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The Real Deal
Kim Kendo was one of our wrestling mysteries for many years. We knew so little, and our attempts to find out more led nowhere. We only knew him as a Paul Lincoln Management lightweight who wore martial arts gear in the early sixties before any other wrestler did, to be followed not so many years later by Al Marquette, Kung Fu, Iron Fist and others.
We questioned whether those martial arts credentials were genuine, it was often the case in wrestling that they were not.
And then it all changed when his great niece got in touch. Not only did she provide a great deal of information she also answered that million dollar question about his martial arts credentials.
Kim Kendo was the real deal.
Terry Moulton was born on 20th December, 1931. His interest in judo and wrestling began whilst he was at Fulham Road School. For National Service he joined the R.A.F. and was posted to Japan and South Korea as a medic in the air evacuation team serving mobile army surgical hospitals.
Now here’s a bit of the sort of wrestling trivia you only find on Wrestling Heritage. In June, 1953, BBC Radio broadcast a Coronation Special of “Forces Favourites” from Japan and Mr and Mrs Moulton were surprised to hear the voice of Terry, “Hello Mum.” He told them, and all the other listeners,that he was looking forward to returning home in September, but his one regret was that it would mean the end of his judo instruction at the Yokahama Judo School, where he had been awarded a Black Belt at the first attempt.
We next came across Terry in the London Gazette of of 19th February, 1954, mentioned in Despatches for distinguished service in Korea. That wasn’t a family first; his father too having been mentioned in Despatches in the First World War for dragging a wounded corporal to safety whilst serving on the Western Front.
Terry left the R.A.F. later in 1954, and continued to pursue his interest in judo at Langford Road Evening Institute and St George’s Club in Putney. Back in London and Terry’s sensei (teacher) from Japan came over and Terry helped him to set up a dojo.
By 1960 Paul Lincoln was setting up his wrestling promotion and looking for new talent. It was at that point Terry turned more of his attention to professional wrestling.
Our earliest sighting as a pro wrestler is in April, 1960, at West Bromwich. In many of those earlier matches he was billed simply as Kendo, a word that at the time was as strange and exotic to most British people as the attire he wore into the ring.
For the next six years he was as busy a worker as anyone on Paul Lincoln and other independent shows in the south of England. Clearly a reliable worker to receive such regular bookings; he was a frequent opponent, and at other times tag partner, of the likes of Jon Cortez, Zoltan Boscik, Johnny Williams and well known contemporary names
In 1966 Paul Lincoln management and Dale Martin Promotions merged. Kim Kendo was one of those nominated by Lincoln to make the transition to Joint Promotion rings. For the next two years regular bookings continued with Dale Martin Promotions, but unlike most that made the transition television exposure eluded him. Whether this was by design or choice will probably remain another of wrestling’s mysteries.
The end came prematurely for Kim Kendo, a back injury bringing his career to an abrupt end around 1970, our last documented sighting being in July, 1968.
Terence Patrick Moulton died on 1st January 2022.
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