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

  linkKōdōkan Jūdō 3

  Confirmed

  Well-documented direct student of Jigoro Kano at the Kodokan, mentioned in multiple historical sources

  sports_kabaddiKodokan badge (1903-1965)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Well-documented direct student of Jigoro Kano at the Kodokan, mentioned in multiple historical sources

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "1903年（明治36年）に上京して講道館に入門。"

  — Japanese Wikipedia article on Mifune Kyūzō link
• 
  Yokoyama Sakujiro

  linkKōdōkan Jūdō 3

  Confirmed

  Primary student of Yokoyama Sakujiro at the Kodokan, one of the 'Four Guardians of the Kodokan'

  sports_kabaddiKodokan badge (1903)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Primary student of Yokoyama Sakujiro at the Kodokan, one of the 'Four Guardians of the Kodokan'

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "講道館では横山作次郎に師事。"

  — Japanese Wikipedia article on Mifune Kyūzō link

Ranks (1)

• linkKōdōkan Jūdō

  military_tech10 dan 3

  Confirmed

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

  Dan-Kyu System (1945)

  granted by Kodokan

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

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

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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

Students (9)

• Wa
  Walter Todd

  linkKōdōkan Jūdō 3

  Confirmed

  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.

  sports_kabaddiKodokan badge (1946)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  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.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Mifune Sensei asked if I would like him to be my teacher while I was in Japan."

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

  linkKōdōkan Jūdō 3

  Confirmed

  Bluming's official biography identifies the Kodokan master he first saw in March 1951 and who later became head teacher of the Kenshusei class he joined in November 1959 as the same elderly red-belt master, Kyuzo Mifune; the EJMAS article confirms Mifune gave special seminars to Kenshusei members.

  (1959-1961)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  Bluming's official biography identifies the Kodokan master he first saw in March 1951 and who later became head teacher of the Kenshusei class he joined in November 1959 as the same elderly red-belt master, Kyuzo Mifune; the EJMAS article confirms Mifune gave special seminars to Kenshusei members.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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.nllinkhistoryinfo

  "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 Sportlinkinfo
• 
  Shizuya Satō

  linkKōdōkan Jūdō 3

  Confirmed

  Explicitly described as 'student of Mifune Kyūzō' on the US Embassy Judo Club website

  sports_kabaddiKodokan badge (1949-1965)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Explicitly described as 'student of Mifune Kyūzō' on the US Embassy Judo Club website

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "student of Mifune Kyūzō 三船久蔵 10dan"

  — US Embassy Judo Club websitelink
• 
  Ōsawa Yoshimi

  linkKōdōkan Jūdō 3

  Confirmed

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

  sports_kabaddiWaseda University badge (1943)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

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

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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 linkhistory
• 
  Mochizuki Minoru

  linkKōdōkan Jūdō 3

  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

  sports_kabaddiKodokan badge (1926-1930)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  3 sources

  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

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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) linkinfo

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

  linkKōdōkan Jūdō 3

  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

  sports_kabaddiKodokan badge (1903-1965)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  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

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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

  "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
• Ka
  Kazuo Itō

  linkKōdōkan Jūdō 2

  Probable

  Described as 'personal student of Kyuzo Mifune' on the INJA Heritage page

  sports_kabaddiKodokan badge

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Described as 'personal student of Kyuzo Mifune' on the INJA Heritage page

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Kazuo Ito was a personal student of Kyuzo Mifune"

  — INJA — Heritagelink
• 
  Fukuda Keiko

  linkKōdōkan Jūdō 3

  Confirmed

  Well-documented historical relationship with extensive sources

  sports_kabaddiKodokan badge (1935-1966)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Well-documented historical relationship with extensive sources

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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

  linkKōdōkan Jūdō 3

  Confirmed

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

  (1934-1934)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

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

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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

Sources