Judo Legends: Hitoshi Saito tribute highlights (斉藤仁トリビュート)

Hitoshi Saito (1961-2015) was a Japanese heavyweight judoka who won two consecutive gold medals at the Olympic games (first Japanese judoka to do that), he also won 1983 World championships in Moscow. H. Saito was famous for his explosive Uchi Mata throw and grappling expertise. Despite his legendary status there were no highlight video of Hitoshi Saito on KZbin, so I took it upon myself to make one, he definitely deserves it.
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#judo #柔道 #saito

[@Steve-rr9xd]

Him walking on his hands was incredible.

[@NaturalHypertrophy]

0:15 I wasn't ready for the juxtaposition of that massive frame & feat of athleticism that immediately followed, I would never expect a guy so big to be that agile

[@babayaga4165]

For real i never thought i would see you on a video like this 😂

[@Bluejay445]

🐂 0:26

[@lazintata]

Awesome Hitoshi Saito, a legitimate GOAT contender. I am looking forward to watch his son Tatsuru Saito raises to that level.

[@beeveebee]

As exceptional as the handstand walk was. I find the fact that he could perform a complete and full side splits equally as exceptional. Incredible strength matched with amazing flexibility equates to a very difficult opponent I suspect.

[@hercules9987]

Saito San legendary judoka .Forever in my heart

[@junioravila853]

Saito is one of my favorite judokas ever, he's just too inspirational to me. His documentary about his fight against Yamashita is a masterpiece.

[@georgemendes6844]

Great judoka! A Judo legend! R.I.P. Hitoshi Saito!

[@Burgermonster]

Amazing champion. Yes, he does not get enough credit and am glad that you posted this video.

[@GrapplerKingdom]

Thanks for watching!

[@sambofusion9486]

THANK YOU! Outstanding tribute to the great Saito 🙏🏻

[@GrapplerKingdom]

Thank you for watching!

[@bholebaba5664]

He's not fat...he's a huge mountain of muscle...💪💪💪

[@junioravila853]

He looks like those strong men competitors, that look fat but are all super muscular and strong.

[@khonyeleaglefergumedov9175]

@@junioravila853 dont compare real fighters to muscle bitches. Strong man competitors are overrated af and bunch of stiff bums except eddie hall who is okay athleticaly

[@BobSaint]

0:10 Yeah, he wouldn't even need Judo to throw me.

[@supportyourtroopsathletes6460]

Saito was very advanced before his time and I appreciate seeing the old key locks and such that I learned from Ed Liddie (former bronze medalist from the 1984 Olympics and my former team captain from the USA National Judo Team) who was with him during this time in history as well. I did not compete myself international or in world tournaments during these years of this video events but obviously trained by a few from this period and before so I never got the pleasure to meet him personally that I know of. However I may of seen him at international or world tournaments from 1988 to early 90s that I recall personally and I do believe he competed at the 88 world games in the 95 and over class if my memory is correct anyhow where I competed myself. The one Russian he defeated in this video in which I totally forgot his name) was in my raster back then for sure. Those were indeed some of the most historical times in the history of the sport and some of the best times to be around also. The 95 and over division in my opinion was a very difficult weight class with many from 220 pounds to 350 pounds Judoka and even higher I observed made it very hard for me causing me to drop to a lower weight class since I averaged 225 at at all times. But it was always fun regardless. Rest in peace Champ!

[@tiger69big]

Can’t get over the insane lift he gets with those Uchi Matas!!

[@kiidanoko]

腹固めを実戦で極めてるの初めて観た！立ってよし、寝てよし。これぞ理想像。

[@sadatrafsanjani]

My jaw dropped when he performed the 180 degree split.

[@Judoka_UZB]

One of the Japanese judo hero

[@chrismaks2518]

Who could dislike this? 10 thumbs down? Who are these people?

[@GavinJones180]

I was thinking the same thing

[@antoniodarosamartinez83]

Chinese.

[@camodigital2]

JESUS’ trip down memory lane love this guy as good as anyone ever ✝️ the heavy uchi-mata man

[@suttonsplash14]

Awesome! Thats one big dude right there. Nice hand stand walk

[@kapildhingra20]

Guy is a f*cking beast. Giant rhino that knows judo is a scary thing

[@jamesmcaree4908]

Salute to this legendary Japanese judo player who had displayed his phenomenal strength in a very clever tactical motivation 🙏

[@HH-bi7yk]

Amazing Judoka Master

[@smitywerbenmanjensen5265]

Legend!!!!

[@drewsky1008]

His judoka throw's are insane...🥋

[@joaopaulojopa1919]

Grande Saito Sensei...👏👏👏👏👏

[@paramedic28154]

Awesome video!

[@GrapplerKingdom]

Thanks!

[@Steve-rr9xd]

What a wonderful video.

[@GrapplerKingdom]

Thank you very much!

[@FranklinFleming-lm1yu]

The legend

[@youmang]

grappler kingdom does the best judo and wrestling highlights

[@GrapplerKingdom]

Thanks man!

[@zujargal]

His character on tatami looks like Asashoryu.

[@CZECHMATE650]

A BULL WITH THE GRACE OF A BALLET DANCER!? AND SOME NASTY NEWAZA! Rip SAITO!

[@markum5245]

Wow what an amazing and well put highlight. He’s flexible and he can do a walking handstand 😱.

[@GrapplerKingdom]

Thank you!

[@markum5245]

Grappler Kingdom make more of these hidden gems!!

[@GrapplerKingdom]

There will definitely be more, meanwhile you can find more legends in this playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PLXQO-q5ZCL0DvmwHdZkvEOXXKLyX8DmyN

[@bensalemmohamedabderrahman5844]

his competetive rivalry with yamashita is legendary

[@agent136]

That's a big dude, dude.

[@Kyoku78]

a genius

[@ricardoborges9849]

150Kg, standing over his arms

[@vladimirpopov5545]

🙏🏻🔥

[@game-nn3rs]

Massiv quick but strong ! Lets go disco 💠

[@user-yq3iv9nb5w]

懐かしいですねぇ‼️斉藤はほぼ同じ頃にやっていましたね‼️勿論戦う前に負けていましたが、ベスト８で勝てば次の相手が斉藤でした(汗)その頃、埼玉県には今川、鯨井という超二枚看板がいました。北本→大宮工業→それぞれ分かれて、国士舘、東海に行きましたね。確か？今川は斉藤に勝っていますね⁉️たぶん？話が横道に逸れましたが、立の何倍も柔らかくて運動神経も抜群でしたね⁉️亡くなってから何年経ちますかね⁉️山下先生と同じく大好きな選手でしたね‼️長文失礼。

[@DavideMassaJudo]

2:49...that is MASSIVE...his rivalry with Yamashita should surprise no one...

[@oceanlindgren9540]

Hoss judo is a thing of beauty

[@Mr61grod]

Human Tank

[@bobjones1537]

My cousin fought and trained with Sato and Yamashita back in the 80s. Another Judo !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@tofa8967]

So sad he passed away in 2015 but he got a son also doing Judo

[@elcorsarioglez]

minute 0.54.... what is the name of that technique?

[@halwarner3326]

He did short orders at Benihana in Kansas City.

[@Tony-zz7np]

Saito lenda !!!! Muita admiração por esse fenomenal atleta

[@patricioortega5854]

De que falleció este gran judoka?

[@Maximilian0011]

Hitoshi Saito nick name is Never Give Up!

[@conanarthur4358]

Great judoka, do you happen to have his fight against Ogawa at the final of 1988 Heavyweight Japan Championship ? He won that fight using Ko-uchi-makikomi counted koka.

[@GrapplerKingdom]

I don't think there is a full match on youtube. This is the only video I was able to find, sorry. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mZXXgKaMh6uCgJI

[@conanarthur4358]

@@GrapplerKingdom thank you bro, looking at the title of the video being literally "Hitoshi Saito vs Naoya Ogawa", I wonder how I couldn't find it myself 😅

[@felipefloresrojas6008]

Está bueno esté canal

[@GrapplerKingdom]

Gracias, Felipe!

[@kwak76]

Interesting...when he gets them on the ground in turtle position from the side he uses his legs to catch the arm and work an armbar or to turn them to the side. It's not common to see that nowadays.

[@GrapplerKingdom]

In recent years this kind of move is making a comeback, some judokas such as Roy Meyer, Urantsetseg Munkhbat and some others are really good at it.

[@elcorsarioglez]

​@@GrapplerKingdom what is the name of that technique?

[@user-fr6vv7uc6s]

👏👏👏👍👍👍

[@camodigital2]

✝️ Can you do a video on satoshi ishii next please

[@GrapplerKingdom]

I'll see what I can do.

[@user-yq9yr5wv9q]

スパースターと言うのはこの人です。

[@user-zm8yk2lb7v]

やっぱり化け物だよね あの体で逆立ちして歩けるなんて！技のキレなら山下さんより上だと思う。史上最高の内股だと思います。最近、2世柔道家見てるとやっぱDNAなんだなって感じるね。

[@ronki23]

How frustrating must it be to be second best all your life (to Yasuhiro Yamashita)

[@user-yq3iv9nb5w]

全日本選手権で山下先生との最後の試合、私は今でも斉藤が勝っていると思います。あの頃は東○大びいきなところがあったからね⁉️一度山下先生をご自宅までお送りしたとき思いきって試合のことをお聞きしたことが有りました。答えは、笑顔で、忘れました‼️と仰いました。懐かしい思い出です。余計な話で申し訳ございません。

[@damejelyas]

Isnt he a little big for his components

[@user-pz7bd5bb5x]

What song please?

[@GrapplerKingdom]

Name of the song and the link is in the description.

[@htchtc6451]

Күчтә Баатар!

[@brennanroglich9886]

I would love to have a judo match with him would be a great challenge and experience

[@user-yq3iv9nb5w]

浦和の県立武道館での試合です。関東大会だったかな？定かではありません。

[@laminess-tr2968]

Just a quick question ! Why half of his opponent are not in his weight class ? Exp 1:06

[@GrapplerKingdom]

That is footage from openweight competitions, back in the day it was more common for lighter judokas to compete in openweight tournaments.

[@lazintata]

Mind, not half of his opponents were not in his weight category. Hitoshi Saito used to be 156 kg. For instance, his "tiny" opponent at kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHTQmJt3a9akZ9U 2:49 is Radomir Kovacevic 130 kg. When I had a chance to stand beside him I felt myself at 18 years and 78 kg as a child.

[@laminess-tr2968]

@@GrapplerKingdom Thank you

[@laminess-tr2968]

@@lazintata WOW lol

[@ricardoborges9849]

Japanese all weight championship, small and big guys.

[@ulanerzhanov5920]

Тамаша.сөз.жоқ.

[@MC-zj6qn]

流石寝技の国士舘やな

[@vininio]

Why does it look like he’s bigger than his opponents?

[@GrapplerKingdom]

Some of the clips are form openweight competition, so some of those opponents are from lighter weight categories.

[@user-yq3iv9nb5w]

斉藤は埼玉県の選手ではないです。念のため❗️青森ですねぇ‼️鰺ヶ沢？だったかな？定かではありません

[@user-sx4rf5qg8w]

❗️👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻❗️👏👏👏🇷🇺

[@user-om4ze2ws6w]

重量級であれほど綺麗な内股できる選手がいなくなったな。

[@user-om4ze2ws6w]

@p p 軽重量級じゃなくて

[@user-xz9nd9te8y]

Ясухиро Ямасита

[@cloudman8911]

He would have destroyed Gene Lebell.

[@Wayneebrum]

Just used his size, very little technique

[@arikarteta8035]

he was an olympic champion and world champion in his division, he even put a match against yamashita, what are you talking about?