Also known as

Sarah Winifred Benedict Mayer · Sarah Winifred Benedict · Sarah Winifred Benedict Tapping

Description

English actress and judoka, the first non-Japanese woman to obtain a black belt in judo. Born in London in 1896 into an acting dynasty, she worked in the West End from 1914. She trained in judo with Gunji Koizumi at the Budokwai from 1926, where the ladies' classes were taught by Koizumi and Yukio Tani, reaching 4th kyu by 1932. On an around-the-world trip in 1934 she trained in Japan, first in Kobe and Kyoto, then in Tokyo under Kanō Jigorō, who devised a training regime for her and allowed her to practise in the Kodokan main dojo with the men. After reaching Kodokan 1st kyu she graded for shōdan at the Kyoto Butokukai in February 1935 - the first non-Japanese woman black belt. On her return she was Honorary Secretary of the Budokwai's ladies' section; she is the subject of an Oxford Dictionary of National Biography entry.

Teachers (7)

• 
  Gunji Koizumi

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Confirmed

  Confirmed

  Wikipedia states Mayer first trained in judo by Gunji Koizumi at the Budokwai in the 1920s; Callan/Heffernan/Spenn confirm the ladies' classes were taught by Koizumi at the Budokwai, which Mayer joined in 1926.

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

  location_onBudokwai badge (1926–1933)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Wikipedia states Mayer first trained in judo by Gunji Koizumi at the Budokwai in the 1920s; Callan/Heffernan/Spenn confirm the ladies' classes were taught by Koizumi at the Budokwai, which Mayer joined in 1926.

  “Mayer first trained in judo by Gunji Koizumi at the Budokwai in the 1920s.”

  — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Sarah Mayer - Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English)link history info

  “In 1926, Mayer [...] first joined the Budokwai as the thirty-first female member. [...] The ladies' classes, at that time, were taught by Koizumi, the founder, and Tani Yukio”

  — Callan, Mike; Heffernan, Conor; Spenn, Amanda. (2018). Women's Jūjutsu and Judo in the Early Twentieth-Century: The Cases of Phoebe Roberts, Edith Garrud, and Sarah Mayer link info
• 
  Tani Yukio

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Probable

  Probable

  Callan/Heffernan/Spenn state the Budokwai ladies' classes at the time Mayer joined (1926) were taught by Koizumi and Tani Yukio.

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

  location_onBudokwai badge (1926–1933)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Callan/Heffernan/Spenn state the Budokwai ladies' classes at the time Mayer joined (1926) were taught by Koizumi and Tani Yukio.

  “The ladies' classes, at that time, were taught by Koizumi, the founder, and Tani Yukio”

  — Callan, Mike; Heffernan, Conor; Spenn, Amanda. (2018). Women's Jūjutsu and Judo in the Early Twentieth-Century: The Cases of Phoebe Roberts, Edith Garrud, and Sarah Mayer link info
• 
  Kanō Jigorō

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Probable

  Probable

  In September 1934 Kanō Jigorō met with Mayer, devised a training regime for her and allowed her to practise in the Kodokan main dojo with the men, unprecedented for a woman; Wikipedia lists him as coach.

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

  location_onKodokan badge (1934–1935)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  In September 1934 Kanō Jigorō met with Mayer, devised a training regime for her and allowed her to practise in the Kodokan main dojo with the men, unprecedented for a woman; Wikipedia lists him as coach.

  “he met with Mayer. According to Mayer, they discussed philosophy, and he devised a training regime for her [...] he allowed her to practise in the Kōdōkan main dojo with the men, which was unprecedented for a woman.”

  — Callan, Mike; Heffernan, Conor; Spenn, Amanda. (2018). Women's Jūjutsu and Judo in the Early Twentieth-Century: The Cases of Phoebe Roberts, Edith Garrud, and Sarah Mayer link info
• person
  Isogai Hajime

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Probable

  Probable

  Callan/Heffernan/Spenn describe Mayer taking an introduction to Isogai Hajime, head of the Kyoto Butokuden, training in Kyoto, and undertaking the three-day shōdan grading under Professor Isogai at the Butokukai.

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

  (1934–1935)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Callan/Heffernan/Spenn describe Mayer taking an introduction to Isogai Hajime, head of the Kyoto Butokuden, training in Kyoto, and undertaking the three-day shōdan grading under Professor Isogai at the Butokukai.

  “she took an introduction to Isogai Hajime, the head of the Kyoto Butokuden [...] she was also invited to train in Kyoto whenever Yamamoto was away [...] She then returned to the Butokukai in Kyoto, and to Professor Isogai [...] she finally achieved shōdan or first dan.”

  — Callan, Mike; Heffernan, Conor; Spenn, Amanda. (2018). Women's Jūjutsu and Judo in the Early Twentieth-Century: The Cases of Phoebe Roberts, Edith Garrud, and Sarah Mayer link info
• 
  Mifune Kyūzō

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Probable

  Probable

  Hatta introduced Mayer to Mifune Kyuzo, and she followed him across Tokyo to the various dojo where he taught.

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

  (1934)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Hatta introduced Mayer to Mifune Kyuzo, and she followed him across Tokyo to the various dojo where he taught.

  “Hatta introduced her to Mifune Kyuzo, another of the legendary tenth dan holders, and she followed him across Tokyo to the various dōjō where he taught.”

  — Callan, Mike; Heffernan, Conor; Spenn, Amanda. (2018). Women's Jūjutsu and Judo in the Early Twentieth-Century: The Cases of Phoebe Roberts, Edith Garrud, and Sarah Mayer link info
• person
  Yamamoto Masanobu

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Probable

  Probable

  Yamamoto Masanobu was the sensei at Kobe who invited Mayer to study with him at the Butokuden, with daily 8am lessons.

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

  (1934)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Yamamoto Masanobu was the sensei at Kobe who invited Mayer to study with him at the Butokuden, with daily 8am lessons.

  “The sensei at Kobe was Yamamoto Masanobu, and he invited her to study with him at the Butokden. She began to have daily lessons at 8 am”

  — Callan, Mike; Heffernan, Conor; Spenn, Amanda. (2018). Women's Jūjutsu and Judo in the Early Twentieth-Century: The Cases of Phoebe Roberts, Edith Garrud, and Sarah Mayer link info
• person
  Hatta Ichiro

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Confirmed

  Confirmed

  Hatta Ichiro met Mayer at the station in Tokyo in July 1934, insisted she stay at his family home and took her to his training sessions in judo and wrestling at Waseda University. Wikipedia states she trained with Ichiro Hatta.

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

  (1934–1935)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Hatta Ichiro met Mayer at the station in Tokyo in July 1934, insisted she stay at his family home and took her to his training sessions in judo and wrestling at Waseda University. Wikipedia states she trained with Ichiro Hatta.

  “She was met at the station by Hatta Ichiro, an ambitious young man, who she had encountered in London previously. Insisting that she stay at his family home [...] he took her sightseeing and to his training sessions in both judo and wrestling at Waseda University”

  — Callan, Mike; Heffernan, Conor; Spenn, Amanda. (2018). Women's Jūjutsu and Judo in the Early Twentieth-Century: The Cases of Phoebe Roberts, Edith Garrud, and Sarah Mayer link info

  “She trained with Ichiro Hatta and reached first kyū.”

  — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Sarah Mayer - Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English)link history info

Lineage

• Kōdōkan JūdōIsogai Hajime ← Yokoyama Sakujiro ← Kanō Jigorō · 3 generations

Ranks (3)

• sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō

  military_tech1 dan Confirmed

  Confirmed

  Wikipedia and Callan/Heffernan/Spenn both record Mayer as the first non-Japanese woman awarded a shōdan (black belt) in judo on 23 February 1935, after a three-day grading at the Butokukai in Kyoto under Professor Isogai, presented by Prince Nashimoto (who is otherwise undocumented).

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

  Dan-Kyu System (1935-02-23)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Wikipedia and Callan/Heffernan/Spenn both record Mayer as the first non-Japanese woman awarded a shōdan (black belt) in judo on 23 February 1935, after a three-day grading at the Butokukai in Kyoto under Professor Isogai, presented by Prince Nashimoto (who is otherwise undocumented).

  “She was even presented first dan by Prince Nashimoto before returning home. In doing so, she became the first non-Japanese woman to obtain a black belt in judo on 23 February 1935.”

  — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Sarah Mayer - Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English)link history info

  “On completion of the tests, she finally achieved shōdan or first dan.”

  — Callan, Mike; Heffernan, Conor; Spenn, Amanda. (2018). Women's Jūjutsu and Judo in the Early Twentieth-Century: The Cases of Phoebe Roberts, Edith Garrud, and Sarah Mayer link info

  school1 kyu Probable

  Probable

  Callan/Heffernan/Spenn report Mayer was awarded a Kodokan first kyu after six months of training in Tokyo.

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

  Dan-Kyu System (1935)

  granted by Kodokan

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Callan/Heffernan/Spenn report Mayer was awarded a Kodokan first kyu after six months of training in Tokyo.

  “following another 6 months of training in Tokyo [...] Mayer was awarded a Kōdōkan first kyu.”

  — Callan, Mike; Heffernan, Conor; Spenn, Amanda. (2018). Women's Jūjutsu and Judo in the Early Twentieth-Century: The Cases of Phoebe Roberts, Edith Garrud, and Sarah Mayer link info

  school4 kyu Probable

  Probable

  Callan/Heffernan/Spenn state Mayer had only reached 4th kyu, just one grade above absolute novice, by the Budokwai ranking awards of January 1932.

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

  Dan-Kyu System (1932)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Callan/Heffernan/Spenn state Mayer had only reached 4th kyu, just one grade above absolute novice, by the Budokwai ranking awards of January 1932.

  “Mayer was by no means a leading light in the ladies' section. She had only reached 4th kyu, just one grade above absolute novice.”

  — Callan, Mike; Heffernan, Conor; Spenn, Amanda. (2018). Women's Jūjutsu and Judo in the Early Twentieth-Century: The Cases of Phoebe Roberts, Edith Garrud, and Sarah Mayer link info

Sources

Identifiers