Ohashi Gym
One of the most popular boxing gyms in Japan right now is the Ohashi Gym which has recently celebrated it's 20 anniversary and helped develop some of the most notable names currently active in Japanese boxing.
Founded in 1994 by former 2-time world champion Hideyuki Ohashi the gym was first known as the "Bridge" gym before changing it's name to "Ohashi" in 2002, taking the name of the founder and Chairman.
Based in Yokohama the gym quickly became a notable one. Not only was it's owner a former world champion himself he was some one who had all the qualities needed to run a successful gym. He was talented in the ring, brave, ambitious, had an affable personality and a mentality that allowed fighters to develop quickly rather than stagnate their careers. This mentality seems to have have come from his own career which lasted just 8 years between 1985 and 1993 but featured 24 fights including 7 world title fights. Not only did Mr Ohashi fight in world title fights but he fought the best around including Jung Koo Chang, Ricardo Lopez and Chana Porpaoin. The idea of giving fans the best fights and accepting that a loss wasn't career defining has helped shaped his gym since he set it up.
Founded in 1994 by former 2-time world champion Hideyuki Ohashi the gym was first known as the "Bridge" gym before changing it's name to "Ohashi" in 2002, taking the name of the founder and Chairman.
Based in Yokohama the gym quickly became a notable one. Not only was it's owner a former world champion himself he was some one who had all the qualities needed to run a successful gym. He was talented in the ring, brave, ambitious, had an affable personality and a mentality that allowed fighters to develop quickly rather than stagnate their careers. This mentality seems to have have come from his own career which lasted just 8 years between 1985 and 1993 but featured 24 fights including 7 world title fights. Not only did Mr Ohashi fight in world title fights but he fought the best around including Jung Koo Chang, Ricardo Lopez and Chana Porpaoin. The idea of giving fans the best fights and accepting that a loss wasn't career defining has helped shaped his gym since he set it up.
Although the gym took it's time to develop it's first notable fighter it didn't take too long for Ohashi to employ one of the key members of the Ohashi team, Koji Matsumoto. Matsumoto, a former title challenger, was an old friend of Ohashi's and agreed to be the head trainer at the gym in 1999. Under Matsumoto's tutelage the gym swiftly moved up a gear.
In 2000 the gym had it's first OPBF title challenger, Katsushige Kawashima. Although Kawashima came up short in his first title challenge he would later go on to claim a Japanese and a WBC world title as he became the first real star of the Ohashi Gym. Kawashima won his world title in 2004, knocking out the controversial Masamori Tokuyama in a second meeting between the two men. Unfortunately his reign lasted just 13 months before he lost a rubber match to Tokuyama. Since Kawashima lost his title to Tokuymama the gym has really bloomed with the emergence of female star Ayaka Miyao as well as current world champions Akira Yaegashi and Naoya Inoue and one of the strongest stables of prospect anywhere in the world with the likes of Ryuji Hara who currently holds world rankings with all 4 organisations, Ryo Matsumoto and Takuma Inoue. As well as the current world champions ans prospects the gym also has a number of experience heads at the gym, such as former world title challenger Satoshi Hosono and the world ranked Go Onaga. For those interested in visiting the gym the address is:
ZIP Code: 〒 221-0835 Kanagawa Prefecture , Yokohama Kanagawa-ku, Tsuruya-cho 1-chome, 7-12 The contact number for domestic calls is: 045-314-1994 And the website address is http://www.ohashi-gym.com/ From what we understand the gym has various facilities including saunas, available to both members and non-members and actually allows some people to get in the ring and spar with professionals. (All images courtesy of Ohashi Gym) (Video, of Ohashi stable mates Akira Yaegashi and Naoya Inoue sparring at the 2014 "Boxing Day Fan Appreciation Event", courtesy of yopiikamen) |
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