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

  linkKōdōkan Jūdō 1balance

  Uncertain - conflicting evidence recorded

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

  sports_kabaddiKodokan badge (1935-1966)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

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

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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 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 to judo, but was likely not 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

  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

Ranks (2)

• linkKōdōkan Jūdō

  military_tech9 dan 3

  Confirmed

  Officially awarded by Kodokan in 2006, well-documented

  Dan-Kyu System

  granted by Kodokan

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Officially awarded by Kodokan in 2006, well-documented

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "In 2006 the Kodokan promoted Fukuda to 9th dan."

  — Keiko Fukuda - Wikipedialink

  military_tech10 dan 2

  Probable

  Awarded by USA Judo and USJF in 2011, well-documented

  Dan-Kyu System

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  Awarded by USA Judo and USJF in 2011, well-documented

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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

  Keiko Fukuda | United States Judo Federationlink

Students (1)

• 
  Carl De Crée

  linkKōdōkan Jūdō 2

  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.

  (2005-2008)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  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.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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)linkinfo

Sources