Tanabe Mataemon · Lineage tree

Also known as

Mataemon Tanabe · Newaza Tanabe · Newaza no Tatsujin

Description

Japanese jujutsu practitioner, fourth head of the Fusen-ryu school founded by Motsugai Takeda. He became famous for defeating multiple members of the Kodokan in challenge matches - most famously Takisaburo Tobari in 1891 - and came to be considered one of the greatest modern jujutsuka. Nicknamed "Newaza Tanabe" and "Newaza no Tatsujin" for his mastery of ground techniques, he was also equally skilled in standing techniques. He was one of the twenty representing masters chosen in 1895 to open the jujutsu division of the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai, where he taught until his retirement in 1922. He declined to join the Kodokan; Kano incorporated his ground techniques into judo after seeing Kodokan experts struggle against him. He was the inspiration for the character Gennosuke Higaki in Tsuneo Tomita's Sanshiro Sugata novel series. Died in Osaka, 1942.

Teachers (1)

• person
  Tanabe Torajiro

  sports_martial_artsFusen-ryū Confirmed

  Confirmed

  Tanabe's father Torajiro was head of the Fusen-ryu; Tanabe began training at age 9 and travelled with his father to challenges from age 14.

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Tanabe's father Torajiro was head of the Fusen-ryu; Tanabe began training at age 9 and travelled with his father to challenges from age 14.

  “Tanabe was born in Okayama to Torajiro Tanabe, head of the Fusen-ryū founded by Motsugai Takeda. He started training in jujutsu at 9 years old, and at 14 he started accompanying his father to competitions”

  — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Mataemon Tanabe - Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English)link history info

  “At the age of 9 he began studying jujitsu under his grandfather Takeda Sadaharu [...] Then with his father – Tanabe Torajiro he taught jujitsu in various parts of the prefecture.”

  — Hoare, Syd. Tanabe Mataemon Talks About His Fusen-Ryu Jujitsu (Syd Hoare translation)link history info

Ranks (1)

• sports_martial_artsFusen-ryū

  receipt_longMenkyo Kaiden Confirmed

  Confirmed

  Hoare's translation states menkyo kaiden was received at 17 by a Tanabe born 1869, giving c. 1886; EN Wikipedia states the same and adds that he and his father then became teachers of their art. Hoare primary, WP apud.

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  Menkyo Licence System (1886)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Hoare's translation states menkyo kaiden was received at 17 by a Tanabe born 1869, giving c. 1886; EN Wikipedia states the same and adds that he and his father then became teachers of their art. Hoare primary, WP apud.

  “by the age of 17 he had received his full certification (menkyo kaidan).”

  — Hoare, Syd. Tanabe Mataemon Talks About His Fusen-Ryu Jujitsu (Syd Hoare translation)link history info

  “At 17 he received his menkyo kaiden, and he and his father became teachers of their art around the country.”

  — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Mataemon Tanabe - Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English)link history info

Students (4)

• 
  Uyenishi Sadakazu

  sports_martial_artsFusen-ryū Confirmed

  Confirmed

  Uyenishi trained at Handa's dojo in Osaka, where Fusen-ryu master Mataemon Tanabe taught; the peer-reviewed Brough (2020) article states this directly, with EN Wikipedia as apud. The EN Wikipedia Tanabe article independently lists Uyenishi among his notable students.

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  4 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Uyenishi trained at Handa's dojo in Osaka, where Fusen-ryu master Mataemon Tanabe taught; the peer-reviewed Brough (2020) article states this directly, with EN Wikipedia as apud. The EN Wikipedia Tanabe article independently lists Uyenishi among his notable students.

  “Uyenishi trained at the dojo of Yataro Handa in Osaka. In 1898 renowned jujutsu teacher, Mataemon Tanabe, taught at Handa's dojo [Keegan 2019]. Thus, we can be confident that the instructors of Uyenishi were Handa and Tanabe.”

  — Brough, David. (2020). The Golden Square Dojo and its place in British Jujutsu historylink history info

  “Yukio Tani, Sadakazu Uyenishi, Seizo Yamamoto and Taro Miyake were all associated with the ne-waza innovations of Mataemon Tanabe and the Handa dojo [...] Yataro Handa was also the sempai (senior) of Mataemon Tanabe”

  — Wolf, Tony; Bartitsu Society. (2016). New Discoveries and Speculations re. the Submission Grappling of British Jiu-Jitsu. The Bartitsu Societylink history info

  “in an interview, Uyenishi noted that it had been the school of Yataro Handa in Osaka, where Mataemon Tanabe taught.”

  — Sadakazu Uyenishi - Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English)link history info

  “Notable students: Taro Miyake, possibly-though unlikely Yukio Tani, Sadakazu Uyenishi”

  — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Mataemon Tanabe - Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English)link history info
• 
  Tani Yukio

  sports_martial_artsFusen-ryū Possible

  Possible

  Rumoured study with Mataemon Tanabe; the sources describe this as uncertain. The Fusen-ryu association is plausible at most - EN Wikipedia calls Tani a "possibly-though unlikely" student.

  Some evidence points to the claim, but it is thin, indirect, or in unresolved conflict with other evidence.

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Rumoured study with Mataemon Tanabe; the sources describe this as uncertain. The Fusen-ryu association is plausible at most - EN Wikipedia calls Tani a "possibly-though unlikely" student.

  “he is also rumored to have studied with Mataemon Tanabe, as Yukio's father and grandfather were friends with the Fusen-ryu master.”

  — (2026). Yukio Tani - Wikipedia. Wikipedia (English) link history info

  “Notable students Taro Miyake, possibly- though unlikely Yukio Tani, Sadakazu Uyenishi”

  — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Mataemon Tanabe - Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English)link history info
• 
  Miyake Tarō

  sports_martial_artsFusen-ryū Confirmed

  Confirmed

  Fusen-ryu jujutsu master Mataemon Tanabe named in the 1905 interview, EN Wikipedia and the BJS paper; his dojo's newaza expertise is well documented.

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  3 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Fusen-ryu jujutsu master Mataemon Tanabe named in the 1905 interview, EN Wikipedia and the BJS paper; his dojo's newaza expertise is well documented.

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “Until I was twenty-one, and apart from my duties as instructor, I studied ju-jitsu under one of our most famous teachers, Tanabe, and, although I was still very young, he entrusted me with all the secrets of his school”

  — Miyake, Taro; Bartitsu Society. (1905). How I Became a Ju-Jitsu Champion by Taro Miyake (1905). The Bartitsu Society link history info

  “Miyake started his training under the famous Fusen-ryu jujutsu master Mataemon Tanabe, as well as Osaka master Yataro Handa, head of the 2000+ member Seibukan which had a very close connection to Tanabe's ground fighting newaza.”

  — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Taro Miyake - Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English)link history info

  “Miyake had started to learn jujutsu with Tanabe before moving to Kyoto to train with a teacher called Uyemura, before moving to Osaka and training with Handa [Miyake 1905].”

  — Brough, David; Bradić, Slaviša; Callan, Mike; Gatling, Lance; Jones, Llyr. (2023). The British Ju-jitsu Society and the influence of Kodokan Judo on early jujutsu in the U.K.link history info
• person
  Fushimi Tatsusaburō

  sports_martial_artsFusen-ryū Probable

  Probable

  JA Wikipedia records Fushimi as a Fusen-ryu man who succeeded Handa at the Seibukan; the teacher-student relationship with Tanabe is implied by his Fusen-ryu affiliation and by the style's known line from Tanabe, but is not stated verbatim in any consulted source.

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  location_onSeibukan badge

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  JA Wikipedia records Fushimi as a Fusen-ryu man who succeeded Handa at the Seibukan; the teacher-student relationship with Tanabe is implied by his Fusen-ryu affiliation and by the style's known line from Tanabe, but is not stated verbatim in any consulted source.

  “半田の盛武館には不遷流の田辺又右衛門が出稽古に来ており、田辺の弟子の伏見辰三郎が半田の後を継いだ。”

  — 大東流柔術 - Wikipedia (Japanese). Wikipedia (Japanese) linkhistory info

Honours (2)

• receipt_longKyoshiKyoshi Confirmed

  Confirmed

  Hoare's translation records Tanabe as a judo Kyoshi of the Butokukai from 1906, retirement from teaching in 1922, and promotion to Hanshi in 1927; EN Wikipedia repeats the same sequence. Hoare primary, WP apud.

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  Title (1906)

  granted by Greater Japan Martial Virtue Society

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Hoare's translation records Tanabe as a judo Kyoshi of the Butokukai from 1906, retirement from teaching in 1922, and promotion to Hanshi in 1927; EN Wikipedia repeats the same sequence. Hoare primary, WP apud.

  “In Meiji 39 (1906) I was made judo Kyoshi (teacher). I quit working as a jujitsu/judo master in Taisho 11 (1922) aged 53. In 1927 I was made Judo Hanshi (master) by the Butokukai aged 58.”

  — Hoare, Syd. Tanabe Mataemon Talks About His Fusen-Ryu Jujitsu (Syd Hoare translation)link history info

  “He was appointed judo kyoshi in 1906, teaching at the Butoku Kai until his retirement in 1922, and was promoted to hanshi in 1927.”

  — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Mataemon Tanabe - Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English)link history info
• receipt_longHanshiHanshi Confirmed

  Confirmed

  Hoare's translation records promotion to Judo Hanshi by the Butokukai in 1927; EN Wikipedia repeats the same. Hoare primary, WP apud.

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  Title (1927)

  granted by Greater Japan Martial Virtue Society

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Hoare's translation records promotion to Judo Hanshi by the Butokukai in 1927; EN Wikipedia repeats the same. Hoare primary, WP apud.

  “In 1927 I was made Judo Hanshi (master) by the Butokukai aged 58.”

  — Hoare, Syd. Tanabe Mataemon Talks About His Fusen-Ryu Jujitsu (Syd Hoare translation)link history info

  “He was appointed judo kyoshi in 1906, teaching at the Butoku Kai until his retirement in 1922, and was promoted to hanshi in 1927.”

  — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Mataemon Tanabe - Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English)link history info

Sources

Identifiers