Characters / Universal Wrestling Federation Kitao Dojo

Enter The Bukō Dōjō

I Know Karate

"It looks like there will be cooperation between the new Kitao promotion which opens 1/21 and WAR. Koji Kitao, who heads the group, used to wrestle for SWS, which preceded WAR, before being fired after a non-match with Earthquake John Tenta which nearly got totally out of hand and resulted in Kitao grabbing the house mic and telling everyone that pro wrestling was fake. Koki Kitahara of WAR will oppose Kitao in the first main event. Supposedly Kitao's group will work a shoot-style. The plan seems to be to build up for a Tenryu vs. Kitao match in June at Budokan Hall. Kitao's last pro wrestling match, in 1992, was against Nobuhiko Takada at Budokan Hall and sold out weeks in advance doing a monster gate. WAR wrestler Ishinriki will wrestle Michigan indie Al Snow in the semifinal on the first Kitao show. Pete Tazello (Tazmaniac), James Magnum (Minneapolis) and J.R. Carson (Minneapolis) will work against rookies from the Kitao dojo and Rico Fredrico vs. Wellington Wilkens Jr. opens the show."

— Dave Meltzer

As a whole

• Cut the Safety Rope: Not an actual example of this trope, but the promotion used a ropeless wrestling ring from 1995 onwards.
• Fusion Dance: At the end of its short life, its dojo merged into Último Dragón's Toryumon Gym.
• I Know Karate: The promotion has some ties to Shidokan Karate, with most of the trainees being practitioners and also used their logo to mark it as an affiliate. Kitao’s actual style was Kokusai Kukendo Karate, a rather obscure style with additional techniques from Chinese Kempo, and even Taekwondo.
• The Remnant: What the dojo trainees became when they joined Toryumon.
• Spin-Off: It was sort of a offshoot brand of Wrestling Association R as they mostly featured other WAR wrestlers and sent the dojo's trainees to their shows.
• Thunder Drum: This promotion led by a man nicknamed "Thunderstorm" used a drum in the place of a bell.

Kitao Dojo trainees

Noriaki Kawabata

• The Apprentice: To Koji Kitao.
• Canon Immigrant: Another Kitao Dojo trainee that went to Toryumon and Dragon Gate.
• Folk Music: After adopting the name of BATA-yan, he started wearing a kimono and singing Japanese traditional music to the ring.
• I Know Karate: Another Shidokan Karate trainee. His gimmick, however, was more based in MMA and submissions.
• Improbable Weapon User: A metal pan.
• Start My Own: Founded DragonDoor, also known as d2p, and its sequel El Dorado.

Akio Kobayashi

• The Apprentice: To Koji Kitao.
• I Know Karate: Another Shidokan Karate trainee.

Keiichi Kono

• Alliterative Name
• The Apprentice: To Koji Kitao.
• Butt-Monkey: In Dragon Gate. Not to the extent of Raimu Mishima or Akira Tozawa's early days, but he spent a good portion of his career trying to convince people to team with him or let him join their stables, only for them to turn on him at the last second.
• Canon Immigrant: Went to Toryumon after Kitao Dojo closed.
• The Dog Bites Back: In Dragon Gate he spent enough time being slapped around and mistreated that he eventually snapped, changed his name to Chocoflake K-ICHI and joined M 2 K.
• Dropped a Bridge on Him: His final Toryumon appearance was a squash loss in 0:49 to CIMA.
• Hidden Depths: He works in the food industry now since retiring from wrestling and owns several restaurants and pubs. He actually had a restaurant before wrestling but closed it after the Great Hanshin Earthquake of 1995.
• I Know Karate: Another Shidokan Karate trainee.
• Non-Indicative Name: His ring name in Toryumon, Chocoball KOBE, was likely inspired from Chocoball Mukai, but he didn't sport the same gimmick (or any in particular).
• Red Baron: "Brown Scalawag".
• Sixth Ranger Traitor: Was TARU's assistant in Crazy MAX for a months until he betrayed them and turned face. Not very surprising, as KOBE was part of the Kitao Dojo team which was squashed by Crazy MAX when they recruited TARU.

Toshikazu Mineno

• The Apprentice: To Koji Kitao.
• I Know Karate: A Shidokan Karate trainee.
• Jobber

Masaaki Mochizuki

Takashi Okamura

• The Apprentice: To Koji Kitao.
• Authority Equals Ass Kicking: Took over Kitao Dojo when Koji Kitao retired. He later became President of Dragon Gate.
• Bad Boss: Towards Stalker Ichikawa. Despite Okamura already being the Dragon Gate chairman, he used to don his karategi and squash Stalker in opening matches for fun.
• Canon Immigrant: Went to Toryumon after Kitao Dojo closed.
• Guest Fighter: Appeared at a PWFG show, though for some reason English sites erroneously list him as Bruiser Okamoto.
• I Know Karate: A Shidokan Karate trainee.
• Reasonable Authority Figure: Mostly.
• Red Baron: Apparently, he got "Devilman" as a nickname while training in the Kitao Dojo, and nowadays is often called "Devilman President". He even used to sport his hair like the manga's protagonist as a Shout-Out.
• Start My Own: Founded Dragon Gate when Último Dragón left Toryumon for WWE and taking all the trademarks he owned with him.
• Yakuza: He has some of their mannerisms when he's suited up and conducting business. This is likely a subtle reference to his martial background, as Shidokan has a reputation to be the yakuza's favourite martial arts gym franchise in Japan.

Ryushiro Suzuki

• '80s Hair: Close to a mullet.
• The Apprentice: To Koji Kitao.
• I Know Karate: A Shidokan Karate trainee.
• Jobber
• Unknown Character: Is listed as only listed as Suzuki in some sites and as ??? in others.

Yoshikazu Taru

Gaijins

James Beard

• Autobiography: "The Third Man: My Life And Times Inside The Ring And Out".
• Combat Referee: Was the ganjin referee of SWS, WAR, and Kitao Dojo. He also worked for WCCW, USWA, GWF, NOW (Japan), NWA, Big Japan, CWF, etc.
• Everything Is Big in Texas: A Texan.
• He Also Did: Worked as a behind the scenes as a television writer, creative consultant, booker, talent agent and promoter.

Richard Byrne

• '80s Hair: A mullet.
• The Apprentice: To Walter "Killer" Kowalski.
• Cool Teacher: Owned Byrne's Tang Soo Do Karate Studio, which was also where Walter "Killer" Kowalski's wrestling school was.
• Guest Fighter: From the United States Wrestling Federation.
• I Know Tang Soo Do: A 9th degree black belt and was a training partner of Chuck Norris.
• Jobber
• Red Baron: "Superstar".
• Start My Own: Founded the short lived Superstar Pro Wrestling.

JR Carson

• The Apprentice: To Eddie Sharkey.
• Cool Teacher: Is the owner of "JR's Powerhouse Gym" in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA.
• Guest Fighter: From Pro Wrestling America.
• Jobber
• Red Baron: "The Punisher", "The Body Double".
• Tag Team: With James Magnum as Punisher Sledge, and Carson as Punisher Hammer of The Punishers.

Scott D'Amore

• Acrofatic: A hefty dude that at his heaviest, could pull off moonsaults.
• The Apprentice: To Al Snow, Denny Kass, Doug Chevalier and Mickey Doyle.
• The Chessmaster: Is a booker for TNA.
• Cool Teacher: Owns the Can-Am Wrestling School and trained guys like Alex Shelley, Billy Roc, Bobo Brown, Brad Martin, Brute Issei, Buddy Austin, Cat Power, Chris Sabin, Christy Hemme, CJ Otis, Cliff McDonald, Conrad Kennedy III, Covey Christ, De Angelo Williams, Dickie Bronson, Dyson Price, Eric Young, Isis, Jason Temple, Joe Doering, John E. Bravo, Johnny Devine, Jon Bolen, Larry Destiny, Matt Duval, Max Boyer, Mike Legacy, N8 Mattson, Petey Williams, Phil Atlas, Rhyno, Rosemary, SUSHI, Tony Smallz, Tyson Dux, Vinnie DaVinci, etc.
• Dirty Coward: In TNA.
• Foreign Wrestling Heel: Always down playing Americans and claiming Canadians were superior athletes.
• Fat Bastard: He loves his Canadian Bacon that's for sure. Heck, it's even his Red Baron.
• Forgot Flanders Could Do That: Few people remember him as a pro wrestler. Not only is he an accomplished wrestler on his own merit, he can do the Canadian Destroyer.
• Guest Fighter: From Border City Wrestling.
• Hidden Depths: He is an owner of the Shots & Slices restaurant in Tecumseh, Ontario, a sports bar called "Stars of the Game" in La Salle, Ontario, and the bar South Detroit in Windsor, Ontario. Also, his family owns D'Amore Construction in Windsor, Ontario.
• Improbable Weapon User: A hockey stick, attached to a Canadian flag. He briefly used a golf club early in his career.
• Put on a Bus: In TNA, after Team Canada's breakup. Prior to that, was out a good 3 months via moonsault from Lance Hoyt.
• Red Baron: "Canadian Bacon", "The Guidance Counselor", "Coach".
• Smug Snake: One of the biggest examples as he was TNA's Bobby Heenan and like this all the time especially whenever Team Canada is there to protect him or he did something illegal and didn't get caught. When he's all alone however and there's no one to protect him, his attitude quickly changes and he's begging for mercy. Faces like AJ Styles and Rhino ignored his pleas as they pummeled him.
• Start My Own: Founded Border City Wrestling and co-founded Maximum Pro Wrestling with Jason A. Brown and Rob Etcheverria.

Doug Fisher

• Jobber

Lion Do

James/Jamie Magnum

• The Brute: Used his strength to push around and beat up smaller opponents.
• Guest Fighter: From Pro Wrestling America.

Al Snow

Pete Taziello

Others

Nobutaka Araya

• The Apprentice: To Genichiro Tenryu, Ultraseven, El Gran Apache, El Texano, Miguel Perez and Silver King.
• I Have Many Names: Has wrestled as A-Chan, Araya Tsubo 8, Black A Ra Ya, Golden Cup #4, El Grand Arayada, El Hijo de Araya da Segundo, Johnny Dunn, Nobutaka Araya, Nobutaro, Nobuyoshi Araya (his real name), and Ultraseven #2.
• I Know Sumo Wrestling: A former sumotori.
• Red Baron: "Shōnan Suikoden" ("The Drunkard of Shonan"), "Heisei no Namakizu Otoko" ("Heisei's Injured Man").

Daikokubō Benkei

• Cool Mask: As the original Arashi.
• Do Not Call Me "Paul": His real name is Kazumi Kotani.
• Garbage Wrestling: Later joined Big Japan Pro Wrestling.
• Guest Fighter: From Tokyo Pro Wrestling.
• I Know Sumo Wrestling: Was a former national champion, he also trained in Judo before his sumo career.
• Stout Strength: A big dude at over 300ibs.

Choden Senshi Battle Ranger

• The Apprentice: To Atsushi Onita & Tarzan Goto.
• Combat Referee: Started as one in FMW.
• Cool Mask: As Choden Senshi Battle Ranger, Choden Senshi Battle Ranger Z, Kamikaze Ninja and Ultra Tiger.
• Expy: Of Tiger Mask as Ultra Tiger.
• Guest Fighter: From FMW.
• I Have Many Names: Has wrestled as Choden Senshi Battle Ranger, Choden Senshi Battle Ranger Z, Kamikaze Ninja, Policema~n, Ultra Tiger, and Yukihide Ueno (his real name).
• I Know Karate: As well as Judo and amateur wrestling.
• Red Baron: "Akaki Senshi" ("Red Warrior").
• Start My Own: Co-founded Super Battle Pro-Wrestling FMW with Yoshiyuki Yamachika, Flying Kid Ichihara, and Hideki Takahashi

Fav

• Unknown Character: There is no information on who this guy is.

Masakazu Fukuda

• The Apprentice: To Masayoshi Motegi and Shinichi Nakano.
• Downer Ending: On April 14, 2000, Fukuda suffered a fatal head injury during a match with Katsuyori Shibata in the Young Lion Cup Tournament after taking a flying elbow drop. He was rushed to the hospital but died five days later on April 19 due to a brain hemorrhage; he was 27 years old. The rest of the tournament was dedicated to Fukuda's memory and was honored with a ten-bell salute and a tribute show in September of that year.
• Guest Fighter: From Wrestling Association R.
• I Know Sumo Wrestling: As well as amateur wrestling.
• Power Stable: Fighting Club G-EGGS.

Nobukazu Hirai

• The Apprentice: To Genichiro Tenryu.
• Guest Fighter: From Wrestling Association R.
• Put on a Bus: On May 29, 2011, Hirai was involved in a backstage fight with TARU, which led to Hirai suffering a stroke after competing in a match. He would eventually undergo successful surgery and is looking to eventually return to wrestling.
• Wrestling Family: Is the son of Mitsu Hirai.

Su-Il Hwang

• Guest Fighter: From the Japanese branch of the International Taekwondo Federation.
• I Know Taekwondo: A 6th dan black belt. In 1992 he was the light-weight Sparring World Champion during the ITF Taekwon-Do World Championships. At the next World Championships (1994) he obtained a bronze medal in the middle-weight division. In 2000 he was the middle-weight champion at the 1st Asian ITF Championships. In 2010 at the ITF World Veteran Championships, he won gold in both sparring (under 64kg) and patterns (6th Dan class).
• Ink-Suit Actor: Served as the motion capture model for the character Hwoarang (an alternative spelling of Hwarang) in the video game Tekken 3.
• Koreans in Japan: Is a Japanese citizen of Korean ancestry.

Kōji Ishinriki

• The Apprentice: To Genichiro Tenryu.
• Do Not Call Me "Paul": His real names is Koji Ihashi.
• Guest Fighter: From Wrestling Association R.
• I Know Sumo Wrestling: A former sumotori under the names Koji Wakakotetsu and Koji Ishinriki.
• Red Baron: "Heisei no Ushiwakamaru" ("Young Bull of Heisei")
• Wrestling Family: Is the husband of LLPW wrestler Utako Hozumi. He also has a brother who was a ring announcer.

Jun Kikuchi

• The Apprentice: To Genichiro Tenryu.
• Guest Fighter: From Wrestling Association R.
• Jobber

Kōji Kimura

• Alliterative Name
• The Apprentice: To Yoshiji Soeno.
• Guest Fighter: From the Shidokan organisation.
• I Know Karate: A Shidokan Karate trainee.
• Jobber

Masanobu Kurisu

• The Apprentice: Was a tsukibito to Antonio Inoki.
• Cool Teacher: Once had his own wrestling school and has trained Hiroaki Moriya, Kikutaro, Koji Kanemoto, Kurokage, Shigeo Okumura, Takafumi Ito, and SUSHI.
• Guest Fighter: From Wrestling Association R.
• I Know Judo: In Kokushikan University.
• Red Baron: "Isu Daiō" ("Chair King").

Kazuhiko/Shunme Matsuzaki

• The Apprentice: To Ultraseven.
• Garbage Wrestling: Debuted for Wrestling International New Generations and regularly works for Big Japan Pro Wrestling.
• Guest Fighter: Was a freelancer.
• Jobber
• Red Baron: "Shizukanaru Bancho" ("The Quiet Leader").
• Start My Own: Co-founded Independent Wrestling Union with Kishin Kawabata.

Osamu Tachihikari

"Okay, this was a tough one. Osamu Kawahara, the former sumo Tachihikari: Pride GP contestant, shoot-style wrestler and 0-4 mixed martial artist whose career lasted a grand total of 433 seconds. The man fought El Canek in a real fight. And lost. Badly. This was a little tough because, well, he rarely ever successfully did anything offensively. Thus he's kind of a sumo-MMA pastiche based on his previous career."

— A profile of Tachikari from a Fire Pro Wrestling user CarlCX from https://steamcommunity.com

• The Apprentice: To Genichiro Tenryu.
• Do Not Call Me "Paul": His real name is Osamu Kawahara.
• Guest Fighter: From Wrestling Association R. He also represented Social Pro Wrestling Federation in his MMA fights and also appeared at a Seikendo event.
• I Know Sumo Wrestling: A former sumotori.
• Jobber: He has a MMA record of 4 losses.
• Stout Strength: As a former sumo wrestler this was a given.

Hiroyuki Wakasa

• The Apprentice: To Mas Oyama, Yoshiji Soeno, Ryuji Murakami, Kenji Midori, and Kenji Kurosaki.
• Cool Teacher: Is Kyokushin instructor now.
• Dark and Troubled Past: Was born into poverty, had an abusive father who had a mistress then later ended up in prison, moved in with different family members frequently, his mom died from overworking, etc. It was watching boxing champion Tsuyoshi Hamada that kept him going.
• Guest Fighter: From the Shidokan organisation.
• I Know Karate: A Kyokushin black belt, though he also briefly trained in Shidokan. He also had some training in Judo.
• Jobber
• Never Be Hurt Again: Took up Judo and later Karate since he was bullied for being poor.

Yuji Yasuraoka

• '80s Hair: A mullet.
• Alliterative Name
• The Apprentice: To Genichiro Tenryu.
• Badass Biker: A motorcycle enthusiast.
• Guest Fighter: From Wrestling Association R.
• Hidden Depths: Works as a bicycle mechanic now.
• I Know Judo: A former judoka.