Oki Shikina

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Real Name - n/a
Lifespan - 6/10/04-12/?/83
5'8" 210 lbs. - Yonabaru, Okinawa
Aliases - none
Athletic background - Okinawan Sumo, Judo, Karate, Boxing
Peak Years - 1930s

Place in History - Oki Shikina was one of the earliest Japanese pro-wrestling stars. While judoka-turned-pro Taro Miyake predated him, Shikina wrestled bigger stars during his prime in California. He grew up in the Hawaiian islands, competing in sumo. It was through this connection that he met Miyake and decided to relocate to New York City to become a pro wrestler in 1929. Though he was large amongst Japanese athletes, Shikina was small among the American and European grunt-and-groaners of the 1930s. He eventually headed back to the Pacific Coast and established himself strongly. Shikina frequently battled top notch heavyweights and stunned them with his foreign techniques. It was there he made a name for himself using his submission skill in battles with the likes of "Strangler" Lewis and Jim Londos. He strangled opponents with his "Oki Choki" chokehold and disabled them with his various nerve holds. Another innovation was Shikina's "judo jacket" matches, which often gave him an upperhand on larger foes. He was working the Japanese foreign menance gimmick in the 1930s, before World War II, before Japanese heels became staples in the American pro-wrestling scene and before pro-wrestling even caught on in Japan.