Description

French judoka, the first European judo champion and the first French pupil of Mikinosuke Kawaishi, whom he met in 1935. During Kawaishi's absence from France he co-directed French judo with Paul Beaujean, and his students included André Kolychkine, who introduced judo to Cuba.

Teachers (1)

• person
  Kawaishi Mikinosuke

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Confirmed

  Confirmed

  EcuRed describes Jean de Herdt as a disciple of Mikinosuke Kawaishi, founder of European judo; the 2012 Lyonne.fr press article presents de Herdt as the first pupil of Kawaishi, who met him in 1935 at age 14 and was among the first to obtain the black belt three years later

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

  (1935)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  EcuRed describes Jean de Herdt as a disciple of Mikinosuke Kawaishi, founder of European judo; the 2012 Lyonne.fr press article presents de Herdt as the first pupil of Kawaishi, who met him in 1935 at age 14 and was among the first to obtain the black belt three years later

  “En París fue alumno del sensei Jean de Herdt [...] quien a su vez era discípulo de Mikinosuke Kawaishi [...] fundador del judo europeo.”

  — EcuRed contributors. (2026). André Kolychkine Thompsonlink history info

  “Jean de Herdt est le premier élève de Mikinosuke Kawaishi, l'homme qui a implanté le judo en Europe. En 1935, la rencontre entre l'ado et le maître [...] J'avais 14 ans et c'était interdit aux moins de 17 ans [...] Trois ans plus tard, Jean de Herdt est l'un des premiers à obtenir une ceinture noire de judo. Il n'a que 17 ans.”

  — Lyonne.fr (Le Bien Public). (2012). Jean de Herdt, 88 ans, une légende du judo - Lyonne.frlink history info

Lineage

• Kōdōkan JūdōKawaishi Mikinosuke ← Takahashi Kazuyoshi ← Yokoyama Sakujiro ← Kanō Jigorō · 4 generations

Ranks (3)

• sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō

  military_tech4 dan Confirmed

  Confirmed

  The 2018 review by judo historian Michel Brousse, drawing on Jean Gailhat's period account, documents that de Herdt was awarded the 4th dan on 6 December 1951, the grade being remitted by Risei Kano, president of the Kodokan; Brousse explicitly debunks the book's claim that ambassador Yotaro Sugimura offered 4th, 5th and 6th dan in the name of the Kodokan

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

  Dan-Kyu System (1951-12-06)

  granted by Kanō Risei, Kodokan

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  The 2018 review by judo historian Michel Brousse, drawing on Jean Gailhat's period account, documents that de Herdt was awarded the 4th dan on 6 December 1951, the grade being remitted by Risei Kano, president of the Kodokan; Brousse explicitly debunks the book's claim that ambassador Yotaro Sugimura offered 4th, 5th and 6th dan in the name of the Kodokan

  “la presencia de Jean de Herdt (, cinta negra cuarto dan, campeón de Europa y ocho veces titular de Francia”

  — EcuRed contributors. (2026). André Kolychkine Thompsonlink history info

  “Le récit de Jean Gailhat s'en tient à la réalité lorsqu'il conclut le déroulement de la journée du 6 décembre: « De Herdt est nommé 4e dan. Il est 11 heures du soir. » Car il s'agit bien du 4e dan mais du 4e dan seulement. Le grade est remis par Risei Kano, président du Kodokan et de la fédération japonaise de judo.”

  — Michel Brousse. (2018). Compte-rendu de lecture - Livre sur Jean de Herdt - Michel Brousselink history info

  military_tech5 dan Confirmed

  Confirmed

  de Herdt's own account in Les Pionniers du Judo Français records that he passed the 5th dan in June 1956 under Kawaishi's direction; the Bushido-Kwai Mechelen club history likewise describes de Herdt as 5th dan

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

  Dan-Kyu System (1956-06)

  granted by Kawaishi Mikinosuke, French Judo and Jiu-Jitsu Federation

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  3 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  de Herdt's own account in Les Pionniers du Judo Français records that he passed the 5th dan in June 1956 under Kawaishi's direction; the Bushido-Kwai Mechelen club history likewise describes de Herdt as 5th dan

  “Je passai le 5e dan tout naturellement en juin 1956 sous la direction de M. Kawaishi. Il m'appela un jour pour me dire que j'étais nommé.”

  — Claude Thibault. (2011). Les Pionniers du Judo Françaisinfo

  “Je passai le 5e dan tout naturellement en juin 1956 sous la direction de M. Kawaishi. Il m'appela un jour pour me dire que j'étais nommé.”

  — Le premier 4e, 5e et 6e dan français (Judo Pour Tous)link history info

  “Daarna trainde hij verder onder grote namen in de judowereld : Jean De Herdt FR 5° Dan Europees kampioen”

  — (2006). Club historiek - Felix De Smedt, stichter van de Judo-Karate Academie Bushido-Kwailink history info

  military_tech6 dan Doubtfulbalance

  Doubtful – conflicting evidence recorded

  Contested claim - the 2013 over-blog tribute states de Herdt was 6th dan (Rokudan), but de Herdt's own account in Les Pionniers du Judo Français records that the Kodokan experts proposed the 6th dan in December 1951, which he refused in agreement with Kawaishi, and that his 6th dan certificate was never signed

  A source makes the claim, but the evidence does not substantiate it.

  Dan-Kyu System

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  3 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Contested claim - the 2013 over-blog tribute states de Herdt was 6th dan (Rokudan), but de Herdt's own account in Les Pionniers du Judo Français records that the Kodokan experts proposed the 6th dan in December 1951, which he refused in agreement with Kawaishi, and that his 6th dan certificate was never signed

  “Il était Rokudan de Judo et Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur.”

  — (2013). Jean DE HERDT, le pionnier .... - patrickdimayuga.over-blog.comlink history info

  blockdisputesvisibilityFirst-hand

  “les experts du Kodokan me proposèrent le 6e dan. En accord avec M. Kawaishi, je refusai ce grade. [...] Je ne lui fit jamais signer mon 6e dan car il était déjà malade”

  — Claude Thibault. (2011). Les Pionniers du Judo Françaisinfo

  blockdisputesvisibilityFirst-hand

  “les experts du Kodokan me proposèrent le 6e dan. En accord avec M. Kawaishi, je refusai ce grade. [...] Je ne lui fit jamais signer mon 6e dan car il était déjà malade”

  — Le premier 4e, 5e et 6e dan français (Judo Pour Tous)link history info

Students (3)

• 
  André Kolychkine Thompson

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Probable

  Probable

  EcuRed states Kolychkine was a student of Jean de Herdt in Paris, himself a disciple of Mikinosuke Kawaishi, founder of European judo

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

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  EcuRed states Kolychkine was a student of Jean de Herdt in Paris, himself a disciple of Mikinosuke Kawaishi, founder of European judo

  “En París fue alumno del sensei Jean de Herdt [...] quien a su vez era discípulo de Mikinosuke Kawaishi”

  — EcuRed contributors. (2026). André Kolychkine Thompsonlink history info
• person
  Jan van der Horst

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Probable

  Probable

  The JBN memorial names 'Deherdt' among van der Horst's teachers in France; matched to the Jean de Herdt person entry on the strength of the name and period, though the memorial gives no first name.

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

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  The JBN memorial names 'Deherdt' among van der Horst's teachers in France; matched to the Jean de Herdt person entry on the strength of the name and period, though the memorial gives no first name.

  “hij volgde lessen bij de leraren Awazu, Deherdt en Bonnet Maury in Frankrijk en later bij sensei Ishiro Abe in Brussel.”

  — Visser, Willem. (2009). Herdenking bij het overlijden van de heer Jan van der Horstlink history info
• 
  Felix De Smedt

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Probable

  Probable

  English Wikipedia records that De Smedt increased his expertise under Jean de Herdt, who promoted him to blue belt 2nd kyu in November 1949 and to brown belt 1st kyu in June 1950.

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

  (1949–1950)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  English Wikipedia records that De Smedt increased his expertise under Jean de Herdt, who promoted him to blue belt 2nd kyu in November 1949 and to brown belt 1st kyu in June 1950.

  “In November 1949, de Herdt promoted De Smedt to blue belt 2nd kyu, and in June 1950 to brown belt 1st kyu.”

  — Felix De Smedt - Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English)link history info

Sources

Identifiers