Hidetada Yamagishi was born and raised in Obihiro, Hokkaido.
During his youth, he played rugby and started lifting weights while at Hokkaido Sapporo Asahigaoka High School.
Yamagishi has appeared in a number of magazines, including Weekly Playboy, Tarzan, and Ironman Japan, and has released a number of few training videos/DVDs, the latest being called 闘: A Warrior's Fight.
In January 2008, Yamagishi was charged in California with possession (and supposed distribution) of steroids; he served a 65-day sentence in an American prison before being released and having all felony charges dismissed.
He holds a degree in Sports Nutrition Science and National Certification in Japan from the NSCA-Japan[4] and National Certification in Japan for Acupuncture Therapy.