Hidetaka Aso [麻生秀孝], founder of Submission Arts Wrestling, was born in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan on Octuber 29th, 1950. Aso, a student of Karl Gotch, is a two times All Japan Wrestling Champion and a Sambo World Champion (1981 Sambo World Championship held in Spain). One of his most notable victories came during the Sambo American Championship of 1979, where the heavyweight claimed 1st place after defeating all of his 8 opponents.  A 5th degree black belt in Kodokan Judo, knowledgeable catch wrestler, author of many textbooks, and chairman of prestigious martial arts federations and committees; Hidetaka Aso is highly regarded as a guru of the science of submission wrestling.