Also known as
Shizuya Satoh
Description
Founder of Nihon Jujutsu, Meijin 10th dan Nihon Jujutsu (Kokusai Budoin IMAF),
Hanshi 9th dan Judo (Kokusai Budoin IMAF). Student of Mifune Kyuzo at the
Kodokan. Founded the US Embassy Judo Club in 1957 and served as its chief
instructor until his death. Former Chief Director of Kokusai Budoin, IMAF
(1982-2011).
Teachers (3)
-
Mifune Kyūzō
sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō
Probable
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
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”
-
person
Tomiki Kenji
sports_martial_artsAikidō
Probable
history_eduTradition only
Tradition only: every supporting source is the lineage's own account of
itself
location_onKodokan
badge (1952–1956)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source
expand_more
fact_check
INJA's own biography of its founder states Sato instructed aikido
'under' Tomiki Kenji at the SAC program at Kodokan; no independent
corroboration of this specific relationship was found (Tomiki's own
Wikipedia article does not mention Sato or the SAC program)
“Sato-sensei, who instructed both aikido (under head aikido instructor Dr.
Tomiki Kenji)”
-
person
Hosokawa Kusuo
sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō
Probable
history_eduTradition only
Tradition only: every supporting source is the lineage's own account of
itself
location_onKodokan
badge (1952–1956)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source
expand_more
fact_check
INJA's own biography of its founder states Sato instructed taihojutsu
'under' Hosokawa Kusuo at the SAC program; no independent corroboration
of this specific relationship was found
“taihojutsu techniques (under taihojutsu head instructor and senior Tokyo
Metropolitan Police taihojutsu / judo instructor Hosokawa Kusuo)”
Ranks (2)
-
military_tech10 dan
Confirmed
Dan-Kyu System
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources
expand_more
fact_check
Listed as 'Nihon Jujutsu Meijin 10th dan' on IMAF official site and INJA
website
“Nihon Jujutsu Hanshi 10 Dan – Kokusai Budoin, IMAF”
“Shizuya Sato • Nihon Jujutsu Meijin 10th dan (1929 – 2011)”
— About - Kokusai Budoin, International Martial Arts
Federationlinkhistory
info
-
military_tech9 dan
Confirmed
Dan-Kyu System
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources
expand_more
fact_check
INJA's own site and IMAF Americas' independent FAQ page both directly
state Judo Hanshi 9 Dan.
“Judo Hanshi 9 Dan – Kokusai Budoin, IMAF”
“Shizuya Sato, Hanshi, Hanshi 10-dan Nihon Jujutsu and Hanshi 9-dan Judo”
Students (2)
-
Lance Gatling
sports_martial_artsNihon Jujutsu
Confirmed
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
4 sources
expand_more
fact_check
Explicitly refers to Sato as 'my sensei' in his own writing on The Kanō
Chronicles; also described as 'direct student of Sato Shizuya sensei' in
independent sources
visibilityFirst-hand
“My sensei, Satō Shizuya (1929–2011)”
— Lance Gatling. (2026-02-02). Tomiki Kenji sensei on
the future of budō. The Kano Chronicleslink
history
info
visibilityFirst-hand
“My sensei was a graduate of Meiji [...] So, he taught there from 1957 until he
died five years ago, and at the time I was taking Judo there, Judo and Jujutsu,
Nihon Jujutsu, his style.”
— Budo, a way of life [2] — Lance Gatling [Nihon
Jujutsu, Judo & Jodo]link
info
visibilityFirst-hand
“I came here in 1986 and I was a member of this dojo since 1990”
— Budo tourism: what do the budoka think? Lance
Gatling, Sandro Furzi and Michael Reinhardtlink
info
“Lance Gatling was a direct student of Sato Shizuya sensei, the founder and
10dan Nihon Jujutsu, Director, International Martial Arts Federation, for over
20 years.”
— Judo Forum - Lance Gatling Nihon Jujutsu
link
-
person
John B. Gage
sports_martial_artsNihon Jujutsu
Confirmed
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
3 sources
expand_more
fact_check
Joined US Embassy Judo Club under Sato's direction in 1986; Sato
'accepted me as his student' per Gage's own account; later served as
Sato's assistant at international seminars
visibilityFirst-hand
“Fortunately, Sato Sensei accepted me as his student”
— JMAC - I Am JMAC: John Gage Senseilink
“Upon arriving in Tokyo, Japan in 1986, Gage-Sensei joined the US Embassy Judo
Club, under the direction of Sato Shizuya Sensei.”
— JMAC - John Gage Senseilink
“traveled around the world as an assistant to Sato Sensei at martial arts
seminars”
— JMAC - John Gage Senseilink
Honours (1)
-
receipt_longHanshi 9 Dan
Hanshi
Confirmed
Title
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources
expand_more
fact_check
INJA's own site and IMAF Americas' independent FAQ page both directly
state Judo Hanshi 9 Dan.
“Judo Hanshi 9 Dan – Kokusai Budoin, IMAF”
“Shizuya Sato, Hanshi, Hanshi 10-dan Nihon Jujutsu and Hanshi 9-dan Judo”
Identifiers
https://martial.is/entity/01KYND6715JYA1K07KHXH3FNG6
Cite and reuse
CC BY-SA 4.0expand_more
Plain text
Muñoz, Frederico (YEAR_PLACEHOLDER). Shizuya Satō. In Martialis: Martial Arts
Lineage Database. https://martial.is/entity/01KYND6715JYA1K07KHXH3FNG6 - CC
BY-SA 4.0. Accessed ACCESSED_DATE_PLACEHOLDER.
BibTeX
@incollection{martialis_01KYND6715JYA1K07KHXH3FNG6, author = {Muñoz, Frederico},
title = {Shizuya Satō}, booktitle = {Martialis: Martial Arts Lineage Database},
year = {YEAR_PLACEHOLDER}, url =
{https://martial.is/entity/01KYND6715JYA1K07KHXH3FNG6}, urldate =
{ACCESSED_DATE_PLACEHOLDER}, note = {CC BY-SA 4.0} }
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