Also known as

Donald Frederick Draeger

Description

American martial artist, author, and pioneer in the study of Asian martial arts, first non-Japanese in Katori Shinto-ryu

Teachers (3)

• person
  Shimizu Takaji

  sports_martial_artsShindō Musō-ryū Probable

  Probable

  Single source.

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

  (1959)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Single source.

  “Early non-Japanese students included Donn Draeger (1922–1982), Jon Bluming (1933–), and Bill Fuller (dates unknown), all of whom began training with Shimizu during 1959–1960.”

  — Green, Thomas A.; Svinth, Joseph R.. (2010). Martial Arts of the World: An Encyclopedia of History and Innovation info
• 
  Ōtake Risuke

  sports_martial_artsTenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū Probable

  Probable

  First non-Japanese practitioner to enter Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu in 1967 under Risuke Otake, achieving instructor grade, as documented in Aiki-Kohai article

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

  (1967)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  First non-Japanese practitioner to enter Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu in 1967 under Risuke Otake, achieving instructor grade, as documented in Aiki-Kohai article

  “A partir de 1967, Il sera ensuite la premier pratiquant non japonais à entrer dans l'école Tenshin shoden Katori Shinto ryu alors sous la direction du célèbre Risuke Otake shihan, achevant son parcours dans cette école par l'obtention d'un grade d'instructeur.”

  — Tatsusjin : la chronique abrégée de Donn F. Draeger (Aïki-Kohaï)link
• 
  Wang Shujin

  sports_martial_artsBaguazhang Probable

  Probable

  Trained in Chinese martial arts (xingyiquan and baguazhang) under Wang Shujin at Meiji Shrine in Japan, as documented in KogenBudo article

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

  location_onMeiji Shrine badge

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Trained in Chinese martial arts (xingyiquan and baguazhang) under Wang Shujin at Meiji Shrine in Japan, as documented in KogenBudo article

  “There was a famous xingyiquan and baguazhang teacher in Japan in those days, named Wang Shujin [...] Donn (and a number of other of his associates) began training with Wang on the grounds of the Meiji Shrine”

  — Donn Draeger & Robert Smith: Their Intersection Concerning Chinese Martial Arts (KogenBudo)link

Lineage

• Shindō Musō-ryūShimizu Takaji ← Shiraishi Hanjirō Shigeaki · 2 generations
• Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryūŌtake Risuke ← Hayashi Yazaemon ← Hayashi Sakuichiro ← Kumajiro Yamaguchi ← Iizasa Shuri-no-suke Morisada · 5 generations
• Baguazhang Wang Shujin ← Zhang Zhaodong · 2 generations

Ranks (4)

• sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō

  military_tech5 dan Probable

  Probable

  Single source.

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

  Dan-Kyu System

  granted by Kodokan

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Single source.

  “Draeger, fascinated by the martial spirit of budo, first trained in judo and became one of the earliest non-Japanese to gain a coveted Kodokan 5th dan grade.”

  — Brian N. Watson. (2008). Judo Memoirs of Jigoro Kanoinfo
• sports_martial_artsKendo

  military_tech7 dan Probable

  Probable

  Single source.

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

  Dan-Kyu System

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Single source.

  “He later earned a 7th dan in kendo, a 7th dan in iai-do, (art of sword-drawing) and a 7th dan in jodo (stick fighting).”

  — Brian N. Watson. (2008). Judo Memoirs of Jigoro Kanoinfo
• sports_martial_artsIaido

  military_tech7 dan Probable

  Probable

  Single source.

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

  Dan-Kyu System

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Single source.

  “He later earned a 7th dan in kendo, a 7th dan in iai-do, (art of sword-drawing) and a 7th dan in jodo (stick fighting).”

  — Brian N. Watson. (2008). Judo Memoirs of Jigoro Kanoinfo
• sports_martial_artsJodo

  military_tech7 dan Probable

  Probable

  Single source.

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

  Dan-Kyu System

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Single source.

  “He later earned a 7th dan in kendo, a 7th dan in iai-do, (art of sword-drawing) and a 7th dan in jodo (stick fighting).”

  — Brian N. Watson. (2008). Judo Memoirs of Jigoro Kanoinfo

Students (1)

• 
  Jon Bluming

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Probable

  Probable

  Bluming's biography and interview state Donn Draeger trained him in judo in Tokyo from March 1959 to 1961, managed his weight gain from 79 to 102 kilos and proposed him for the Kenshusei class; 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 and interview state Donn Draeger trained him in judo in Tokyo from March 1959 to 1961, managed his weight gain from 79 to 102 kilos and proposed him for the Kenshusei class; own account only

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “when Draeger (Donn Draeger) started training me, in March 1959, by November I was a solid 102 kilos. [...] He was the best; he could run circles around all the top Judoka in the Kodokan, all the 8th and 9th and 10th dans.”

  — Mann, WR. Jon Bluming, Europe's First Mixed Martial Artist - Realfightinglink history info

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “Back in Tokyo he started under the guidance of the famous Donn Dreager again with weight training for judo and karate and became finally what he always wanted heavyweight at 102 kilo solid from 79 kilo in Canada”

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

Sources

Identifiers