The first ever guard player??? The origin story of Mataemon Tanabe

This is the story of Mataemon Tanabe—a man who was never the biggest, never the strongest… yet became one of the most formidable jujutsu practitioners in history. Born in 1869 in Okayama, Japan, Tanabe endured brutal training from a young age under his father. Small in size but unbreakable in spirit, he faced grown men, sumo wrestlers, and powerful fighters—refusing to surrender, no matter the cost. Instead of relying on strength, he developed something far more powerful: technique, patience, and the philosophy that softness can overcome hardness. From his first match at just fourteen years old… to his battles against giants… this is a story of resilience, innovation, and relentless will. This account comes from 'Dai Nippon Judo Shi', shared during an interview with Sanzo Maruyama, preserving a rare and powerful piece of martial arts history. If you’re interested in martial arts, discipline, or stories of overcoming impossible odds—this is one you won’t forget. Support the channel: If you enjoy the content, please consider supporting us on Patreon:   / chadijudo   The origins & history of judo - Amazon EU: https://amzn.eu/d/bfEkJmQ Amazon US: https://a.co/d/dNyMInt Amazon Asia: https://amzn.asia/d/aRU8ZXn French version: https://amzn.eu/d/8SN3DNs #Jujutsu #MartialArts #SamuraiSpirit #JudoHistory #Budo #JapaneseHistory #FightingSpirit #NeverGiveUp #WarriorMindset #Discipline #CombatSports #JujutsuHistory #InspirationalStory #AnimeStyle #RetroAnime #StrongMind #UnderdogStory #Legend