Kenji Kanō

Kenji "Pisuken" Kano (嘉納 健治, Kanō Kenji, September 24, 1881 – October 30, 1947) was a Japanese yakuza and boxing and mixed martial arts promoter, the founder of the International Jūkken Club (国際柔拳倶楽部) which promoted Jūkken matches between judo practitioners and boxers. He was also the founder of the Dai Nippon Boxing Association (aka Dai Nippon Kentōkai; 大日本拳闘会). His promotional activities was instrumental to the popularization of boxing in Japan. He was the cousin of Jigorō Kanō, the founder of judo.

Early life and education Kenji Kanō was born on September 24, 1881 in Mikage, Hyōgo, (present day Kobe), Japan. He has been commonly described as a nephew to Jigorō Kanō, although research has shown he was actually a younger cousin.

He was a student on Kanō's private boarding school the Kanō Juku. At the Jūkken club, sailors from all over the world would congregate and train. Kanō's efforts introduced boxing techniques to Japan, contributing to the development of the sport in the country. His fighting events helped lay the foundation for professional boxing in Japan.

Kanō's work not only popularized boxing in Japan but also helped establish a framework for hybrid competitions, also known as mixed martial arts competitions which influenced the evolution of Japanese martial arts.