Also known as

Diana Watts · Mrs Roger Watts

Description

Among the first female instructors of jujitsu in the Western world, and an innovator in physical culture. By 1903 she joined the Golden Square dojo of Uyenishi and Akitaro Ono in London, and by 1906 was teaching her own class of boys at the Prince's Skating Club. Her 1906 book The Fine Art of Jujitsu was the first English-language work to detail Kodokan judo kata (nage no kata). Her 1914 The Renaissance of the Greek Ideal presented an original system of calisthenics inspired by Greek statuary, and she spent four decades on the international lecture circuit.

Teachers (2)

• 
  Uyenishi Sadakazu

  sports_martial_artsJūjutsu Confirmed

  Confirmed

  By 1903 Watts joined the Golden Square dojo run by Sadakazu Uyenishi and Akitaro Ono in Piccadilly; both Wikipedia and Brough (2020) state she joined in 1903.

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

  location_onSchool of Japanese Self Defence badge (1903–1906)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  3 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  By 1903 Watts joined the Golden Square dojo run by Sadakazu Uyenishi and Akitaro Ono in Piccadilly; both Wikipedia and Brough (2020) state she joined in 1903.

  “By 1903 Watts had developed a strong interest in jujitsu and joined the Golden Square dojo of Sadakazu Uyenishi and Akitaro Ono.”

  — Wikipedia contributors. (2025). Emily Diana Watts - Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English)link history info

  “Emily Diana Watts had also joined the Golden Square dojo in 1903 and in 1906 wrote The Fine Art of Jujitsu.”

  — Brough, David. (2020). The Golden Square Dojo and its place in British Jujutsu historylink history info

  “Watts (ca. 1865–?) had trained with Sadakazu Uyenishi (1880–?), one of several jujutsu practitioners whom Barton-Wright had brought to England in 1900, and his student William Garrud (dates unknown).”

  — Green, Thomas A.; Svinth, Joseph R.. (2010). Martial Arts of the World: An Encyclopedia of History and Innovation info
• 
  William Garrud

  sports_martial_artsJūjutsu Probable

  Probable

  Single source.

  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

  Single source.

  “Watts (ca. 1865–?) had trained with Sadakazu Uyenishi (1880–?), one of several jujutsu practitioners whom Barton-Wright had brought to England in 1900, and his student William Garrud (dates unknown).”

  — Green, Thomas A.; Svinth, Joseph R.. (2010). Martial Arts of the World: An Encyclopedia of History and Innovation info

Lineage

• Jūjutsu William Garrud ← Tani Yukio · 2 generations

Sources

Identifiers