Early K-Dojo

 

TAKA Michinoku vs Kengo Mashimo, K-Dojo 8/30/2003

TAKA could have easily done a bog standard rookie beatdown and hit his spots, but instead we get a really cool, uncooperative match where Mashimo largely dominates on the ground and through superior striking with TAKA only getting a few hope spots and desperately going for his jumping kicks and the facelock. Mashimo had yet to truly find himself but he was believable as a Mini Hashimoto already. Really good transition here where Mashimo gets his leg stuck in the ropes and TAKA immediately goes for desperate kicks of his own. Both guys popping up with crazy jumping kicks was really good and just what this kind of ground based fight needed to be more exciting. TAKA also didn’t spare his opponent when he had to throw hands. Really unique match that felt likea gruelling battle.

Teppei Ishizaka vs Sambo Oishi, K-Dojo 8/31/2003

Really fucking good rookie match. The intensity of these guys was just jumping off the screen even when they were doing basic stuff like a lock up. Young Oishi was really damn good constantly going for the leg, and having a bunch of neat ways to attack the leg and take Ishizaka down. Teppei looked great, really sold the fuck out of that legwork and his desperation kimuras were awesome. Some really choice counters and transitions, and both guys keep it simple enough so something like a Samoan Drop looks like a bomb dropping. The submission work had the intensity of a high end 90s Otani match. Great shit, I really need to check out more Ishizaka, and Oishi too.

Teppei Ishizaka vs Shiori Asahi, K-Dojo 8/30/2003

JIP match, but it’s really good in the same way as Ishizaka/Oishi. It’s Asahi’s banana split/abdominal stretch vs Ishizakas kimuras. Ishizaka will also do odd stuff like these graceful floating armbars and standing flip sentons, like a 70s Mighty Inoue/Isamu Teranishi tribute and it’s really. Both guys had a bunch of fun ways to get in and out of their signature submissions, and there were some gnarly strike exchanges including a big FUTEN worthy headbutt exchange. Really good shit from two rookies, where did this kind of intensity go?