Could Satoshi Ishi have provided a consistent challenge to Teddy Riner over the last two decades?

[u/jonahewell]

I just learned today (from a judo fanatics ad) that when Ishi won the 2008 Olympics at +100, he was the lightest in history to win it. According to further internet research, he beat Riner on the way to the finals!

After that, he left judo for MMA and basically handed +100 over to Riner for the next 16 years. Good for him for doing what he wanted or needed to do, but it's really too bad for the judo fans that he didn't stick around. His MMA career was successful but not dominant.

[u/judofandotcom]

Okano said in an interview that Ishii had the talent to be the greatest ever.

He only lost a few times from his Kodokan Cup win as a high school student to his gold at Beijing.

What I wonder is whether the Japanese federation would have tolerated him long enough for him to establish himself as one of the greatest of all time.

As far as beating Riner, I personally think he had the tools to be at the same level.

[u/euanmorse → u/judofandotcom]

I think that would be part of the problem. Ishii was essentially treated as the golden child who could do no wrong. Given that he was treated like this from such a young age, he became spoiled and resented the Japanese judo establishment.

The reason I think this is that post retirement he has been very critical of both Japanese judoka and the Japanese Kodokan / JOC.

[u/tabrice → u/euanmorse]

Hitoshi Saitō, who was the head coach of the national team at the time, was also Ishii's mentor at Kokushikan University. He tried to force Ishii into a facilities management company called Heisei Kanzai, with which he had deep ties, but Ishii was very reluctant to accept it. This is one of the reasons he switched to MMA, if not the biggest. Japanese judo athletes usually join companies recommended by their coaches or mentors, but Ishii didn't think this was a good idea.