Tsunetane Oda (小田常胤, Oda Tsunetane, March 10, 1892 – 1955) was a Judoka who was influential in the development of Kōsen Jūdō. His correct name was Join Oda, but through a misinterpretation of the kanji 常胤 he is more commonly known as Tsunetane. Oda is credited with the invention of the the judo technique sangaku-jime (三角絞), which was subsequently incorporated into other disciplines, including Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts as the 'triangle choke'.

Biography

Oda was born in Yamanashi Prefecture, Honshu, Japan in 1892.^[1] He started studying Judo in 1909 at the age of 17 at Numazu Kōtō senmon gakkō (高等専門学校, Higher Special School), joining the Kodokan the following year and receiving his 1st Dan in 1911.^[1] He excelled at newaza (ground work) and felt that it warranted greater emphasis than the Kodokan gave it. He worked with Isogai Hajime to develop the groundwork-emphasing style of judo taught at the Kōtō senmon gakkō schools, known as Kōsen Jūdō. [1] This technique was later made popular in such styles such as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and Mixed Martial Arts. He would go on to write a book about Judo's Newaza called “You Progress This Way in Judo.” [2] He was fond of the philosphy “…while young Judoka can easily move like rabbits, older Judoka move like turtles, but can still survive using Katame Waza.”. [3] . He would later achieve the rank of 9th degree in Judo. [4] He later died in the year 1955. [5]

Bibliography

• Oda, Tsunetane (1941), Judo Taikun (柔道大觀)

References