Genki “Neo-Samurai” Sudo pulled a “slow” one on New York in 2010 and forever left the memory of his unique artistry—YouTube ensures it—on the busy streets of that officially anti-MMA state.
The legendary Japanese fighter and Renaissance man brought his World Order music and dance troupe to the Big Apple. Dressed in Western-style business suits they entered select pedestrian locations and strutted in slow (and intermittently, quick) robotic motions to their own music. (It’s anybody’s guess if their concerted action was a veiled “legalize MMA” campaign.)
With Sudo leading and singing, the group jogged, strode, swung like inverted pendulums and executed other calisthenics in deliberate, Japanese-technology precision.
Always maintaining their blank facial expressions, they moved measuredly in rhythm, step-by-step. They alternated between synchronization and moving in opposite directions.
Almost every movement was simple and impressively exact, constrained and painstakingly choreographed.
Their minimalist dance steps contrasted to the casual movements of the passersby who at times paused to look and regale themselves, to take pictures or videos.
The rest casually walked by with nary a glance. It’s business, and life, as usual.
It doesn’t matter to Genki Sudo and World Order who among the crowd in close proximity chose to watch and appreciate—or otherwise.
They all danced as one and for everyone.
In tune to Sudo’s personal slogan: “We are all one.”
A brief biographical sketch of the athlete and artist
Born on March 8, 1978, Genki Sudo became a national junior champion in Greco-Roman wrestling in Japan.
After graduating from Takushoku Junior College in 1998, Sudo studied in the United States, at the Santa Monica University Art College. In Los Angeles, he practiced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at the Beverly Hills Jiu-Jitsu Club.
Sudo’s first professional MMA fight in 1998 resulted in a decision win over Tiki Ghosen, and the last was a triangle-choke victory over Damacio Page in 2006.
In between, the Neo-Samurai recorded wins over Nate Marquardt (submission by armbar), Royler Gracie (KO by punches) and Ole Laursen (decision). He fought in the UFC thrice, submitting Leigh Remedios and Mike Brown and losing to Duane Ludwig by decision.
Sudo was also famous for his elaborate and theatrical ring entrances, which were veritable exhibits of performance art in themselves.
His signature moves were turning his back on his opponent in the standup (as some kind of bait), quick ground transitions, flying triangle and the spinning backfist.
A practicing Buddhist, Sudo is also an accomplished writer (authored eight books), musician, actor and, yes, dancer.
You can watch more of the group’s music videos at koichi’s Tofugu article Genki Sudo’s World Order: The Most Innovative Dance & Music Troupe In Japan.
Genki Sudo’s ball-point pen portrait above is courtesy of artist Brad Utterstrom. You can see more of his art at his website MMA Artwork and Portraits by Bradu, and tweet him at @therealbradu.
After my articles The MMA Fighters’ Portraits by Artist Brad Utterstrom, MMA Music Video: Rashad Wants Jones’ Sno-Cone, but He’ll Get Broken Bones and “Overeem, Careful What You Put in Your Ice Cream,” Burn Dizzle Sings, this piece on Sudo is the fourth installment of my unofficial “MMA Humanities” series.
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