Naoya Ogawa - Biography

Biography

Ogawa first started in Judo in his high school years. He continued on in college attending Meiji University in 1986. In his second year at school he became a world freeclass champion, youngest in the history of Judo. He would go on to win many more championships before graduating from the College of Business Administration at Meiji University. Ogawa was Silver medalist in judo of 1992 Summer Olympics, and placed fifth at the 1996 Summer Olympics.

In 1997 he was recruited by Antonio Inoki and was sent to train with Satoru Sayama. Ogawa made his debut against Shinya Hashimoto on April 12, 1997 at the Tokyo Dome wrestling with New Japan Pro Wrestling. Subsequently he was billed as Hashimoto's arch nemesis.

On March 14, 1999, Ogawa won the NWA world title from Dan Severn in Yokohama, Japan. Ogawa lost the title to Gary Steele in a three-way match that also involved Brian Anthony on September 25, 1999. Ogawa won the title back on October 2, 1999. Ogawa vacated the NWA title on July 2, 2000.

Ogawa also continued to use his judo skills in PRIDE where he holds victories over Gary Goodridge, Stefan Leko, and American olympic silver medalist Matt Ghaffari. After seven wins in mixed martial arts, Ogawa faced PRIDE heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko, and suffered his first career loss by first round armbar. Ogawa retired from mixed martial arts after falling to fellow Japanese Judoka, and rival Hidehiko Yoshida by an armbar in a highly anticipated MMA bout at PRIDE Shockwave 2005. Ogawa and Yoshida were both paid $2 million USD which remains one the most expensive fight in MMA history.

Ogawa was a mainstay with the HUSTLE Wrestling group as part of the HUSTLE army, from their beginning until mid year of 2007, when Ogawa left to sign with Antonio Inoki's new promotion, Inoki Genome Federation.

Ogawa currently lives in Chigasaki, Japan (Kanagawa-ken) where he teaches kid's judo in his own dojo on the south side of the JR station next to the Lawson Conbini shop.