Genki Sudo (須藤 元気, Sudō Genki, born 8 March 1978) is a Japanese former mixed martial artist, singer, actor and politician who has been serving as a political independent in the House of Councillors since 2019.[2] Between 1998 and 2006, Sudo was a professional athlete and then was in the entertainment industry from 2006 to 2019. He has since returned to his previous position in World Order as of September 2021 where he is currently active.
Genki Sudo | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of House of Councillors | |
| Assumed office 28 July 2019 | |
| Constituency | National PR |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 8 March 1978 Kōtō, Tokyo, Japan |
| Political party | Independent |
| Other political affiliations | Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan |
| Alma mater | Takushoku University |
| Martial arts career | |
| Other names | Neo-Samurai (UFC) Transforming Trickster (K-1/Hero's) |
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) |
| Weight | 70 kg (154 lb; 11 st 0 lb) |
| Division | Lightweight |
| Style | Greco-Roman Wrestling, Karate, Kung Fu Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Kickboxing, Sambo, Shootfighting |
| Fighting out of | Tokyo, Japan |
| Team | Beverly Hills Jiu-Jitsu Club |
| Teacher(s) | Bas Rutten Masakatsu Funaki Sanae Kikuta |
| Rank | Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu[1] |
| Years active | 1998–2006 |
| Kickboxing record | |
| Total | 6 |
| Wins | 2 |
| By knockout | 2 |
| Losses | 4 |
| By knockout | 2 |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 21 |
| Wins | 16 |
| By knockout | 1 |
| By submission | 12 |
| By decision | 3 |
| Losses | 4 |
| By knockout | 1 |
| By decision | 3 |
| Draws | 1 |
| Other information | |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Last updated on: 1 March 2011 | |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | Techno, synthpop |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Years active | 2006–present |
He is a retired mixed martial artist and a kickboxer who, until 31 December 2006 competed in the Japanese fighting organization HERO'S and before that, the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Pancrase. He is known for his elaborate ring entrances[3] and unorthodox fighting style.[4] Sudo, following his retirement, transitioned into a career in entertainment as a Japanese singer, composer,[5] choreographer, actor, professional calligrapher and author. He is the producer, director, and lead vocalist of the music group World Order,[6] which is known for their techno music style and highly synchronised robotic choreography.
Early life
editBorn to a chef and Boxing fan, Genki was named after Yu Koyama's sports Manga Ganbare Genki. He started practicing Amateur Wrestling during high school, focusing on Greco-Roman Wrestling, and later won JOC Cup All Japan Junior Wrestling Championship during his stay at the Takushoku Junior College. In 1998, after graduating, Genki moved to the United States and enrolled in Santa Monica College, but dropped out soon after. Around this time, he joined the Beverly Hills Jiu-Jitsu Club and practiced Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. A year after, he returned to Japan to compete in Pancrase by Bas Rutten's mediation.
MMA career
editPancrase
editGenki started his professional career in 1998, when he fought Tiki Ghosn in Extreme Shoot 2. Then he moved to japanese promotion Pancrase, defeating Kosei Kubota by unanimous decision in his first fight. He joined Sanae Kikuta's Grabaka team to further develop his skills.
Sudo became well known for his particularly flashy choreographed ring entrances that often included costumed dancers. One entrance featured Sudo doing the robot and operating levers that released a column of smoke from the top of his head while wearing a Kentucky Fried Chicken bucket as a hat and a white plastic mask, in an homage to the musician Buckethead.
On 21 December 2001, Sudo fought against Kenichi Yamamoto at Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium, and won by Rear Naked Choke.[7] Prior to the match, Sudo and Yamamoto promised to bet Yamamoto's UFC championship belt on the outcome. Following his win, Sudo was given the belt by Yamamoto, and Sudo was introduced as "UFC Japan Champion" by media after this bout. As the bet was personal, he is not sanctioned as champion by Zuffa.
UFC
editSudo had his debut in Ultimate Fighting Championship at UFC 38, facing Leigh Remedios. Making his entrance in a kimono and a tengu mask, Sudo showed his personal style by dancing and throwing spin kicks to open the match, eventually launching a flying triangle choke attempt which lasted for most of the round. At the second round, Genki threw Remedios with a hip throw and locked a rear naked choke, making him tap out. The Japanese wrestler then posed with a flag of all the nations and proclaimed his catchphrase of "We Are All One" for a crowd pop.
He returned at UFC 42 against Duane Ludwig. Again Sudo showed his theatrical side, walking backwards towards Ludwig and doing the robot dance before taking him down. However, despite his initial domination, the Japanese started receiving damage while standing, failing in a rolling kneebar and several takedown attempts. Sudo came back at the last round, taking down Ludwig and pounding and bloodying him with punches and elbows. Whilst Ludwig was taking a beating, referee John McCarthy interrupted and stood the two fighters up to check on Ludwig's nose. When the doctor allowed the fight to resume they did not restart from the same previous dominant position held by Sudo. Ludwig took advantage of the indirect rest given to him and avoided, with the aid of the referee's decision, the unfavorable position that he was in. He dominated the end of the fight landing hurtful shots on Sudo to win a split decision. Ludwig mocked Sudo after the final bell with a crane kick pose.
Sudo's last fight in UFC would be against the debuting Mike Brown in UFC 47. Brown tried to capitalize in Sudo's confusing moves by rushing him against the fence, managing to slam him on the mat, but Sudo then locked a triangle choke and transitioned into an armbar for the tap out.
Hero's
editGenki Sudo was defeated by K-1 HERO's lightweight champion Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto. The fight was won by a controversial referee stoppage after Sudo was knocked down by a right hand which was followed by some punches.[8]
At K-1 Dynamite! on 31 December 2006 he defeated Damacio Page by submission.[9] After his win, and to the shock of the crowd, Sudo announced his retirement.[10]
After retirement
editPrior to his retirement on New Year's Eve Sudo fought for K-1 HERO's, the mixed martial arts branch of the most popular Japanese combat sports circuit.
In 2008, he accepted the position of Manager for Takushoku University's wrestling team. In the 2009 Eastern Japan University League Games, the 2009 All Japan University Greco-Roman Championship Tournament, and the 2010 All Japan University Wrestling Conference, he was awarded the prize for Best Manager. In addition, he led the team to victory in the 2010 All Japan Student Wrestling Championship, and in his second year as manager Takushoku University was victorious at all four of the biggest student wrestling tournaments. In 2010, he was made the Japanese representative manager for the World University Championship.
Sudo was cast in Kamen Rider W Forever: A to Z/The Gaia Memories of Fate (仮面ライダーW（ダブル） FOREVER AtoZ／運命のガイアメモリ) in 2010 as Kyosui Izumi, member of NEVER and user of the T2 Luna Memory. He reprised his role in Kamen Rider Eternal, in Kamen Rider W Returns which was released on 21 July 2011. He has also finished filming his part of the movie The R246 Story.[11]
On 8 April 2010 he received his black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Naoyoshi Watanabe at Triforce Academy.[1]
Kickboxing career
editSudo participated in a K-1 tournament in 2002. He lost in the semi-finals.[12] He has had important matches against Masato and Albert Kraus, both going to decisions.
Fighting style
editA fighter with unorthodox striking and grappling ability, he has won fights by flashy knockout in both mixed martial arts and kickboxing. Among the unusual techniques that he favors and can use effectively are the spinning backfist, flying triangle choke and flying armbar, as well as dancing and turning his back to opponents to taunt or distract them.
Personal life
editSudo is a practicing Buddhist.[13] He married on 22 November 2007, but got divorced in 2014.
Sudo has written 15 books and has started an amateur baseball team for people 30 and over.
On 1 August 2009, Sudo and his office made an official statement to say information on Wikipedia was wrong. According to their statement, the bout between Sudo and Tiki Ghosn was originally declared a draw which was overturned after Sudo's corner man, Bas Rutten, objected, at which point Sudo was declared the winner and given a medal.[14][15]
On 25 January 2010, Sudo took the entrance examination of Takushoku University Graduate School and he was admitted to the school on 29 January. He entered the Local Government Course (Master's Program) of the Graduate School of Local Government.[16]
In June 2017, acquired a Divemaster qualification as a scuba diving professional.
In December 2021, he passed the cook exam.
Instructor lineage
editBrazilian jiu-jitsu
editJigoro Kano → Mitsuyo "Count Koma" Maeda → Carlos Gracie, Sr. → Helio Gracie → Rolls Gracie → Romero "Jacaré" Cavalcanti → Alexandre Paiva → Naoyoshi Watanabe → Genki Sudo
Shoot wrestling
editBilly Riley → Karl Gotch → Yoshiaki Fujiwara → Masakatsu Funaki → Genki Sudo
Mixed martial arts record
edit| 21 matches | 16 wins | 4 losses |
| By knockout | 2 | 1 |
| By submission | 11 | 0 |
| By decision | 3 | 3 |
| Draws | 1 | |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 16–4–1 | Damacio Page | Submission (triangle choke) | K-1 PREMIUM 2006 Dynamite!! | 31 December 2006 | 1 | 3:05 | Osaka, Japan | |
| Win | 15–4–1 | Ole Laursen | Decision (unanimous) | Hero's 4 | 15 March 2006 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 14–4–1 | Norifumi Yamamoto | TKO (punches) | K-1 PREMIUM 2005 Dynamite!! | 31 December 2005 | 1 | 4:39 | Osaka, Japan | Hero's 2005 Lightweight Grand Prix Final. |
| Win | 14–3–1 | Hiroyuki Takaya | Submission (triangle choke) | Hero's 3 | 7 September 2005 | 2 | 3:47 | Tokyo, Japan | Hero's 2005 Lightweight Grand Prix Semi-final. |
| Win | 13–3–1 | Kazuyuki Miyata | Submission (armbar) | Hero's 3 | 7 September 2005 | 2 | 4:45 | Tokyo, Japan | Hero's 2005 Lightweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal. |
| Win | 12–3–1 | Ramon Dekkers | Submission (heel hook) | Hero's 1 | 26 March 2005 | 1 | 2:54 | Saitama, Japan | |
| Win | 11–3–1 | Royler Gracie | KO (punches) | K-1 MMA ROMANEX | 22 May 2004 | 1 | 3:40 | Saitama, Japan | |
| Win | 10–3–1 | Mike Brown | Submission (triangle armbar) | UFC 47 | 2 April 2004 | 1 | 3:31 | Paradise, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 9–3–1 | Butterbean | Submission (heel hook) | K-1 PREMIUM 2003 Dynamite!! | 31 December 2003 | 2 | 0:41 | Nagoya, Japan | |
| Loss | 8–3–1 | Duane Ludwig | Decision (split) | UFC 42 | 25 April 2003 | 3 | 5:00 | Miami, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 8–2–1 | Leigh Remedios | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC 38 | 13 July 2002 | 2 | 1:38 | London, England | |
| Win | 7–2–1 | Kenichi Yamamoto | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Rings: World Title Series 5 | 21 December 2001 | 2 | 1:46 | Yokohama, Japan | |
| Win | 6–2–1 | Brian Lo-A-Njoe | Submission (triangle choke) | Rings: Battle Genesis Vol. 8 | 21 September 2001 | 1 | 2:17 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 5–2–1 | Craig Oxley | Submission (achilles lock) | Pancrase – Trans 6 | 31 October 2000 | 1 | 3:14 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Draw | 4–2–1 | André Pederneiras | Draw | C2K – Colosseum 2000 | 26 May 2000 | 1 | 15:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 4–2 | Kiuma Kunioku | Decision (unanimous) | Pancrase – Trans 2 | 27 February 2000 | 2 | 3:00 | Osaka, Japan | |
| Win | 4–1 | Nate Marquardt | Submission (armbar) | Pancrase – Breakthrough 11 | 18 December 1999 | 1 | 13:31 | Yokohama, Japan | |
| Win | 3–1 | Victor Hunsaker | TKO (submission to elbows) | Pancrase – Breakthrough 9 | 25 October 1999 | 1 | 1:43 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 2–1 | Minoru Toyonaga | Decision (unanimous) | Pancrase – 1999 Neo-Blood Tournament Second Round | 1 August 1999 | 2 | 3:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 2–0 | Kousei Kubota | Decision (unanimous) | Pancrase – 1999 Neo-Blood Tournament Opening Round | 1 August 1999 | 2 | 3:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 1–0 | Tiki Ghosn | Decision (draw overturned) | ES 2 – Extreme Shoot 2 | 6 June 1998 | 3 | 5:00 | Mission Viejo, California, United States | Originally declared a draw, overturned after Sudo's corner man, Bas Rutten, objected, at which point Sudo was declared the winner. |
Submission grappling record
edit
Kickboxing record
edit| 6 Fights: 2 Wins (2 (T)KO's), 4 Losses (2 (T)KO's, 2 decisions) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Result | Opponent | Event | Location | Method | Round | Time |
| 2006-09-04 | Loss |  Ian Schaffa |
K-1 World MAX 2006 Champions Challenge | Kōtō, Tokyo, Japan | TKO (Referee Stoppage) | 2 | 0:59 |
| 2004-10-13 | Win |  Michael Lerma |
K-1 World MAX 2004 Champions' Challenge | Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan | TKO (Cut) | 2 | 2:09 |
| 2003-11-18 | Loss |  Albert Kraus |
K-1 World MAX 2003 Champions' Challenge | Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 |
| 2003-03-01 | Loss |  Masato |
K-1 World MAX 2003 Japan Grand Prix Quarterfinal | Kōtō, Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 |
| 2002-10-11 | Win |  Jin-Woo Kim |
K-1 World MAX 2002 Champions' Challenge | Kōtō, Tokyo, Japan | KO (Spinning Back Fist) | 2 | 0:16 |
| 2002-02-11 | Loss | Takayuki Kohiruimaki |
K-1 Japan MAX 2002 Quarterfinal | , Japan | TKO (Referee Stoppage) | 3 | 1:27 |
Legend: Win Loss Draw/No contest Notes
Bibliography
editThe following books are all essays.
| Original Title | Original Publication Date | English Name |
|---|---|---|
| 幸福論 Kōfuku-ron |
2005 | The theory of Happiness |
| 風の谷のあの人と結婚する方法 Kaze no tani no Anohito to Kekkonsuru houhou |
2006 | How to Marry The Woman living in the Valley of the Wind |
| 神はテーブルクロス Kami ha Tēburu Kurosu |
2007 | God is The Tablecloth |
| レボリューション Reboryūshon |
2007 | Revolution |
| バシャール スドウゲンキ Bashāru Sudo Genki |
2007 | Genki Sudo, The Bashar |
| 無意識はいつも君に語りかける Muishiki wa itsumo kimini katarikakeru |
2008 | Subconscious Always Talks to You |
| キャッチャー・イン・ザ・オクタゴン Kacchā in za Okutagon |
2008 | Catcher in the Octagon |
| 愛と革命のルネサンス Ai to Kakumei no Runessansu |
2009 | Renaissance Of Love and Revolution |
| Let's 猫 Let's Neko |
2010 | Let's Cat |
| 今日が残りの人生最初の日 kyouga nokorino jinnsei saisyo no hi |
2010 | Today is the firstday of the rest in my life |
| 美は肉体に宿る bi ha nikutaini yadoru |
2011 | Beauty dwells in the body |
| WE ARE ALL ONE WE ARE ALL ONE |
2011 |
Discography
edit| Title | Date | Type | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Love and Everything | 6 September 2006 | Single (CD) | Toshiba EMI (EMI Music Japan) |
| Missing Beauty | 1 December 2015 | Single |
Film actor roles
edit- 2002: Madness in Bloom (凶気の桜)
- 2005: Fly, Daddy, Fly (フライ,ダディ,フライ)
- 2005: Swirling Fire (鳶がクルリと)
- 2008: R246 STORY「ありふれた帰省」
- 2010: Kamen Rider W Forever: A to Z/The Gaia Memories of Fate
- 2012: Rurouni Kenshin (るろうに剣心)
Original video
editTelevision drama roles
edit- Friday Night Drama (TV Asahi)
- Sky High 2 (2004)
- Maid Deka (2009)
Titles
edit- JOC Cup All Japan Junior Wrestling Championship Winner(1996)
- Hero's Middleweight Tournament Runner-up
Awards
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b (in Japanese)2010年04月09日 April 9, 2010 Archived 5 May 2010 at the Wayback Machine crnavi.jp Retrieved: 31 August 2010.
- ^ "The Many Hats of Genki Sudo". 24 July 2019.
- ^ "Genki Sudo Documentary Pt. 1". 27 September 2008. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 8 November 2011 – via YouTube.
- ^ [1] Archived 1 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Member profile – About Genki Sudo". World Order official website. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
- ^ "Member profile". World Order official website. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
- ^ (in Japanese)[リングス]元気、ヤマケンを裸絞め葬。SB前田も裸絞めで勝利／12.21横文 結果 [RINGS] Sudo beats Yamamoto with Rear Naked Choke. Maeda from Shoot boxing wins by Rear Naked Choke / 21 December, Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium, Result boutreview.com Retrieved 2010-08-31.
- ^ Sherdog.com. "Genki "Neo-Samurai" Sudo MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, biography". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
- ^ [2] Archived 6 January 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Sherdog.com (31 December 2006). "Akiyama Stops Sakuraba Amidst Controversy, Sudo Retires". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
- ^ R246 Story at IMDb
- ^ (in Japanese)(レポ＆写真) [K-1]10.11有明：魔裟斗、クラウスとドロー。須藤＆村浜も好勝負 (Reports & Photos) [K-1] 10.11 Ariake: Masato draws with Kraus. Sudo & Murahama Good Bouts Boutreview.com: 2010-08-31.
- ^ http://www.legacyoriental.us/budo_videos/index.php?productid=30219[permanent dead link]
- ^ 投稿者: 管理 日時: 2007年08月16日 17:06 (6 June 1998). "Mistaken fight record in article from free encyclopedia "Wikipedia"". Crnavi.jp. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Mistaken fight record in article from free encyclopedia "Wikipedia" crnavi.jp Retrieved: 31 August 2010.
- ^ (in Japanese)須藤元気が拓殖大学大学院に合格!! Genki Sudo passes entrance exam of Takushoku University Graduate School kamipro.com Retrieved: 31 August 2010.
- ^ (in Japanese)Short Short Film Festival & Asia 2010 News Release No. 014 shortshorts.org Retrieved: 31 August 2010.
- ^ (in Japanese)WE ARE ALL ONE : Profile Archived 3 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine crnavi.jp Retrieved: 31 August 2010.
- ^ WE ARE ALL ONE : Profile Archived 24 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine crnavi.jp Retrieved: 31 August 2010.
