On my return I thought I would try to trace a direct link from Jigaro Kano to myself, this was scarily simple as Judo has only been going for around 130 years, Kano the founder graded Masutaro Otani who grade me.
There are many books dedicated to Kano, but very little on Otani, who was a pioneer of Judo in the UK.
My next step was try to research Masutoro Otani, I found this link below and have confirmed that Otani did NOT compete at the 1932 Olympics. I know his son Robin Otani.
But the wrestling heritage site seems to very specific in naming Masutaro Otani.
Can anyone shed any light on this?
Who created the brief history of Harry Smith and what information was used to compile the list of opponents?
Is there a record of these bouts?
Although Masutaro Otani was a Ju-Jitsu / Judo player he would have fought as a wrestler in the west.
Any help would be gratefully received.
Keep enjoying your sport.
Kind Regards Martin Ball 2nd Dan Judo https://www.wrestlingheritage.co.uk/ssmith.htm Harry Smith 1930s lightweight from Dewsbury, Harry Smith, was a body builder and rugby player known as The Pitmans Hercules. One of the early exponents of All-In, turning professional in 1931. Opponents included Jack Dale, Mario Magisti, Dick Wills and Carl Romsky, but most frequent opponent of all seems to have been Masutaro Otani, the Japanese wrestlers who came to Britain fresh from the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics.
Otani also fought Harold Angus on 14 Sept 1935 as sub for Matsuda...
In a review of his August 1934 bout vs Harold Angus, he was described as 'the smiling Japanese'
Fantastic research Hack.
Cheers
Fantastic research Hack very interesting,I see mention of Stan Stone who we hear little of but highly rated by Pallo,old Jack reckoned he learned how to work a bout,let it unfold and let the crowd reaction drive a bout,I remember he was so complimentary about this guy,which was unusual because old Jack wasn't generally to keen on wrestlers.
Wow! Welcome and thanks for posting Paula. If you have more memories we'd like to hear them, and they could be added to our Otani tribute page.
https://www.wrestlingheritage.co.uk/otani
Hello
I met Mr otani when I was very young. He came to yeovil Somerset to grade my dad Douglas Gilbert.
I have so many fond memories of him, coming to our home. Paula parkes
P
A
Brilliant work Hack!
Hack simply PHENOMENAL !!! Much appreciated.
Otani
British National Archive records confirm that Masutaro Otani was born in Nagasaki, Japan, on 25th March, 1896. He married Philippa Upton in Kensington and their first son, Tomio, was born in September, 1939. Masutaro Otani died on 23rd January, 1977, aged 78, and was buried in Acton Cemetery.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/39410454/masutaro-otani
He took up judo in 1917, studying for two years under 2nd Dan Seizo Usui. He came to Britain in 1919. In 1921 he joined the Budokwai and studied under Hikoichi Aida. In 1929 he became trainee assistant to Yukio Tani. Otani was Judo Instructor to Oxford University for six years, and Cambridge University for five years. During the Second World war he was interned in a prisoner of war camp in the UK. Promotion to 4th Dan was from Yukio Tani, 5th Dan by Ichiro Hata. When Kenshiro Abbe came to England in 1955, Masutaro Otani followed him and was promoted 6th Dan. In 1959 he became 7th Dan and appointed National Coach of the British Judo Council. MasutaroOtani died in 1977.
http://www.ellisaikido.org/japan/motani.html
7th Dan Kenshiro Abbe came to Britain in 1955, teaching judo at the London Judo Society. In 1958 he formed the British Judo Council and was joined by Masutaro Otani. Abbe was President of the BJC until he returned to Japan in 1964, succeeded by Masutaro Otani, until his death in 1977. On his death the next President was Masutaro and Philippa’s son, Robin, born in 1944.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Judo_Council
Our earliest references to Masutaro Otani as wrestler occurs in 1932. We have not found any wrestling references to him as Masutaro Otani but as simply Otani or O’Tani. In 1956 the London Gazette listed Masutaro Otani (known as Masutaro O’Tani) as a sword maker and Physical Cultural Instructor living at 10, Stuart Road, London W3.
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/40857/page/4726/data.pdf
References to his mentor, Yukio Otani, and to his ju jitsu experience make the link between Masutaro Otani and the wrestler known simply as Otani.
Wrestling as early as January, 1932, is proof enough that reports of him competing in the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics are inaccurate. We did find a newspaper cutting in the Aberdeen Press and Journal of 2nd August, 1932 that reported Otani defeating Stockton in the middleweight final of the Olympic Games. Presumably this was the basis of the false claim. But this was Otani with the initial K. Yet this K.Otani was misleading too as the wrestler concerned was not K.Otani but Kotani, Sumiyuki Kotani
https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ko/sumiyuki-kotani-1.html
Otani’s weight has been given as between 8st 6lbs and 9st 6lbs, usually towards the lower end of the scale. His matches were inevitably against men who were two stones or more heavier than himself.
We have found the following references to Otani as a wrestler.
1930
On 29th May, 1930 the Portsmouth Evening news referred to Yukio Tani as a “famous Japanese wrestler” who had given a ju-jitsu demonstration with his partner M.Otani, followed by a wrestling demonstration with Miss Dolly Marion and Mr John Campbell.
1932 January 9th EDINBURGH
Our earliest reference to Otani as a wrestler, at Edinburgh’s Waverley Market. The Scotsman reported that “O-Tani, the Japanese Ju-jitsu wrestler” met J. McGregor in a catch as catch can style wrestling match. The Japanese showed a lack of knowledge of the style but was elusive enough to force a points decision loss.
1932 June 22nd BELLE VUE, MANCHESTER. Otani v Taffy Plant
1932 August 18th MORECAMBE
An open air tournament featuring Michael McGil, Black Adonis, Billy Riley, Jock Garner, Otani, Pat Allister, Ben Sherman and Eddie McGrath.
1932 August 19th BLACKPOOL Otani beat Harry Smith
1932 August 23rd BELLE VUE, MANCHESTER. Otani bt Tommy Smith
1932 Sept 2nd BLACKPOOL Otani beat Harry Smith
1932 Sept. 6th BLACKPOOL Otani 1-1 Billy Riley
1932 Sept. 25th CRAVEN ARMS Sam Rabin bt Otani
1932 Oct. 21st SHREWSBURY Otani stpd Moonraker Kid
1932 Oct. 24th CRAVEN ARMS Otani WKO Moonraker Kid
1932 Nov. 27th SWINDON Otani WKO Edwards
1932 Dec. 9th HUDDERSFIELD Harry Smith beat Otani
1932 Dec. 27th HUDDERSFIELD Otani beat Jim Tullett (injured)
1933
1933 January 3rd LEEDS Harry Smith bt Otani
1933 January 5th NELSON Otani beat Jim Hart
1933 February 8th SHIPLEY Otani stpd Jim Tullett
1933 February 19th POPLAR Otani bt White Owl
1933 February 20th ISLINGTON Otani bt Golden Hawk
1933 March 4th CHELMSFORD
Chelmsford Chronicle of 10th March reported a judo exhibition at the Corn Exchange by Yukio Tani, M O’Tani, Norman and Harold Hyde.
1933 March 11th DEWSBURY Otani stpd Black Tiger
1933 April 8th FISHGUARD Otani bt Beard
1933 April 9th POPLAR Otani bt White Owl
1933 April 10th DAWLISH Tony Mancelli bt Otani
1933 April 14th BANK Otani bt Bull
1933 April 22nd CHELMSFORD
Chelmsford Chronicle of 28th April reported another judo exhibition at the Corn Exchange by Yukio Tani and M O’Tani.
1933 May 15th LIVERPOOL Otani v Harold Angus
1933 May 28th POPLAR Otani stpd Farmers Boy
1933 June 24th POPLAR Carver Doone 1-1 Otani
1933 June 26th KINGS ROAD, LONDON Otani bt Farmers Boy
1933 June 30th BRENT Otani bt Golden Hawk
1933 July 8th MANCHESTER Otani bt Rabin
1933 July 10th WHITE CITY Otani bt Farmers Boy
1933 July 31st NOTTINGHAM Harry Smith v Otani
1933 August 1st BAKER ST LONDON Prof Otani bt Farmers Boy
1933 August 3rd BELLE VUE, MANCHESTER. Otani bt Tommy Smith
1933 Sept. 14th POPLAR Otani bt Mr Majika
1933 Sept. 16th CAMDEN LOCK Mr Majika v Otani-DKO
1933 Sept. 17th TOTTENHAM Otani stpd Great Scott
1933 Sept. 18th NOTTINGHAM Harry Smith 1-1 Otani
1933 Sept. 24th FEATHERSTONE Otani stpd Spider Webb
1933 Nov 15th PORTSMOUTH Otani 1-1 Harry Smith
1933 Dec 15th LIVERPOOL Otani 2-1 Doulas the Turk
1934
1934 January 3rd FULHAM Otani kod Mr Majika
1934 January 9th CATFORD Otani stpd Roman
1934 January 10th PORTSMOUTH Otani 2-1Doulas the Turk
1934 January 20th DEVIZES Otani stpd Wyatt
1934 January 23rd SWANSEA Otani bt Farmers Boy
1934 January 26th OLYMPIA LONDON Otani 2-1 Doulas
1934 January 31st BRISTOL Otani 1-1 Harry Smith
On 1st February 1934 the Western Daily Press whilst reporting a match between Otani and Harry Smith reported that Otani was the pupil of Yukio Tani. Yukio Tani had arrived in Britain in 1901. Masutaro Otani arrived in 1919 and became Yukio Otani’s senior instructor. This was confirmed
http://www.bu-sen.co.uk/busen-history/
Yukio Tani had been born in 1881 and according to Wikipedia had challenged wrestler George Hackenschmidt, who refused to wrestle him.
1934 February 9th LIVERPOOL Otani v Pat Maloney
1934 March 20th OLYMPIA LONDON Otani bt Doulas the Turk
1934 March 26th OLYMPIA LONDON Mr Otani bt Doulas the Turk
1934 March 31st BRISTOL Harry Smith v Otani
1934 May 11th BRISTOL Otani 1-1 Doulas the Turk
1934 May 21st BOURNEMOUTH College Boy 1-1 Otani
1934 June 15th LIVERPOOL Otani v Tony Pastor
1934 August 10th LIVERPOOL Otani 2-1 Stan Stone
Preceding this match Yukio Tani and Otani gave a ju-jitsu demonstration.
1934 August 17th LIVERPOOL Harold Angus 2-1 Otani
1934 October 26th LIVERPOOL Otani 2-1 Babe Quesick
1934 Nov 29th BOGNOR REGIS Otani 1-1 Doulas the Turk
1935
1935 January 23rd PORTSMOUTH Otani 2-1 Queseck
1935 March 15th PRESTON
Otani 2-1 Harry Smith
1935 February 4th LEEDS Otani v Harry Smith
1935 April 2nd TUFNELL PARK
Otani v Tom Quantrill
1935 April 8th LEEDS Otani v Tom Quantrill
1935 April 11th SMETHWICK Otani v Paddy Ryan
1935 Dec 12th PORTSMOUTH Jim Maloney WKO Otani
1935 Dec 13th LIVERPOOL Otani v Jim Maloney
1936
1936 Dec 6th BIRMINGHAM
A German wrestling team met a Birmingham team under Ju-Jitsu rules. There was also an exhibition wrestling match between Jim Hipkiss and M.Otani, who was described as “The Japanese wonder wrestler.”
1938
1938 Dec 6th MORECAMBE
Otani v Van Vleit
1958
1958 March 13th LIVERPOOL
The Liverpool Echo previewed a judo exhibition at the Stadium on 15th March, in which Kenshiro Abbe would take on 16 black belts. Accompanying Kenshiro Abbe was Masutaro Otani who it was said as a young man “was reputed to be the fastest throwing exponent ever seen.”
1967
1967 Nov. 27th STRATFORD UPON AVON
The Birmingham Evening Post reported that 69 year old Masutoro Otani tutored 70 seniors and juniors at the Drill Hall, Stratford upon Avon.
1968
1968 Feb 29th COVENTRY
Coventry Standard previewed Masutoro Otani instructing at Keresley Newland High School.
1977
1977 Jan 13th BIRKENHEAD
Liverpool Echo reported the Cheshire and Wirral area of the British Judo Council held their grading at Cammell Laird Sports Club under Masutoro Otani, eight dan and President of the British Judo Council.
More links:
https://www.usadojo.com/a-tribute-to-matsutaro-otani-sensei/
http://www.aikidoinnorwich.net/YODOKAN-History
Any additional information welcome.
Thanks for your query Martin. We are happy to help where we can. We have sent you an email.