Description

Japanese judoka known as the 'God of Judo', one of only 15 judoka to be promoted to 10th dan. Student of Jigoro Kano and Yokoyama Sakujiro at the Kodokan. Famous for developing techniques like 'air throw' (kuki nage).

Teachers (2)

• 
  Kanō Jigorō

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Probable

  Probable

  Direct student of Jigoro Kano at the Kodokan, stated in JA and EN Wikipedia; Wikipedia only

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

  location_onKodokan badge (1903–1965)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Direct student of Jigoro Kano at the Kodokan, stated in JA and EN Wikipedia; Wikipedia only

  “1903年（明治36年）に上京して講道館に入門。”

  — Japanese Wikipedia article on Mifune Kyūzō link history

  “Coached by Kanō Jigorō”

  — English Wikipedia: Kyuzo Mifunelink history
• 
  Yokoyama Sakujiro

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Confirmed

  Confirmed

  Independent sources state it.

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

  location_onKodokan badge (1903)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Independent sources state it.

  “講道館では横山作次郎に師事。”

  — Japanese Wikipedia article on Mifune Kyūzō link history

  “Impressed by Mifune’s ardor, Yokoyama accepted Mifune as his student at the Kodokan. Mifune trained relentlessly under Demon Yokoyama.”

  — Stevens, John. (2013). The Way of Judo: A Portrait of Jigoro Kano and His Studentsinfo

Lineage

• Kōdōkan JūdōYokoyama Sakujiro ← Kanō Jigorō · 2 generations

Ranks (1)

• sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō

  military_tech10 dan Probable

  Probable

  Promoted to 10th dan in 1945, one of the highest-ranking judoka in history

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

  Dan-Kyu System (1945)

  granted by Kodokan

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Promoted to 10th dan in 1945, one of the highest-ranking judoka in history

  “1945年（昭和20年）最高位の十段を授けられ名人の称を受ける。”

  — Japanese Wikipedia article on Mifune Kyūzō link history

Students (11)

• person
  Walter Todd

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Probable

  Probable

  Interview with Walter Todd confirms he asked Mifune to be his teacher in 1946: Mifune asked if he would like him to be his teacher while he stayed in Japan.

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

  location_onKodokan badge (1946)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Interview with Walter Todd confirms he asked Mifune to be his teacher in 1946: Mifune asked if he would like him to be his teacher while he stayed in Japan.

  “He [Mifune] asked if I would like him to be my teacher while I stayed in Japan.”

  — Interview with Walter Todd (Meik Skoss, Koryu.com) link
• 
  Jon Bluming

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Probable

  Probable

  Bluming's biography identifies the elderly red-belt master who headed the Kenshusei class he joined in November 1959 as Kyuzo Mifune; his EJMAS article says Mifune gave seminars to Kenshusei members; own account only

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

  (1959–1961)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Bluming's biography identifies the elderly red-belt master who headed the Kenshusei class he joined in November 1959 as Kyuzo Mifune; his EJMAS article says Mifune gave seminars to Kenshusei members; own account only

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “In 1959 November that elderly man would become his head teacher in the new Kodokan when he became a member of the famous Kenshusei the 25 best fighters of Japan.”

  — Ruhe, Bert. Biography of Jon Bluming - jonbluming.nllink history info

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “members also got to attend special seminars given by teachers like Mifune and Samura.”

  — Bluming, Jon. (2000). The Beast of Amsterdam - Journal of Combative Sport (EJMAS). Journal of Combative Sportlink history info
• 
  Shōriki Matsutarō

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Possible

  Possible

  A 2014 forum post says its author has pictures of Shōriki training under Mifune. No source states that Mifune taught him, and the photograph shows training together, which does not establish teaching. This is why it is possible and not probable.

  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

  A 2014 forum post says its author has pictures of Shōriki training under Mifune. No source states that Mifune taught him, and the photograph shows training together, which does not establish teaching. This is why it is possible and not probable.

  alt_routeIndirect

  “I have pictures of him training under Mifune.”

  — (2014). Shoriki Matsutaro - Judo 10dan, war criminal, spy - E-Judo forumlink history info

  alt_routeIndirect

  “there is a pretty famous pic of Shoriki practicing with Mifune. It just shows them in 'kamae' with gripping.”

  — (2014). Shoriki Matsutaro - Judo 10dan, war criminal, spy - E-Judo forumlink history info
• 
  Shizuya Satō

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Probable

  Probable

  Explicitly described as 'student of Mifune Kyūzō' on the US Embassy Judo Club's own website; no independent corroboration was found

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

  history_eduTradition only

  Tradition only: every supporting source is the lineage's own account of itself

  location_onKodokan badge (1949–1965)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Explicitly described as 'student of Mifune Kyūzō' on the US Embassy Judo Club's own website; no independent corroboration was found

  “student of Mifune Kyūzō 三船久蔵 10dan”

  — US Embassy Judo Club, Tokyo, Japanlink history info
• 
  Ōsawa Yoshimi

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Probable

  Probable

  Well-documented student of Mifune Kyuzo at Waseda University, mentioned in Japanese Wikipedia biography

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

  location_onWaseda University badge (1943)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Well-documented student of Mifune Kyuzo at Waseda University, mentioned in Japanese Wikipedia biography

  “1943年4月に早稲田大学に入学し柔道部に入部すると、師範には三船久蔵や徳三宝らが顔を揃え、月に1度ほどではあったが指導に来てその薫陶を受けた”

  — 大沢吉己 - 日本語版ウィキペディア link history
• 
  Mochizuki Minoru

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Confirmed

  Confirmed

  Mentioned in the Dragon Magazine interview as becoming his live-in student after the famous well anecdote at the Kodokan, with detailed anecdotes about their relationship; the Karaté-Bushido interview records Mifune choosing him as assistant

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

  location_onKodokan badge (1926–1930)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  3 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Mentioned in the Dragon Magazine interview as becoming his live-in student after the famous well anecdote at the Kodokan, with detailed anecdotes about their relationship; the Karaté-Bushido interview records Mifune choosing him as assistant

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “A partir de ce jour, j'ai habité chez Maître Mifune.”

  — Garnier Sinclair, Eric. (2005). Minoru Mochizuki, le dernier des géants - entretien en deux parties info

  “1927年（昭和2年）、三船久蔵の内弟子となる。”

  — 望月稔 - Wikipedia (JA). Wikipedia (Japanese) link history info

  “From that day on I stayed at Mifune Sensei's house. In essence I became one of his dependents. At that time, there were hundreds of students who lived at his expense in order to learn judo”

  — Interview with Minoru Mochizuki: Part 1, Aikido Journal, November 2002link
• 
  Kobayashi Kiyoshi

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Confirmed

  Confirmed

  Documented as a direct student of Mifune Kyuzo in forum discussions and academic papers, with mentions of private footage showing him as uke for Mifune in demonstrations

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

  location_onKodokan badge

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Documented as a direct student of Mifune Kyuzo in forum discussions and academic papers, with mentions of private footage showing him as uke for Mifune in demonstrations

  “Kobayashi-sensei was a student of Mifune, and there exists private footage showing him as an uke for Mifune in itsutsu-no-kata and public jūdō demonstrations.”

  — Passing of Kobayashi Kiyoshi sensei, Kodokan 9th dan (Judo Forum discussion)link

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “Other direct students of Mifune who are still alive, such as notably Kyoshi Kobayashi, 9th dan (Portugal)”

  — Kodokan judo's elusive tenth kata: The Go-no-kata - Forms of Proper Use of Force, Part 1 (ResearchGate)link
• person
  Kazuo Itō

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Probable

  Probable

  INJA's Heritage page and French Wikipedia, an independent source, both directly state Ito was a personal student of Kyuzo Mifune

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

  location_onKodokan badge

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  INJA's Heritage page and French Wikipedia, an independent source, both directly state Ito was a personal student of Kyuzo Mifune

  “Kazuo Ito was a personal student of Kyuzo Mifine”

  — Heritage - International Nihon Jujutsu Association link history info

  “Kazuo Ito était un élève personnel de Kyūzō Mifune.”

  — Kazuo Itō - Wikipédia FRlink history
• 
  Fukuda Keiko

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Probable

  Probable

  Fukuda describes her training with Mifune in the 1974 Black Belt interview; own account only

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

  location_onKodokan badge (1935–1966)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Fukuda describes her training with Mifune in the 1974 Black Belt interview; own account only

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “Miss Fukuda, describing her training with the late Professor Kyuzo Mifune (10th dan)”

  — Johnson, G. (1974): «A single reed that bends gracefully in the wind.» Black Belt, 12(6):28–33. link
• 
  Sarah Mayer

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Probable

  Probable

  Hatta introduced Mayer to Mifune Kyuzo, and she followed him across Tokyo to the various dojo where he taught.

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

  (1934)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  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 link info
• person
  Sasaki Shigetaka

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Probable

  Probable

  Judo Canada's own history only.

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

  history_eduTradition only

  Tradition only: every supporting source is the lineage's own account of itself

  location_onKodokan badge (1932)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Judo Canada's own history only.

  “In that same year, Sasaki travelled to Japan to study under Kyuzo Mifune, Kodokan’s 7th Dan head instructor, and was promoted to 3rd Dan.”

  — Leyshon, Glynn A.. (1998). Judoka: The History of Judo in Canadainfo

Sources

Identifiers