Manabu Yamada (山田学, born May 18, 1969, in Tochigi,

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

) is a retired Japanese mixed martial arts fighter. He is best known for his participation in

Shooto is a combat sport and mixed martial arts organization that is governed by the Shooto Association and the International Shooto Commission (ISC). Shooto was originally formed in 1985, first as a particular fighting system and then in 1989 as a ...

and

Pancrase is a Japanese mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter (entertainment), promotion company based in Tokyo. It was founded in 1993 by professional wrestlers Masakatsu Funaki and Minoru Suzuki. The name was based on pankration, a fighting sport in the An ...

fighting organizations. On December 17, 1994, Yamada advanced to the finals of the King of

Tournament where he lost to

Ken Shamrock Kenneth Wayne Shamrock ( né Kilpatrick; born February 11, 1964) is an American retired professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. He is currently signed to WWE under a Legends contract, under the ring name Ken Shamrock. He is best known ...

via unanimous decision.

Career

Yamada started training with Satoru Sayama at the Super Tiger Gym after a background in

karate (; ; Okinawan language, Okinawan pronunciation: ), also , is a martial arts, martial art developed in the Ryukyu Kingdom. It developed from the Okinawan martial arts, indigenous Ryukyuan martial arts (called , "hand"; ''tī'' in Okinawan) un ...

, debuting in

in 1990. He faced Kenji Kawaguchi twice in matches for the Shooto Middleweight Championship, but he was submitted in both occasions. After two important wins over Kazuhiro Kusayanagi and Naoki Sakurada, he left Shooto and joined

in 1993. Manabu had his Pancrase debut against Katsuomi Inagaki, winning rapidly by submission. Shortly after, he got his first big win over Andre Van Den Oetelaar, a kickboxer and Dutch

judo is an unarmed gendai budō, modern Japanese martial art, combat sport, Olympic sport (since 1964), and the most prominent form of jacket wrestling competed internationally.『日本大百科全書』電子版【柔道】(CD-ROM version of Encyc ...

champion who sported a large weight advantage. Yamada lost points early due to a

rear naked choke The rear naked choke (RNC), also known as hadaka jime (裸絞) in Judo and "lion killer choke (Mata Leão)" in BJJ, is a chokehold in martial arts applied from an opponent's back. The word ''naked'' in this context suggests that, unlike other stra ...

and a liver shot, but he came back knocking down Oetelaar with a high kick and then cutting him with a strike, winning the fight by doctor stoppage. Afterwards, Yamada suffered his first defeat in the promotion when he was caught in a heel hook by Takaku Fuke, despite having the points advantage for most of the match. In December 1994, Yamada took part in the tournament for the first King of Pancrase championship. He eliminated Christopher DeWeaver in two minutes, moving forward to face rising star

Frank Shamrock Frank Shamrock (born Frank Alisio Juarez III; December 8, 1972) is an American former professional mixed martial artist. Shamrock was the first to hold the UFC Middleweight Championship (later renamed the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship) ...

. Despite his opponent's superior strength and late comeback, Yamada caught him in an ankle hold early in the match and resisted all his submission attempts, which gave him the victory by points at the end. The former Shooto fighter advanced to engage his biggest challenge to the point, the Pancrase co-founder and heavy favourite

Minoru Suzuki (born June 17, 1968) is a Japanese Professional wrestling, professional wrestler and former Mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist, known for his tenure in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a former one-time IWGP Intercontinental Ch ...

. In the beginning of a classic fight, Yamada was taken down and had his back fastly taken, but his defensive acumen allowed him to avoid being submitted, and he stole a point from Suzuki with a scrambling rear naked choke. Minoru came back strong, getting several near-holds, but Manabu kept defending and seeking for openings, which granted him another point by ankle hold. He then overpowered Suzuki and controlled him until locked an

armbar An armlock in grappling is a single or double joint lock that hyperextends, hyperflexes or hyperrotates the elbow joint or shoulder joint. An armpit lock is very useful; it will immobilize an opponent and pin them on the ground. An armlock t ...

from

side control In grappling, side control (often also called side mount, cross mount, 100 kilos) is a dominant ground grappling position where the top combatant is lying perpendicularly over the face-up bottom combatant in such a way that the legs are free an ...

, making Suzuki tap out for one of his biggest career wins. The same night, Yamada came again to fight

in the finals, giving another impressive exhibition by going to the distance with the much stronger Shamrock after 30:00. Yamada again resisted his opponent's grip while turtled up, threatening him with Kimura locks and rolling leglocks from the position, and he even threw a pro wrestling

dropkick A dropkick is an Professional wrestling strikes, attacking maneuver in professional wrestling. It is defined as an attack where the wrestler jumps up and kicks the opponent with the soles of both feet; this sees the wrestler twist as they ju ...

at the end of the bout, but he lost by decision at the end, with Shamrock being declared King of Pancrase. Yamada's next match saw an upset when he was submitted by

Bas Rutten Sebastiaan "Bas" Rutten (; born 24 February 1965) is a Dutch-American actor, former mixed martial artist, kickboxer and professional wrestler. As a kickboxer, he fought 16 times, winning the first 14 matches by knockout, 13 in the first round ...

. Despite his top control, Yamada was trapped in an arm triangle choke and was rendered unconscious due to his refusal to tap out. Manabu lost a match against Jason DeLucia by accidental

eye gouge __NOTOC__ Eye-gouging is the act of pressing or tearing the eye using the fingers or instruments. Eye-gouging involves a very high risk of eye injury, such as eye loss or blindness. Eye-gouging as a fighting style was once Gouging (fighting st ...

, but he got his course back defeating Pancrase founder

Masakatsu Funaki is a Japanese actor, mixed martial artist and professional wrestler known professionally as , who has previously wrestled in All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), Pro Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi (PWFG), Newborn UWF (UWF) ...

and DeLucia in a revenge match. However, it would be short-lived, as Yamada dropped from main competition, losing to submission to DeLucia in only 1:13 and just getting an important win over

Kiuma Kunioku is a retired Japanese mixed martial artist. A longtime veteran of the Pancrase organization, Kunioku captured the King of Pancrase Middleweight Championship and King of Pancrase Welterweight Championship before leaving the organization in 2004 ...

. Yamada retired in January 2000, after losing to

Yuki Kondo is a Japanese mixed martial artist currently competing in the Welterweight division. He has officially 112 professional fights, making him one of the most experienced mixed martial artists ever. He has also competed for the UFC, PRIDE, Sengo ...

, and currently works as MMA trainer and seitai teacher.

Championships and accomplishments

* Pancrase Hybrid Wrestling **1994 King of Pancrase tournament Runner Up *''

Tokyo Sports is a Japanese daily sports newspaper founded in 1960. See also * Tokyo Sports Film Award * Tokyo Sports Puroresu Awards References External links

* http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp Official website 1960 establishments in Japan Da ...

'' ** Rookie of the Year (1994)

Mixed martial arts record

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, Decision (unanimous) , Pancrase - Trans 1 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 10:00 ,

Tokyo Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...

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Osaka is a Cities designated by government ordinance of Japan, designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital of and most populous city in Osaka Prefecture, and the List of cities in Japan, third-most populous city in J ...

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Sendai is the capital Cities of Japan, city of Miyagi Prefecture and the largest city in the Tōhoku region. , the city had a population of 1,098,335 in 539,698 households, making it the List of cities in Japan, twelfth most populated city in Japan. ...

, Japan , , - , Loss , align=center, 22–15–5 , Jason DeLucia , Decision (unanimous) , Pancrase - 1999 Neo-Blood Tournament Second Round , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 15:00 ,

, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 22–14–5 , Leon Dijk , Decision (majority) , Pancrase - Breakthrough 5 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 10:00 ,

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, Japan , , - , Draw , align=center, 21–14–5 , Ryushi Yanagisawa , Draw , Pancrase - Breakthrough 3 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 15:00 ,

, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 21–14–4 , David Moore , Technical Submission (guillotine choke) , Pancrase - Breakthrough 1 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:20 ,

, Japan , , - , Loss , align=center, , Jason DeLucia , Submission (armbar) , Pancrase - Advance 12 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:13 ,

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, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 20–13–4 , Daisuke Watanabe , Submission (rear-naked choke) , Pancrase - Advance 10 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 7:33 ,

, Japan , , - , Draw , align=center, 19–13–4 , Katsuomi Inagaki , Draw , Pancrase - 1998 Anniversary Show , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 3:00 ,

, Japan , , - , Loss , align=center, 19–13–3 ,

, Submission (ankle lock) , Pancrase - Truth 7 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:54 ,

, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 19–12–3 ,

, Submission (guillotine choke) , Pancrase - 1996 Anniversary Show , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 8:29 ,

, Japan , , - , Loss , align=center, 18–12–3 ,

, Submission (rear-naked choke) , Pancrase - 1996 Neo-Blood Tournament, Round 1 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 12:44 ,

, Japan , , - , Draw , align=center, 18–11–3 ,

Kazuo Takahashi , ring name , is a Japanese retired mixed martial artist. A professional competitor from 1993 until 2013 (and then once again in 2018), he competed for the UFC, PRIDE Fighting Championships, Pancrase, RINGS, K-1 HERO'S, and World Victory Road ...

, Draw , Pancrase - Truth 6 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 10:00 ,

Fukuoka is the List of Japanese cities by population, sixth-largest city in Japan and the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. The city is built along the shores of Hakata Bay, and has been a center of international commerce since ancient times. ...

, Japan , , - , Loss , align=center, 18–11–2 ,

Semmy Schilt Sem "Semmy" Schilt (; born 27 October 1973) is a Dutch actor and former kickboxer, karateka and mixed martial artist. Schilt holds the distinction of being the only kickboxer to have won 5 major heavyweight tournaments, being a four-time List of ...

, Submission (rear-naked choke) , Pancrase - Truth 5 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 5:44 ,

, Japan , , - , Loss , align=center, 18–10–2 , Guy Mezger , TKO (doctor stoppage) , Pancrase - Truth 3 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 6:14 ,

, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 18–9–2 , Leon Dijk , Submission (ankle lock) , Pancrase - Truth 3 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:53 ,

, Japan , , - , Loss , align=center, 17–9–2 , Maurice Smith , KO (punch) , Pancrase: 1995 Anniversary Show , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 1:46 ,

Tokyo, Japan Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...

, , - , Win , align=center, 17–8–2 , Vernon White , Submission (heel hook) , Pancrase - Eyes Of Beast 5 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 10:26 ,

Sapporo is a Cities designated by government ordinance of Japan, designated city in Hokkaido, Japan. Located in the southwest of Hokkaido, it lies within the alluvial fan of the Toyohira River, a tributary of the Ishikari River. Sapporo is the capital ...

, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 16–8–2 , Jason DeLucia , Submission (heel hook) , Pancrase - Eyes Of Beast 4 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 3:03 ,

, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 15–8–2 ,

, Submission (heel hook) , Pancrase - Eyes Of Beast 3 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 4:43 ,

Nagoya, Aichi is the largest city in the Chūbu region of Japan. It is the list of cities in Japan, fourth-most populous city in Japan, with a population of 2.3million in 2020, and the principal city of the Chūkyō metropolitan area, which is the List of ...

, Japan , , - , Loss , align=center, 14–8–2 , Jason DeLucia , TKO (doctor stoppage) , Pancrase - Eyes Of Beast 2 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:41 ,

Yokohama is the List of cities in Japan, second-largest city in Japan by population as well as by area, and the country's most populous Municipalities of Japan, municipality. It is the capital and most populous city in Kanagawa Prefecture, with a popu ...

, Japan , , - , Loss , align=center, 14–7–2 ,

, Technical Submission (arm-triangle choke) , Pancrase - Eyes Of Beast 1 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:05 ,

, Japan , , - , Loss , align=center, 14–6–2 ,

, Decision (unanimous) , King of Pancrase tournament second round , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 30:00 ,

, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 14–5–2 ,

, Submission (armbar) , King of Pancrase tournament second round , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 14:46 ,

, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 13–5–2 ,

, Submission (ankle lock) , King of Pancrase tournament opening round , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 8:38 ,

, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 12–5–2 , Christopher DeWeaver , Submission (heel hook) , King of Pancrase tournament opening round , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:44 ,

, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 11–5–2 , Alex Cook , Submission (armbar) , Pancrase - Road To The Championship 5 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:27 ,

, Japan , , - , Loss , align=center, 10–5–2 , Takaku Fuke , Submission (heel hook) , Pancrase - Road To The Championship 4 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 13:47 ,

, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 10–4–2 , Matt Hume , Submission (heel hook) , Pancrase - Road To The Championship 3 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:31 ,

, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 9–4–2 , Andre Van Den Oetelaar , TKO (doctor stoppage) , Pancrase - Road To The Championship 2 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 4:52 ,

Amagasaki 270px, Amagasaki Castle 270px, Aerial view of Amagasaki city center 270px, Amagasaki Station is an industrial city located in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 455,555 in 223,812 households, and a population de ...

, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 8–4–2 , Katsuomi Inagaki , Submission (kneebar) , Pancrase - Road To The Championship 1 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:04 ,

, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 7–4–2 , Chad Stahelski , Submission (kneebar) , Shooto - Shooto , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:08 ,

, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 6–4–2 , Naoki Sakurada , Submission (kneebar) , Shooto - Shooto , , align=center, 5 , align=center, 1:09 ,

, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 5–4–2 , Kazuhiro Kusayanagi , Submission (armbar) , Shooto - Shooto , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:05 ,

, Japan , , - , Loss , align=center, 4–4–2 ,

Kenji Kawaguchi ) is a Japanese mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist. He competed in the Welterweight (MMA), Welterweight division. Career Vale Tudo Japan After a 10–0–4 career in Shooto, Kawaguchi represented the promotion in the event Vale Tudo Japan ...

, Submission (kneebar) , Shooto - Shooto , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:36 ,

, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 4–3–2 , Satoshi Honma , Submission (armbar) , Shooto - Shooto , , align=center, 1 , align=center, N/A ,

, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 3–3–2 , Yutaka Fuji , Submission (kneebar) , Shooto - Shooto , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:39 ,

, Japan , , - , Loss , align=center, 2–3–2 , Satoshi Honma , Submission (armbar) , Shooto - Shooto , , align=center, 4 , align=center, N/A ,

, Japan , , - , Loss , align=center, 2–2–2 ,

, Submission (kneebar) , Shooto - Shooto , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:58 ,

, Japan , , - , Loss , align=center, 2–1–2 , Yasuto Sekishima , KO (punch) , Shooto - Shooto , , align=center, 2 , align=center, N/A ,

, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 2–0–2 , Yoshimasa Ishikawa , TKO (punches) , Shooto - Shooto , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:07 ,

, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 1–0–2 , Tomonori Ohara , KO (punch) , Shooto - Shooto , , align=center, 1 , align=center, N/A ,

, Japan , , - , Draw , align=center, 0–0–2 , Takashi Ishizaki , Draw , Shooto - Shooto , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 3:00 ,

, Japan , , - , Draw , align=center, 0–0–1 , Takashi Tojo , Draw , Shooto - Shooto , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 3:00 ,

, Japan ,

Mixed martial arts exhibition record

, - , Draw , align=center, 0–0–2 , Noboru Asahi , Technical Draw , Pancrase - Proof 3 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 5:00 , Tokyo, Japan , , - , Draw , align=center, 0–0–1 , Sanae Kikuta , Technical Draw , DEEP 2001 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 3:00 , Tokyo, Japan , , -

References

External links

Professional MMA record
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yamada, Manabu Japanese male mixed martial artists Mixed martial artists utilizing shootfighting Mixed martial artists utilizing shoot wrestling Mixed martial artists utilizing karate Mixed martial artists utilizing catch wrestling Mixed martial artists utilizing judo Mixed martial artists utilizing pankration Japanese catch wrestlers Japanese male judoka Japanese male karateka Living people 1969 births 20th-century Japanese sportsmen