Keiko Fukuda facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Keiko Fukuda |
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Fukuda in 2012
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| Born | April 12, 1913 Tokyo City, Japan |
| Died | February 9, 2013 (aged 99) San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Native name | 福田 敬子 |
| Style | Judo |
| Teacher(s) | Kanō Jigorō, Kyuzo Mifune |
| Rank | 10th dan judo (USA Judo, US Judo Federation), 9th dan judo (Kodokan) |
| Notable school(s) | Soko Joshi Judo Club |
Keiko Fukuda (Japanese: 福田 敬子, Hepburn: Fukuda Keiko, April 12, 1913 – February 9, 2013) was an amazing Japanese-American martial artist. She was the highest-ranked female judoka (a judo expert) in history. She achieved the 9th dan rank from the Kodokan in 2006. Later, she earned the 10th dan from USA Judo in 2011 and the United States Judo Federation (USJF) in 2011.
Keiko Fukuda was the last student of Kanō Jigorō, who founded judo. She was known for being a pioneer for women in judo. In 1972, she and Masako Noritomi were among the first two women to reach the 6th dan rank. In 2006, the Kodokan gave Fukuda the 9th dan, making her the first woman to hold this rank from any official judo group. She is also the first and only woman to reach the 10th dan in judo, which happened in 2011. After finishing her studies in Japan, Fukuda moved to the United States. She taught judo in the San Francisco Bay Area until she passed away in 2013.
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Early Life and Judo Beginnings
Keiko Fukuda was born in Tokyo, Japan, on April 12, 1913. Her father died when she was very young. Growing up, she learned traditional Japanese arts. These included calligraphy (beautiful writing), flower arrangement, and the tea ceremony. These were common activities for young women in Japan at that time.
Even with her traditional upbringing, Fukuda felt a strong connection to judo. This was because of her grandfather. One day, she went with her mother to watch a judo training session. A few months later, she decided to start training herself. Her mother and brother supported her choice. However, her uncle was against it. Her family thought she might marry a judo practitioner. But Keiko Fukuda never married. Instead, she became a judo master herself.
Her grandfather, Fukuda Hachinosuke, was a samurai warrior. He was also a master of Tenjin Shinyō-ryū jujutsu. He taught this art to Kanō Jigorō, the founder of judo. Kanō Jigorō had learned from three jujutsu masters before creating judo. Fukuda's grandfather was the first of these teachers.
Kanō Jigorō started teaching female students as early as 1893. He officially opened the women's section of the Kodokan in 1926. He personally invited the young Keiko Fukuda to study judo. This was a very special invitation for that time. It showed his great respect for her grandfather. She began her judo training in 1935. At that time, she was one of only 24 women training at the Kodokan. Besides learning from judo's founder, Fukuda also trained with Kyuzo Mifune.
Judo Career and Achievements
Keiko Fukuda was small in stature, standing at only 4 feet 11 inches (150 cm) and weighing less than 100 pounds (45 kg). Despite her size, she became a judo instructor in 1937. She also earned a degree in Japanese literature from Showa Women's University. In 1953, she was promoted to the 5th dan rank in judo.
Later that year, she traveled to the United States. She was invited by a judo club in Oakland, California. She stayed for almost two years before returning to Japan. Fukuda visited the US again in 1966. She gave judo seminars in California. At that time, she was one of only four women in the world with a 5th dan rank. She was also one of only two female instructors at the Kodokan. The other was Masako Noritomi.
In 1966, she showed her judo skills at Mills College. The college immediately offered her a teaching job. She accepted and taught there from 1967 to 1978. During this time, Fukuda lived in Noe Valley with one of her students. She taught judo classes there too. As her classes grew, she moved them to the Sokoji Zen Buddhist temple in Japantown, San Francisco. She named her school the Soko Joshi Judo Club. After settling in the San Francisco Bay Area, Fukuda became a US citizen.
In November 1972, a rule prevented women from being promoted higher than 5th dan. After many letters were sent to challenge this rule, Fukuda and Masako Noritomi became the first women to reach the 6th dan from the Kodokan. Fukuda said that "the Kodokan was old fashioned and sexist about belts and ranks."
In 1973, she wrote a book called Born for the Mat: A Kodokan kata textbook for women. This book taught women about the kata (patterns or forms) of Kodokan judo. In 1974, she started the annual Joshi Judo Camp. This camp gave female judo students a chance to train together. That year, she was one of only three women in the world with a 6th dan rank in judo.
In 1990, Fukuda received Japan's Order of the Sacred Treasure. This is a special award. She also received the United States Judo Incorporated (USJI) Henry Stone Lifetime Contribution to American Judo Award. In 2004, she published Ju-No-Kata: A Kodokan textbook. This was a picture guide for performing Ju-no-kata, one of the seven Kodokan kata.
Fukuda helped as a technical adviser for US Women's Judo. She also helped with the USJI Kata Judges' Certification Sub-committee. She was a National Kata Judge and a faculty member of the USJI National Teachers' Institute. She was also part of the USJF Promotion Committee and the USJF and USJI Women's Sub-committee.
Fukuda held the 9th dan rank from two organizations. This is the second-highest rank in judo. In July 2011, she received the 10th dan rank from a third organization. In 1994, she was the first woman to be given a rare red belt by the Kodokan. At that time, for women, this belt marked the 8th dan rank. In 2001, the USJF promoted her to USJF 9th dan (red belt). This was for her lifelong dedication to judo. In 2006, the Kodokan gave Fukuda the 9th degree black belt (9th dan). This made her the first woman to hold this rank from any official judo organization. On July 28, 2011, USA Judo gave Fukuda the 10th dan rank. The USJF followed this on September 10, 2011.
Later Life and Legacy
Keiko Fukuda continued to teach judo three times a week. She also hosted the annual Fukuda Invitational Kata Championships. And she taught at the annual Joshi Judo Camp. She did all this until she passed away at age 99 in San Francisco, California.
She created the Keiko Fukuda Judo Scholarship. This scholarship helps and encourages women to continue their formal judo training. Besides teaching in the USA, she also taught in Australia, Canada, France, Norway, and the Philippines. Fukuda's personal motto was: "Tsuyoku, Yasashiku, Utsukushiku". In English, this means: "Be strong, be gentle, be beautiful, in mind, body, and spirit."
Death
Keiko Fukuda died peacefully at her home in San Francisco on February 9, 2013.
See also
- Atsuko Wakai
- Rena Kanokogi
- List of judoka
