Judo Life

Judo Life

19631h 34m

Drama

Overview

Sonny Chiba's first martial arts film, a partially fictionalized judo biopic based on prominent judoka Shiro Saigo (Chiba), the second student of judo founder Jigoro Kano (Naoki Sugiura). Akira Kurosawa’s Sanshiro Sugata is based on the same character and shares some scenes, but Judo for Life focuses more on the martial arts philosophy and training, including scenes depicting how the protagonist learned his famous cat-like landing, coined the term judo, and trained with Tsunejiro Tomita (Hideo Murata). There’s also a slight yakuza film influence. The port street ambush scene is found in both films, but in Judo for Life it’s not Kano but a travelling yakuza that jumps out of the rickshaw. Entertaining and beautifully old fashioned, one does however with there were more shades of gray between good and evil, and a stronger ninkyo-like moral / honour conflict.

My Sister is a Tomboy
Patty Is Such a Girly Name
Cold Showers
Sanshiro Sugata
Kodokan Under a Morning Moon
Yawara! Atlanta Special
Sanshiro Sugata, Part Two
Girls Town
Sanshiro Sugata
Yawara! Go Get 'Em, Wimpy Kids!!
Judo Hall Demon
The Art of Falling
Judo for Life
My Annoying Brother
My Annoying Brother
Dawn of Judo
White Blessing
Mysterious Mr. Moto
Heroes of the East
Tenório and the Dreams of Judo