Background
Yokoyama was born in Saginomiya, Tokyo, Japan in 1864.
横山 作次郎
Yokoyama was born in Saginomiya, Tokyo, Japan in 1864.
He was a student of Tenjin Shin"yō-ryū jujutsu under Inoue Keitaro (井上 敬太郎) in the Yushima Tenjin (湯島 天神) dojo, but also trained in Kitō-ryū. He joined the police in Yamagata prefecture and became a student of Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu in the dojo of Takeda Sokaku (武田 惣角). Yokoyama was 22 when he entered the Kōdōkan dojo in April, 1886.
Yokoyama further assisted Kano in establishing the Kōdōkan.
He was awarded the seventh grade in October, 1904, which was the highest dan in judo at the time. Yokoyama was considered the most formidable of all judo experts of his time, which reflected in his nickname of Demon Yokoyama (鬼横山, Oni Yokoyama).
When Kanō Jigorō began developing judo from jujutsu, practitioners of jujutsu opposed his efforts. However, Kano drew a loyal following that included exceptional fighters.
Hence the term "" came into existence referring to Yokoyama Sakujirō along with Yamashita Yoshiaki, Tsunejirō Tomita, and Saigō Shirō.