Duke Keomuka

Martin Hisao Tanaka (April 22, 1921 – June 30, 1991)^[1] was an American professional wrestler better known as Duke Keomuka. He is the father of wrestler Pat Tanaka and referee Jimmy Tanaka.

Duke Keomuka
Birth name	Martin Hisao Tanaka
Born	April 22, 1921 Los Angeles, California, U.S.[1]
Died	June 30, 1991(1991-06-30) (aged 70) Las Vegas, Nevada
Children	Pat Tanaka
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)	Hisao Tanaka Duke Keomuka
Trained by	Tsutao Higami
Debut	1947[1]

Biography

Because he was a Japanese American in California during World War II, Tanaka was interned at Manzanar following the signing of Executive Order 9066.^[2]

In the 1950s, Keomuka formed a very successful tag team with Hiro Matsuda. Keomuka was also a top wrestler in the 1950s and the 1960s while competing in Texas before settling in Florida.^[3][4][5]

Keomuka died on June 30, 1991, at the age of 70. His son was scheduled for a match teaming up with Paul Diamond (who at the time worked as Kato of the Orient Express tag team) to take on Haku and The Barbarian but didn't arrive as his father died the day before the match, so his manager Mr. Fuji took his place.

Championships and achievements

• 50th State Big Time Wrestling
  • NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• Championship Wrestling from Florida
  • NWA World Tag Team Championship (Florida version) (4 times) - with Hiro Matsuda
• Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
  • NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic version) (2 times) - with Mr. Moto
• Midwest Wrestling Association
  • MWA Ohio Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Sato Keomuka
• Southwest Sports, Inc. / Big Time Wrestling
  • NWA Brass Knuckles Championship (1 time)^[6][7]
  • NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship (6 times)
  • NWA Texas Tag Team Championship (14 times) - with Danny Savich (5), Ivan Kalmikoff (1), Mr. Moto (2), Don Evans (1), Tiny Mills (1), Kinji Shibuya (1), Tony Martin (1), Tokyo Joe (1) and John Tolos (1)^[8][9]
  • NWA World Tag Team Championship (6 times) - with Taro Miyaki (2), Mr. Moto (1), Tony Martin (1), Antonio Inoki (1) and Fritz Von Erich (1)^[10][11]

References

1. "Wrestler Profiles: Duke Keomuka". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved May 5, 2008.
2. "Japanese American Internee Data File: Hisao Tanaka". National Archives and Records Administration. Retrieved August 17, 2019.
3. Johnson, Steven; Oliver, Greg (November 16, 2010). The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Heels. ECW Press. ISBN 978-1-55490-284-2.
4. III, Harris M. Lentz (October 21, 2003). Biographical Dictionary of Professional Wrestling, 2d ed. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-1754-4.
5. Funk, Terry; Williams, Scott E. (June 2012). Terry Funk: More Than Just Hardcore. Skyhorse Publishing Inc. ISBN 978-1-61321-097-0.
6. Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "(Texas) Dallas: NWA Texas Brass Knuckles Title". Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. p. 271. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
7. "Texas Brass Knucks Title [East Texas]". Wrestling-Titles. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
8. Will, Gary; Duncan, Royal (2000). "Texas: NWA Texas Tag Team Title [Von Erich]". Wrestling Title Histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Pennsylvania: Archeus Communications. pp. 275–276. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
9. "NWA Texas Tag Team Title [E. Texas]". wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
10. Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). "Texas: NWA World Tag Team Title [Siegel, Boesch and McLemore]". Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Pennsylvania: Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
11. "National Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Title [E. Texas]". Wrestling-Titles. Retrieved February 21, 2017.

External links

• Duke Keomuka's profile at Cagematch.net