Takao Kawaguchi

Kawaguchi began training in judo at age 5 under his father, who was a local judo coach.[1] He later won an inter-highschool judo tournament, and in 1969 entered Meiji University.[1] In 1971 he defeated the future Olympic gold medalist Toyokazu Nomura in the world championship final, and became the Japanese representative for the -63 kg division at the 1972 Summer Olympics.[2] After two quick victories in the first and second rounds of the Olympic competition, Kawaguchi faced Mongolian judoka Bakhvain Buyadaa in the third round, and broke two ribs while escaping from Buidaa's ground pin.[2] Coach Akio Kaminaga suggested Kawaguchi to withdraw, but Kawaguchi continued, and advanced to the semifinal with a close decision victory. He won the semifinal against Kim Yong-Ik of North Korea with a yoko-shiho-gatame, only to face Buidaa in the final. In contrast to their previous bout, Kawaguchi quickly pinned Buidaa with a kouchi gari, and won with a kami-shiho-gatame within 39 seconds. Buidaa was later disqualified for failing a drug test.[3]

After retiring from competitions Kawaguchi succeeded his father as head of the Kawaguchi dojo.[1] In 2007, the dojo was sued by parents of a boy, who died after hitting the back of his head during the training. The Hiroshima District Court found that Kawaguchi did not follow required safety procedures and ordered him to pay 24 million yen in compensation.[4]

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• List of Olympic medalists in judo

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