Nickname: "Gladiator King"
Birthplace: Kobe, Hyogo
Birthdate: December 02, 1976
Theme Music: "The Final Countdown" by Europa
Weight: 91kg
Height: 181cm (5'11")
Debut: January 18, 2003 (w/ Hiroaki Nakata & Akira Takayoshi vs. Tetsuhisa NAKAI, Masafuji Yoshida & Chikao Kessin)
Physical Appearance:
Now in his mid-30's, Tanamura shows his age facially. Physically
however, Kenji has the body fit for a 20-year-old due to his years of
diligent diet and nutrition. While not shredded, his tan body is very
tone, showing him to still be a very formidable foe. His hair is jet
black, and at about shoulder's length. The back of Kenji's hair is
straightened; almost seemingly like the result of a bad static cling
incident.
Ring Costume: Kenji wears turquoise trunks with "KT" fashioned to the front left side in fancy, white cursive letters. The back of the trunks feature "ARMADA" in hardened white font. In addition to white wrist tape, Kenji wears knee pads, boots, and kick pads to match his trunks. He dawns a slick, turquoise ring jacket for his entrances; typically with the hood up.
Title History:
* UCC Openweight Title
- Hayato Ikeda (11/19/2003) / Vacated due to inactivity
- Shane Jackson (8/18/2005) / Vacated due to inactivity
* OLYMPUS-FS Heavyweight Title
- Karlson Goold (12/31/2005) / Jake Smith (05/05/2006)
Tournament History:
* THE WORLD FIGHT SERIES (FURY - 11/19/2003): Kenji Tanamura beat Hayato Ikeda (7:33) with a front neck long.
Trademark Moves:
* Hammerlock Front Sleeper
* High Kick
* Triangle hold
* Backdrop
Biography:
Kenji Tanamura was a martial arts prodigy before he even became an
adult, as he garnered headlines across many sports papers by earning
high marks in Judo, Karate, and Amateur Wrestling. At 18, he won the All
Japan National Full-Contact Karate Championships, along with placing
bronze in Olympic qualifiers in Judo and Freestyle Wrestling.
Representing Japan in the Olympic games seemed inevitable for Kenji,
until an Achilles tendon injury would force him to sit out the coming
Games.
Upon
recovery, Tanamura made the transition to the professional kakutougi
world, competing in full-contact fights with primitive rules. He
competed in both MMA and Kickboxing rings; though he fared better in the
MMA ring due to being allowed to use his superb submission skills. He
would still earn respect among fans in the striking realm for his sheet
tenacity and fighting spirit.
After
highly publicized contract dispute with his promoter, Tanamura made the
shocking, albeit logical transition to pro-wrestling. Kenji reached out
to Kazuma Fujita, who he met years before at a wrestling meet in Osaka,
and entered Fujita's dojo, and would eventually debut for Pro-Wrestling
FURY. He'd wrap up his MMA career on 01/15/2003 in a special bout held
on FURY's big Osaka Central Gymnasium event, losing to fellow
fighter-turned-wrestler, Shigeru Iwasaki (though many question the
validity of the fight...)
Tanamura
was a special case, separate from your traditional pro-wrestling
rookie. The tools and athleticism honed from years of full-contact
fighting served him well in the pro-wrestling ring. For all intents and
purposes, he was considered to be a top level fighter before competing
in his first official match.
However,
the idealistic Tanamura grew weary of the traditional pro style, and
set out to create his own brand of Pro-Wrestling, patterned more on
realistic action and removing many of the questionable aspects of
pro-wrestling entirely. Tanamura was given the right to create the brand
as an extension of FURY itself, calling it "Fighting Union Revolt 'Y'."
The brand saw unique integration of fighters from other disciplines,
including Canadian Silver Medalist in Freestyle Wrestling Karlson Goold.
The brand held a tournament in 2003 to determine World's Strongest,
comprised of many accomplished fighters. Tanamura would come out on top,
submitting well-known hybrid fighter Hayato Ikeda to become the
Universal Combat Crown Champion. The title would go through various
states of flux, with Tanamura himself winning it a second time after the
belt had become inactive.
After
the FUR'Y" brand was dismissed, Tanamura quietly exited FURY, and would
eventually return to the MMA ring as part of the SICA organization.
However, with Tanamura's senses dulled, he would encur three
consecutive losses, which would lead to Kenji temporarily retiring from
the ring. However, in mid 2005, Tanamura would be lured out by the
OLYMPUS-FS organization, which boasted a state-of-the-art production and
backing. Despite criticism for being given an unwarranted title match,
Tanamura silenced critics by submitting OFS Heavyweight Champion Karlson
Good in 85 seconds to become champion. Kenji's reign, and MMA career
would end once and for all in his next fight, as he suffered a
staggering knockout to brutal striker Jake Smith.
Since
retiring from the MMA ring, Tanamura had made sporadic appearances in
the pro-wrestling ring, showing that his heart was still in it. Older,
and with his more idealistic days behind him, Tanamura was reportedly
the first wrestler to personally approach KJPW about joining their
roster, and was considered to be a gigantic coup for the company. He
brings with him a literal armada in the form of Yuichi Miwa, Harumi
Sakai, and Yusaku Kitajima; all proud disciples of Tanamura's years of
combat tutelage. The four formed "Hybrid Corps ARMADA" upon their first
appearance, promising to fight for not just themselves, but for KJPW as a
whole.