Yoshisada Yonezuka, Affectionately known as 'Yone' by his students and Judo officials. He is the man responsible for not only taking my Judo to a higher level but convincing me to become a pro-wrestler. He was my sensei (teacher) for the last 6 years of my Judo career. He is probably the only Judo Sensei in the country to ever send five of his students to the Olympics, two of which won Olympic medals, myself in 1976 and Mike Swain in 1988. He was the coach of two Olympic teams, 1988 in Seoul Korea and 1992 in Barcelona Spain. He is one of the few Judo players in the Country who during my championship years who could kick my butt on a regular basis.

In October of 1977 Yone arranged for me to break into pro-wrestling in Japan with New Japan Pro-Wrestling under the tutelage of Antonio Inoki and Kotetsu Yamamoto. Even today Yone is a guiding force in my life.

Mr. Shima, was the Secretary/Treasurer of New Japan Pro Wrestling and the man who recruited and signed me up with them in August 1977. He was the brains behind NJPW and the person who set up the match between Muhammed Ali and Antonio Inoki. After leaving NJPW, Mr. Shima became Inoki's campaign manager and helped Inoki win two successful runs as a Senator in the lower house of Parliment. Mr. Shima also started the Shoot Wrestling Company UWF. He is a honorable man and one of the few promoters in the pro wrestling business whose word you could take to the bank.

Antonio Inoki: Founder and former President of New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Mr. Inoki is a major International star who in 1976 fought Mohammed Ali in a mixed wrestling/boxing match. What impressed me the most about Inoki was that, he wasn't the greatest technician in the ring (due to chronic knee problems) but he was one of the smartest. He had many interests outside of wrestling, where most people in the business have none. He was involved in many great business ventures in Japan, including his own restaurants and he makes a percentage of every bottle of Tabasco sauce that enters Japan. He was a politician after retiring from the ring and still is one of Japan's great Legends. Inoki taught me the psychology of wrestling and how to bring out my ring character, making people believe who 'they' think you are in the ring. Antonio Inoki is a great guy and one of my mentors who once told me that no matter where I wrestled throughout the world, New Japan Pro-wrestling would always be my home.

Kotetsu Yamamoto, spent most of the time training me in pro-wrestling. Although he was a hard task master, he was always fair. I was the 2nd foreigner at that time allowed to train with New Japan (the 1st one was Wilhelm Ruska -1967 & 1971 World Heavyweight Judo Champ & in 1972 he won 2 Gold medals for the Olympics - 1 in Heavyweight class & the other in the open weight class). Mr. Yamamoto loved my work ethic, I was the first one at the dojo, the last one to leave and I never caused any trouble, I knew how to mind my own business. The pro-wrestling training was a breeze compare to my Judo training. The added incentive for me was getting paid to train as a pro-wrestler, Judo back then did not pay money for training. Mr. Yamamoto impressed me as I watched him do 3,000 Hindu squats every single day. The majority of his students turned out to be great pro-wrestling stars. He took me to South Korea and I have some great stories about that trip but you'll have to read my upcoming book for those.

Tatsumi Fujinami, is presently the President of New Japan Pro-Wrestling and one of the greatest workers ever to come out of New Japan. He along with Osamu Kido were Mr. Inoki's first protégé's. I met him about 6 months after I began training with New Japan, he just came back from a 4 year tour of the USA & Mexico. I was impressed with his amazing athletic ability the first time I saw him wrestle. We became training partners and good friends. He was one of the only guy's in my entire wrestling career who could keep up with me in my training routine. Because I was a lot older than him he always called me Grandpa. When I became a heel we had some classic matches, some of my best matches during my career were with him and Dynamite Kid. I'm happy that he's now the president of New Japan Pro-Wrestling, he deserves it.

Seiji Sakaguchi, cofounder and former Vice President/President of New Japan. He was my very first opponent in New Japan. A rarity for Japanese, he's 6'5" and 280 lbs and very strong. For some unknown reason we just never got along or agreed on anything. Wrestling him taught me how to work with someone bigger than me. More about the big guy in my book.

Riki Chosyu, to my surprise became one of Japan's biggest stars. He is the reason I shaved my head bald, when he hit me in the head with the belt he cut me open and they had to shave a piece off the front of my head which looked ridiculous so I just shaved it all off. In a tag team match with Abdullah the Butcher & myself against Chosyu & Fujinami, Chosyu turned heel against his partner Fujinami which was the beginning of his popularity with the Japanese fans. He is still one of Japan's biggest wrestling stars.