Description

Belgian judoka and scholar of the martial arts. Earned his black belt at 16 under his principal teacher Felix De Smedt, founder of the Bushido-Kwai Mechelen academy; completed his judo kata studies with Marcel Clause in the period 1978-1992 and followed advanced stages under Hirano Tokio; between 2005 and 2008 he studied kata with Fukuda Keiko in San Francisco. While residing in Japan he trained in Tenjin Shin'yo-ryu jujutsu under Tobari Kazu, under ne-waza expert Kurimura Yoji at the Kyoto Prefectural Police Academy, and under Okano Isao at the Seikijuku in Tokyo. A former -78kg member of the Belgian national team under national coach Valere Steegmans, he was Belgian champion in 1976. He holds 8th dan in judo, 6th dan in modern jujutsu and a Kyokushinkai black belt, holds the title of kyoshi, and is the first non-Japanese ever to hold menkyo in Kito-ryu. Full professor of exercise endocrinology and sports medicine at Ghent University and a noted Japanologist, he has authored numerous academic studies of Kodokan judo kata, several of which are cited here. International referee since 1996 and current head of the Royal Judo & Karate Academy Bushido-Kwai.

Teachers (7)

• 
  Felix De Smedt

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Confirmed

  Confirmed

  De Crée's own Judo Pour Tous biography names Felix De Smedt as his principal teacher at the time he obtained his black belt at 16; independently corroborated by the English Wikipedia biography of De Smedt, which lists Carl De Crée among his students.

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

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  De Crée's own Judo Pour Tous biography names Felix De Smedt as his principal teacher at the time he obtained his black belt at 16; independently corroborated by the English Wikipedia biography of De Smedt, which lists Carl De Crée among his students.

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “À 16 ans, il obtient la ceinture noire de jùdô. Son professeur principal à l'époque était Felix De Smedt (1923-2012), fondateur de la Jùdô et de la Jujutsu Academy Bushido-Kwai Mechelen.”

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

  “Among his students are: Gustaaf De Waele, François Van Onckelen (-60 kg), Jeannine Meulemans (women's -56 kg), Carl De Crée (-78 kg), and Sonja Maes (women's -72 kg).”

  — Felix De Smedt - Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English)link history info
• person
  Marcel Clause

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Probable

  Probable

  De Crée's own Judo Pour Tous biography states that he completed his judo kata studies with Marcel Clause in the period 1978-1992.

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

  (1978–1992)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  De Crée's own Judo Pour Tous biography states that he completed his judo kata studies with Marcel Clause in the period 1978-1992.

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “Il possède une expertise particulière dans le domaine du jùdô-kata, dans lequel il a terminé ses études avec Marcel Clause dans la période 1978-1992”

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

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Probable

  Probable

  De Crée's own Judo Pour Tous biography states that he followed numerous advanced stages under Hirano Tokio.

  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

  De Crée's own Judo Pour Tous biography states that he followed numerous advanced stages under Hirano Tokio.

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “De plus, inspiré techniquement du Jùdô par Marcel Clause, 8e dan (1927-2004), il a également suivi de nombreux stages avancés à Hirano Tokyo, 8e dan (1922-1993).”

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

  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
• 
  Abe Ichirō

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Probable

  Probable

  De Crée's own autobiographical author biography in his 2024 peer-reviewed article lists Abe Ichirō among the judo teachers he studied with while residing in Japan.

  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

  De Crée's own autobiographical author biography in his 2024 peer-reviewed article lists Abe Ichirō among the judo teachers he studied with while residing in Japan.

  reviewsPeer-reviewedvisibilityFirst-hand

  “He has previously resided in Japan and has studied jūdō with, inter alia, the late Felix De Smedt, Marcel Clause, Hirano Tokio, Fukuda Keiko, Imamura Haruo, Abe Ichirō, Daigo Toshirō, and Ōsawa Yoshimi, and with Ashida Kunio, Kurimura Yōji, Ochiai Toshiyasu, Okano Isao, Tokuyama Misao, and Tsuji Yoshimi.”

  — Carl De Crée. (2024). A critical update to earlier research findings about the historical roots of gonosen-no-kata - 'Forms of post-attack initiative counter throws' (De Crée, 2024). Revista de Artes Marciales Asiáticaslink history info
• 
  Ōsawa Yoshimi

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Probable

  Probable

  De Crée's own autobiographical author biography in his 2024 peer-reviewed article lists Ōsawa Yoshimi among the judo teachers he studied with while residing in Japan. This is De Crée's own self-reported claim, asserted here with that provenance made explicit.

  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

  De Crée's own autobiographical author biography in his 2024 peer-reviewed article lists Ōsawa Yoshimi among the judo teachers he studied with while residing in Japan. This is De Crée's own self-reported claim, asserted here with that provenance made explicit.

  reviewsPeer-reviewedvisibilityFirst-hand

  “He has previously resided in Japan and has studied jūdō with, inter alia, the late Felix De Smedt, Marcel Clause, Hirano Tokio, Fukuda Keiko, Imamura Haruo, Abe Ichirō, Daigo Toshirō, and Ōsawa Yoshimi, and with Ashida Kunio, Kurimura Yōji, Ochiai Toshiyasu, Okano Isao, Tokuyama Misao, and Tsuji Yoshimi.”

  — Carl De Crée. (2024). A critical update to earlier research findings about the historical roots of gonosen-no-kata - 'Forms of post-attack initiative counter throws' (De Crée, 2024). Revista de Artes Marciales Asiáticaslink history info
• 
  Daigo Toshirō

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Probable

  Probable

  De Crée's own autobiographical author biography in his 2024 peer-reviewed article lists Daigo Toshirō among the judo teachers he studied with while residing in Japan. This is De Crée's own self-reported claim, asserted here with that provenance made explicit.

  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

  De Crée's own autobiographical author biography in his 2024 peer-reviewed article lists Daigo Toshirō among the judo teachers he studied with while residing in Japan. This is De Crée's own self-reported claim, asserted here with that provenance made explicit.

  reviewsPeer-reviewedvisibilityFirst-hand

  “He has previously resided in Japan and has studied jūdō with, inter alia, the late Felix De Smedt, Marcel Clause, Hirano Tokio, Fukuda Keiko, Imamura Haruo, Abe Ichirō, Daigo Toshirō, and Ōsawa Yoshimi, and with Ashida Kunio, Kurimura Yōji, Ochiai Toshiyasu, Okano Isao, Tokuyama Misao, and Tsuji Yoshimi.”

  — Carl De Crée. (2024). A critical update to earlier research findings about the historical roots of gonosen-no-kata - 'Forms of post-attack initiative counter throws' (De Crée, 2024). Revista de Artes Marciales Asiáticaslink history info

Lineage

• Kōdōkan JūdōFelix De Smedt ← Jean de Herdt ← Kawaishi Mikinosuke ← Takahashi Kazuyoshi ← Yokoyama Sakujiro ← Kanō Jigorō · 6 generations

Ranks (4)

• sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō

  military_tech8 dan Probable

  Probable

  8th dan judo reported by De Crée himself in his Judo Pour Tous biography and in his 2024 author biography; the date and granting body are not recorded in the sources consulted.

  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

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  8th dan judo reported by De Crée himself in his Judo Pour Tous biography and in his 2024 author biography; the date and granting body are not recorded in the sources consulted.

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “Carl De Crée détient une ceinture noire en 8e dan en jùdô, un 6e dan en jujutsu (moderne) et une ceinture noire en karaté Kyokushinkai.”

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

  reviewsPeer-reviewedvisibilityFirst-hand

  “He holds an 8th dan black belt in jūdō and the title of kyōshi.”

  — Carl De Crée. (2024). A critical update to earlier research findings about the historical roots of gonosen-no-kata - 'Forms of post-attack initiative counter throws' (De Crée, 2024). Revista de Artes Marciales Asiáticaslink history info
• sports_martial_artsJūjutsu

  military_tech6 dan Probable

  Probable

  6th dan in modern jujutsu reported by De Crée himself in his Judo Pour Tous biography; the date and granting body are not recorded in the sources consulted.

  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

  6th dan in modern jujutsu reported by De Crée himself in his Judo Pour Tous biography; the date and granting body are not recorded in the sources consulted.

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “Carl De Crée détient une ceinture noire en 8e dan en jùdô, un 6e dan en jujutsu (moderne) et une ceinture noire en karaté Kyokushinkai.”

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

  receipt_longMenkyo Probable

  Probable

  De Crée himself states in his 2024 author biography that he is the first and only non-Japanese ever to hold menkyo in Kitō-ryū; consistent with his published academic work on Kitō-ryū jūjutsu.

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

  Menkyo Licence System

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  De Crée himself states in his 2024 author biography that he is the first and only non-Japanese ever to hold menkyo in Kitō-ryū; consistent with his published academic work on Kitō-ryū jūjutsu.

  reviewsPeer-reviewedvisibilityFirst-hand

  “He is a former student in the Inoue Keitarō-lineage of Tenjin Shin'yō-ryū jūjutsu under the late Tobari Kazu-shihan, and the first and only non-Japanese ever to hold menkyo in Kitō-ryū.”

  — Carl De Crée. (2024). A critical update to earlier research findings about the historical roots of gonosen-no-kata - 'Forms of post-attack initiative counter throws' (De Crée, 2024). Revista de Artes Marciales Asiáticaslink history info
• sports_martial_artsKyokushin

  military_techDan grade Probable

  Probable

  Kyokushinkai karate black belt reported by De Crée himself in his Judo Pour Tous biography; no specific grade, date or granting body recorded.

  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

  Kyokushinkai karate black belt reported by De Crée himself in his Judo Pour Tous biography; no specific grade, date or granting body recorded.

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “Carl De Crée détient une ceinture noire en 8e dan en jùdô, un 6e dan en jujutsu (moderne) et une ceinture noire en karaté Kyokushinkai.”

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

Honours (1)

• receipt_longkyōshiKyoshi Probable

  Probable

  Title of kyōshi reported by De Crée himself in his 2024 author biography; the date and granting body are not recorded in the sources consulted.

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

  Title

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Title of kyōshi reported by De Crée himself in his 2024 author biography; the date and granting body are not recorded in the sources consulted.

  reviewsPeer-reviewedvisibilityFirst-hand

  “He holds an 8th dan black belt in jūdō and the title of kyōshi.”

  — Carl De Crée. (2024). A critical update to earlier research findings about the historical roots of gonosen-no-kata - 'Forms of post-attack initiative counter throws' (De Crée, 2024). Revista de Artes Marciales Asiáticaslink history info

Sources

Identifiers