Kim Yong-Sik v. Mitsuro Sato, 1987 World Championships : Speakers & Interviews

mmmmmmm damn some high level moves going on here

Valentin Jordanov 5-4. North Korea didn't compete in 1988 or 1990. In 1991 you had an interesting situation in their pool: Yong Sik defeated Brad Penrith. Yong Sik then lost to the Iranian Mallah, and then Penrith beat Mallah. Add up the points, Penrith goes to the finals, Mallah wrestles for Bronze and Yong Sik takes 8th.

One of the best mat wrestling matches I've ever seen, both in the par terre position and in scrambles from leg shots.

Interesting to hear Conway Twitty and Hank Williams Sr. commentate the match. Twilly is correct that you don't see people throwing boats in anymore because that it would be idiotic to do so given the lack of any body of water.

excellent match. got any more of this guy? how 'bout any more of dabir?

you don't see many people throwing the boats in freestyle anymore. Then again if you only watch US freestyle competition, like myself, you don't get to see much of any par ter wrestling .

Seems Kim wears down significantly, but not to the point of sloppy wrestling. I have been very impressed with both of his matches. Very smart wrestler. Two great attacks to either leg. Right leg misdirection low single and left leg sweep head-inside single. Plus he is a bear on top with those tilts. Complete wrestler there. Thanks Craig!

Love the country boy commentary over the top of this. "That Sato is tuuuuuffffff." "Did he come back that other time? Ain't gonna happen here."

Who beat him in the finals, and what happened to him after 1989?

Wanted to show you some more of the amazing North Korean Yong Sik that I highlighted last week. This is a prelim bout at the 1987 Worlds. Here he takes on future 1988 Olympic Champ Misturo Sato of Japan. They had faced each other in the 1986 World finals and Yong Sik pretty much demolished him using the same exact turns.

North Korea boycotted the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul and Sato ended up winning the weight. In fact he walked through it and I believe was voted outstanding wrestler of the meet. Sato defeated defending Olympic Champion Saban Trstena of Yugoslavia in the finals 13-2. Trstena had defeated both Jordanov and Toguzov to make the finals.

Side note: Until recently, Trstena was the youngest Olympic Champion, winning the 1984 Olympic Games in LA at 19 years old.

Anyway, here we see the amazing leverage and wire strength exhibited by Yong Sik, as well as that patented hip/far wrist turn I talked about last week. He turns Sato a few times with this technique. Sato just looks helpless.

We also get to see Yong Sik's amazing leg defense. I just can't believe a kid his age could have been be so relaxed and focused out there against such high level competition. Sato was extremely tough. In fact he teched Joe Gonzales one year at the Worlds for the Bronze medal (1985 I think).

Someone had asked last week what Yong Sik's attack would be if the guy was a left leg lead. Well here's your answer.

Enjoy. Hope you guys pick up some good stuff here. I sure did.