Also known as
Sarah Winifred Benedict Mayer
Sarah Winifred Benedict
Sarah Winifred Benedict Tapping
Description
English actress and judoka, the first non-Japanese woman to obtain a black
belt in judo. Born in London in 1896 into an acting dynasty, she worked in the
West End from 1914. She trained in judo with Gunji Koizumi at the Budokwai from
1926, where the ladies' classes were taught by Koizumi and Yukio Tani,
reaching 4th kyu by 1932. On an around-the-world trip in 1934 she trained in
Japan, first in Kobe and Kyoto, then in Tokyo under Kanō Jigorō, who devised a
training regime for her and allowed her to practise in the Kodokan main dojo
with the men. After reaching Kodokan 1st kyu she graded for shōdan at the Kyoto
Butokukai in February 1935 - the first non-Japanese woman black belt. On her
return she was Honorary Secretary of the Budokwai's ladies' section; she
is the subject of an Oxford Dictionary of National Biography entry.
Teachers (7)
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Gunji Koizumi
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2 sources
fact_check
Wikipedia states Mayer first trained in judo by Gunji Koizumi at the Budokwai in
the 1920s; Callan/Heffernan/Spenn confirm the ladies' classes were taught by
Koizumi at the Budokwai, which Mayer joined in 1926.
"Mayer first trained in judo by Gunji Koizumi at the Budokwai in the
1920s."
— Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Sarah Mayer -
Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo
"In 1926, Mayer... first joined the Budokwai as the thirty-first female
member. The ladies' classes, at that time, were taught by Koizumi, the
founder, and Tani Yukio."
— Callan, Mike; Heffernan, Conor; Spenn, Amanda.
(2018). Women's Jūjutsu and Judo in the Early Twentieth-Century: The Cases
of Phoebe Roberts, Edith Garrud, and Sarah Mayer
linkinfo
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Tani Yukio
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1 source
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Callan/Heffernan/Spenn state the Budokwai ladies' classes at the time Mayer
joined (1926) were taught by Koizumi and Tani Yukio.
"The ladies' classes, at that time, were taught by Koizumi, the
founder, and Tani Yukio."
— Callan, Mike; Heffernan, Conor; Spenn, Amanda.
(2018). Women's Jūjutsu and Judo in the Early Twentieth-Century: The Cases
of Phoebe Roberts, Edith Garrud, and Sarah Mayer
linkinfo
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Kanō Jigorō
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1 source
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In September 1934 Kanō Jigorō met with Mayer, devised a training regime for her
and allowed her to practise in the Kodokan main dojo with the men, unprecedented
for a woman; Wikipedia lists him as coach.
"He met with Mayer. According to Mayer, they discussed philosophy, and he
devised a training regime for her... he allowed her to practise in the Kōdōkan
main dojo with the men, which was unprecedented for a woman."
— Callan, Mike; Heffernan, Conor; Spenn, Amanda.
(2018). Women's Jūjutsu and Judo in the Early Twentieth-Century: The Cases
of Phoebe Roberts, Edith Garrud, and Sarah Mayer
linkinfo
-
Is
Isogai Hajime
(1934-1935)
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1 source
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Callan/Heffernan/Spenn describe Mayer taking an introduction to Isogai Hajime,
head of the Kyoto Butokuden, training in Kyoto, and undertaking the three-day
shōdan grading under Professor Isogai at the Butokukai.
"She took an introduction to Isogai Hajime, the head of the Kyoto
Butokuden... she was also invited to train in Kyoto whenever Yamamoto was
away... she then returned to the Butokukai in Kyoto, and to Professor Isogai...
she finally achieved shōdan or first dan."
— Callan, Mike; Heffernan, Conor; Spenn, Amanda.
(2018). Women's Jūjutsu and Judo in the Early Twentieth-Century: The Cases
of Phoebe Roberts, Edith Garrud, and Sarah Mayer
linkinfo
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Mifune Kyūzō
(1934-1934)
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1 source
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Hatta introduced Mayer to Mifune Kyuzo, and she followed him across Tokyo to the
various dojo where he taught.
"Hatta introduced her to Mifune Kyuzo, another of the legendary tenth dan
holders, and she followed him across Tokyo to the various dōjō where he
taught."
— Callan, Mike; Heffernan, Conor; Spenn, Amanda.
(2018). Women's Jūjutsu and Judo in the Early Twentieth-Century: The Cases
of Phoebe Roberts, Edith Garrud, and Sarah Mayer
linkinfo
-
Ya
Yamamoto Masanobu
(1934-1934)
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Yamamoto Masanobu was the sensei at Kobe who invited Mayer to study with him at
the Butokuden, with daily 8am lessons.
"The sensei at Kobe was Yamamoto Masanobu, and he invited her to study with
him at the Butokden. She began to have daily lessons at 8am."
— Callan, Mike; Heffernan, Conor; Spenn, Amanda.
(2018). Women's Jūjutsu and Judo in the Early Twentieth-Century: The Cases
of Phoebe Roberts, Edith Garrud, and Sarah Mayer
linkinfo
-
Ha
Hatta Ichiro
(1934-1935)
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2 sources
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Hatta Ichiro met Mayer at the station in Tokyo in July 1934, insisted she stay
at his family home and took her to his training sessions in judo and wrestling
at Waseda University. Wikipedia states she trained with Ichiro Hatta.
"She was met at the station by Hatta Ichiro, an ambitious young man, who
she had encountered in London previously. Insisting that she stay at his family
home... he took her sightseeing and to his training sessions in both judo and
wrestling at Waseda University."
— Callan, Mike; Heffernan, Conor; Spenn, Amanda.
(2018). Women's Jūjutsu and Judo in the Early Twentieth-Century: The Cases
of Phoebe Roberts, Edith Garrud, and Sarah Mayer
linkinfo
"She trained with Ichiro Hatta and reached first kyū."
— Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Sarah Mayer -
Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo
Ranks (3)
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Dan-Kyu System (1935-02-23)
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Wikipedia and Callan/Heffernan/Spenn both record Mayer as the first non-Japanese
woman awarded a shōdan (black belt) in judo on 23 February 1935, after a
three-day grading at the Butokukai in Kyoto under Professor Isogai, presented by
Prince Nashimoto (who is otherwise undocumented).
"She was even presented first dan by Prince Nashimoto before returning
home. In doing so, she became the first non-Japanese woman to obtain a black
belt in judo on 23 February 1935."
— Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Sarah Mayer -
Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo
"On completion of the tests, she finally achieved shōdan or first
dan."
— Callan, Mike; Heffernan, Conor; Spenn, Amanda.
(2018). Women's Jūjutsu and Judo in the Early Twentieth-Century: The Cases
of Phoebe Roberts, Edith Garrud, and Sarah Mayer
linkinfo
Dan-Kyu System (1935)
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Callan/Heffernan/Spenn report Mayer was awarded a Kodokan first kyu after six
months of training in Tokyo.
"Following another six months of training in Tokyo... Mayer was awarded a
Kōdōkan first kyu."
— Callan, Mike; Heffernan, Conor; Spenn, Amanda.
(2018). Women's Jūjutsu and Judo in the Early Twentieth-Century: The Cases
of Phoebe Roberts, Edith Garrud, and Sarah Mayer
linkinfo
Dan-Kyu System (1932)
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Callan/Heffernan/Spenn state Mayer had only reached 4th kyu, just one grade
above absolute novice, by the Budokwai ranking awards of January 1932.
"Mayer was by no means a leading light in the ladies' section. She had
only reached 4th kyu, just one grade above absolute novice."
— Callan, Mike; Heffernan, Conor; Spenn, Amanda.
(2018). Women's Jūjutsu and Judo in the Early Twentieth-Century: The Cases
of Phoebe Roberts, Edith Garrud, and Sarah Mayer
linkinfo
Linked data
https://martial.is/entity/01M0A2FCGSR8REC4KS6X3HF1H0