Sonny Chiba's first martial arts film, a partially fictionalized judo biopic based on prominent judoka Shiro Saigo (Chiba), the second student of judo founder Jigoro Kano (Naoki Sugiura). Akira Kurosawa’s Sanshiro Sugata is based on the same character and shares some scenes, but Judo for Life focuses more on the martial arts philosophy and training, including scenes depicting how the protagonist learned his famous cat-like landing, coined the term judo, and trained with Tsunejiro Tomita (Hideo Murata). There’s also a slight yakuza film influence. The port street ambush scene is found in both films, but in Judo for Life it’s not Kano but a travelling yakuza that jumps out of the rickshaw. Entertaining and beautifully old fashioned, one does however with there were more shades of gray between good and evil, and a stronger ninkyo-like moral / honour conflict.
The picture tells of a tremendous conflict between ju-jitsu, an aggressive art practiced by vicious hoodlums led by Takamatsu, and judo, which is used only for self-defense and championed by Sugawara.
Remake of Akira Kurosawa's films "Sanshiro Sugata and "Sanshiro Sugata Part II". A young man, Sanshiro Sugata, troubled by personal problems, takes up judo.
Daphne, a teenage judo athlete from a remote Greek island, is ready to spread her wings and follow Sensei Yuri to the big city and ultimately to the next Olympic Games.
Antônio Tenório and the Brazilian Paralympic Team are invited to a rare training camp in Japan. Passing through the main temples of Judo, our visually impaired athletes face the many challenges of training in an unknown country.
A few years after his breakthrough, Sanshiro resumes his path to judo mastery—testing his discipline against an American prizefighter and later facing vengeful karate brothers.
Popular movie trailers from 1963
These some of the most viewed trailers for movies released in 1963:
A story of two old friends, who after ten years - one as the deputy director and the other as the chairman of the party organization - meet on a large construction site.
João Eduardo, a young inexperienced doctor, takes up work in a village. The initial skepticism from the community gives place to esteem for the new physician after some well succeeded cases.
A candid, inside look at one of the greatest ballplayers ever, up through the 1963 season. Many highlights from Willie Mays's career are shown, including his 4-homer night against the Braves, his 400th homer against the Cardinals, and his 2000th hit.
A woman is tormented by dreams that she is the reincarnation of a dead countess. Her father, trying to get her to stop the dreams, takes her to a village near the castle of the late countess.
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Have you watched Judo Life yet? What did you think about it?
