Description

Keiko Fukuda (Japanese: 福田 敬子, Hepburn: Fukuda Keiko, April 12, 1913 – February 9, 2013) was a Japanese-American martial artist. She was the highest-ranked female judoka in history, holding the rank of 9th dan from the Kodokan (2006), and 10th dan from USA Judo (July 2011) and from the United States Judo Federation (USJF) (September 2011), and was the last surviving student of Kanō Jigorō, founder of judo. She was a renowned pioneer of women's judo, together with her senpai Masako Noritomi (1913–1982) being the first woman promoted to 6th dan (c. 1972). In 2006 the Kodokan promoted Fukuda to 9th dan.[8] She is also the first and, so far, only woman to have been promoted to 10th dan in the art of judo.

Teachers (2)

• 
  Kanō Jigorō

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Possiblebalance

  Possible – conflicting evidence recorded

  While a very popular assertion, more direct proof is needed and Lance Gatling's analysis stands.

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

  location_onKodokan badge (1935–1966)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  While a very popular assertion, more direct proof is needed and Lance Gatling's analysis stands.

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “Keiko Fukuda is the granddaughter of Professor Jigoro Kano's first jujitsu instructor. She began studying the art at Professor Kano's request at age 21 and since that time has taught in Australia, Canada, the Philippines, the U.S. and, of course, the Kodokan where she has received all her promotions [...] In the Kodokan, sometimes we would all sit around the mat with Professor Kano and just talk and ask questions so we would know what each other was thinking”

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

  blockdisputes

  “Fukuda sensei devoted her life, effort and passion to judo [...] but I really doubt she was a “direct student” of Kanō shihan in any reasonable sense of the term.”

  — Was Fukuda Keiko sensei a "direct student" of Kanō shihan? How did Kanō shihan approach jūdō training for women?(The Kano Chronicles© 嘉納歴代©)link
• 
  Mifune Kyūzō

  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

Lineage

• Kōdōkan JūdōMifune Kyūzō ← Yokoyama Sakujiro ← Kanō Jigorō · 3 generations

Ranks (3)

• sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō

  military_tech9 dan Probable

  Probable

  Officially awarded by Kodokan in 2006, well-documented

  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

  Officially awarded by Kodokan in 2006, well-documented

  “In 2006, the Kodokan promoted Fukuda to 9th dan”

  — Keiko Fukuda - Wikipedialink history

  military_tech10 dan Confirmed

  Confirmed

  USA Judo's own announcement; SFGate and Wikipedia agree.

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

  Dan-Kyu System (2011-07-28)

  granted by USA Judo

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  3 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  USA Judo's own announcement; SFGate and Wikipedia agree.

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “On July 28, 2011, the promotion board of USA Judo conferred on Sensei Fukuda, the rank of 10th dan(Judan).”

  — Narimatsu, K. (2011): «USA Judo Promotes Professor Keiko Fukuda To 10th Dan!!!» USA Judo eLetter.link history

  “Last week, Sensei Keiko Fukuda of San Francisco became the first woman to be promoted to judo's highest level: 10th degree black belt.”

  — Judo master makes 10th-degree black belt - SFGate (2011-08-06)link

  “She was the highest-ranked female judoka in history, holding the rank of 9th dan from the Kodokan (2006), and 10th dan from USA Judo (July 2011) and from the United States Judo Federation (USJF) (September 2011)”

  — Keiko Fukuda - Wikipedialink history

  military_tech10 dan Probable

  Probable

  Her foundation and Wikipedia only; no USJF record found.

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

  Dan-Kyu System (2011-09)

  granted by United States Judo Federation

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Her foundation and Wikipedia only; no USJF record found.

  “Then, in 2011 Fukuda Shihan was granted 10th dan in Judo by USA Judo and US Judo Federation, the first woman ever to be honored in this way and the last surviving student of the founder of Judo.”

  — Keiko Fukuda Judo Foundationlink history

  “She was the highest-ranked female judoka in history, holding the rank of 9th dan from the Kodokan (2006), and 10th dan from USA Judo (July 2011) and from the United States Judo Federation (USJF) (September 2011)”

  — Keiko Fukuda - Wikipedialink history

Students (1)

• 
  Carl De Crée

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Probable

  Probable

  De Crée's own Judo Pour Tous biography states that between 2005 and 2008 he studied kata in San Francisco with Fukuda Keiko, the last surviving personal student of Kano Jigoro.

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

  (2005–2008)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  De Crée's own Judo Pour Tous biography states that between 2005 and 2008 he studied kata in San Francisco with Fukuda Keiko, the last surviving personal student of Kano Jigoro.

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “entre 2005-2008 à San Francisco avec Fukuda Keiko, 9e dan (1913-2013), le dernier étudiant personnel survivant de Kano Jigoro”

  — Carl De Crée. Carl de Crée - page de présentation (Judo Pour Tous)link history info

Sources

Identifiers