Kano Jigoro

Born into a well-off family in Mikage, Japan, Kano Jigoro was, by all accounts, a rather frail and small individual in his youth. This physical disadvantage, however, served as excellent motivation for him to delve into the world of martial arts, where he could not only defend himself but also, apparently, found an entirely new way for everyone else to do the same. His journey took him through various styles of jujutsu, because one martial art was simply not enough.

Eventually, Kano took the best bits, added some moral philosophy, a snazzy new uniform (the judogi), and developed what he called Judo, meaning "the gentle way." It's a bit ironic, considering the amount of throwing and grappling involved, but perhaps "the slightly less injurious way" didn't have the same ring to it. He opened his first dojo, the Kodokan, in 1882, effectively launching a global phenomenon.

Kano Jigoro was also a prominent educator, serving in various high-ranking positions in the Japanese education system. He believed that Judo was more than just a fighting technique; it was a method for physical, mental, and moral development. Which, of course, means he was one of the original proponents of the idea that getting tossed onto a mat could make you a better person. Given its worldwide adoption and Olympic status, he was clearly on to something.

While his contributions to physical education and martial arts are undeniably monumental, earning him a place in the pantheon of athletic innovators, it must be stated for the record that his connection to the Tribe appears to be, shall we say, less than direct. No ancient scrolls mentioning a lost tribe of Japanese judoka have yet surfaced, much to the chagrin of anyone hoping for a shocking revelation.