Yasuhiro Yamashita is an Olympic champion (1984), a three-time heavyweight world champion (1979, 1981, 1983), overall world champion (1981) and nine-time all-Japan judo champion. His career record is 496-16 with 16 draws. He has won all the Japanese judo competitions he ever took part in. He won 203 fights between 1977 and 1985.
After retirement, Yasuhiro Yamashita started coaching the Japanese national judo team.