Ogawa Ryuzo

Description

Japanese-Brazilian judo pioneer who founded the Hombu Dojô Budokan in 1938, playing a crucial role in the development and spread of judô throughout Brazil. Arrived in Brazil in 1936 and established a network of over 100 Budokan branches across the country.

Ranks (2)

• sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō

  military_tech5 dan Probable

  Probable

  Documented on membership certificate from Budokan branch showing Ogawa Ryuzo as 5th dan judo, Dai Nihon Butokukai member, and Shihan of Kashima Shin'yo Ryu Jujutsu Judo

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

  Dan-Kyu System (1954)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Documented on membership certificate from Budokan branch showing Ogawa Ryuzo as 5th dan judo, Dai Nihon Butokukai member, and Shihan of Kashima Shin'yo Ryu Jujutsu Judo

  “Ogawa Ryuzo signed far left. The three vertical columns are his positions, right to left: 5th dan judo, Dai Nihon Butokukai / Member, Greater Japan Ancient Martial Arts Preservation Society / Shihan, Kashima Shin'yo Ryu Jujutsu Judo”

  — Japanese Certificate - Help Again [Ryuzo Ogawa] (E-Judo)link

  military_tech8 dan Probable

  Probable

  Revista Budô states he achieved hachi-dan (8th dan) before his death, with his son Matsuo taking over the academy; single-sourced for this specific detail (Ishii's book, cited elsewhere in this record, may also cover it but that page has not been checked)

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

  Dan-Kyu System (1954)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Revista Budô states he achieved hachi-dan (8th dan) before his death, with his son Matsuo taking over the academy; single-sourced for this specific detail (Ishii's book, cited elsewhere in this record, may also cover it but that page has not been checked)

  “Após o falecimento de Ryuzo, que conquistara a graduação hachi-dan (8º dan), quem assumiu foi o pai de Hitoshi e Hatiro, Matsuo Ogawa”

  — A partir de 2022, a Federação Paulista de Judô realizará os campeonatos do Hombu Dojô Budokan (Revista Budô)link

Students (3)

• 
  Augusto de Oliveira Cordeiro

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Confirmed

  Confirmed

  Direct disciple of Ryuzo Ogawa became Ogawa's first branch in Rio de Janeiro in early 1950s

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

  location_onBudokan São Paulo badge (1950)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  3 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Direct disciple of Ryuzo Ogawa became Ogawa's first branch in Rio de Janeiro in early 1950s

  “ao estabelecer contato com a Associação Budokan do Prof. Riuzo Ogawa se apaixonou pelo magnífico Judô que ali se ensinava e praticava. Após uma temporada residindo em casa do mestre e praticando com seus alunos, o Prof. Cordeiro adotou a nova metodologia e a forma de competição oficial do judô”

  — Rudolf Hermanny's Bloglink history info

  “discípulo direto do mestre japonês Ryuzo Ogawa”

  — Revista Budôlink

  “Cordeiro continuou a procurar pelo judô e, no início da década de 1950, chegou à um acordo com Ryuzo Ogawa, tornando-se sua primeira filial no Rio de Janeiro”

  — Maçaneiro (2024)link info
• 
  Hikari Kurachi

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Probable

  Probable

  The Santos judo history book states Kurachi became a student of Ryuzo Ogawa at the Academia Ogawa in São Paulo after earning his nidan

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

  (1946–1947)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  The Santos judo history book states Kurachi became a student of Ryuzo Ogawa at the Academia Ogawa in São Paulo after earning his nidan

  “Após a aquisição do título de Nidan, tornou-se aluno do lendário Mestre Ryuzo Ogawa na Academia Ogawa em São Paulo.”

  — Medeiros, José Gomes de; Dimitrov, Simone. Memorabilia do Judô em Santos - Estórias, Memórias e Personagensinfo
• 
  Aluizio de Melo

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Probable

  Probable

  Multiple well-sourced references about this link

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

  location_onBudokan São Paulo badge

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Multiple well-sourced references about this link

  “Em 1959 contatou seu mestre e sensei, que lhe havia promovido à faixa preta sho-dan, Ryuzo Ogawa, de São Paulo”

  — Francisco Xavier de Vargas Neto. (2021). Academia Ruy Barbosa: Dojô Prof. Loanzi, Velho "Casarão"link history info

Sources