Shizuya Satō

佐藤静弥
Japan
Born 1929, Tokyo
Died 2011-02-25
17.8

Also known as

Shizuya Satoh

Description

Founder of Nihon Jujutsu, Meijin 10th dan Nihon Jujutsu (Kokusai Budoin IMAF), Hanshi 9th dan Judo (Kokusai Budoin IMAF). Student of Mifune Kyuzo at the Kodokan. Founded the US Embassy Judo Club in 1957 and served as its chief instructor until his death. Former Chief Director of Kokusai Budoin, IMAF (1982-2011).

Teachers (3)

  • Mifune Kyūzō
    sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Probable
    Probable
    Explicitly described as 'student of Mifune Kyūzō' on the US Embassy Judo Club's own website; no independent corroboration was found
    The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
    history_eduTradition only
    Tradition only: every supporting source is the lineage's own account of itself
    location_onKodokan badge (1949–1965)
    fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
    Frederico Muñoz
    Researcher, Martialis
    1 source expand_more
    fact_check
    Explicitly described as 'student of Mifune Kyūzō' on the US Embassy Judo Club's own website; no independent corroboration was found
    “student of Mifune Kyūzō 三船久蔵 10dan”
    — US Embassy Judo Club, Tokyo, Japanlink history info
  • Tomiki Kenji
    sports_martial_artsAikidō Probable
    Probable
    INJA's own biography of its founder states Sato instructed aikido 'under' Tomiki Kenji at the SAC program at Kodokan; no independent corroboration of this specific relationship was found (Tomiki's own Wikipedia article does not mention Sato or the SAC program)
    The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
    history_eduTradition only
    Tradition only: every supporting source is the lineage's own account of itself
    location_onKodokan badge (1952–1956)
    fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
    Frederico Muñoz
    Researcher, Martialis
    1 source expand_more
    fact_check
    INJA's own biography of its founder states Sato instructed aikido 'under' Tomiki Kenji at the SAC program at Kodokan; no independent corroboration of this specific relationship was found (Tomiki's own Wikipedia article does not mention Sato or the SAC program)
    “Sato-sensei, who instructed both aikido (under head aikido instructor Dr. Tomiki Kenji)”
    — Sato Shizuya - International Nihon Jujutsu Associationlink history info
  • Hosokawa Kusuo
    sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Probable
    Probable
    INJA's own biography of its founder states Sato instructed taihojutsu 'under' Hosokawa Kusuo at the SAC program; no independent corroboration of this specific relationship was found
    The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
    history_eduTradition only
    Tradition only: every supporting source is the lineage's own account of itself
    location_onKodokan badge (1952–1956)
    fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
    Frederico Muñoz
    Researcher, Martialis
    1 source expand_more
    fact_check
    INJA's own biography of its founder states Sato instructed taihojutsu 'under' Hosokawa Kusuo at the SAC program; no independent corroboration of this specific relationship was found
    “taihojutsu techniques (under taihojutsu head instructor and senior Tokyo Metropolitan Police taihojutsu / judo instructor Hosokawa Kusuo)”
    — Sato Shizuya - International Nihon Jujutsu Associationlink history info

Lineage

Ranks (2)

  • sports_martial_artsNihon Jujutsu
    military_tech10 dan Confirmed
    Confirmed
    Listed as 'Nihon Jujutsu Meijin 10th dan' on IMAF official site and INJA website
    The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.
    Dan-Kyu System
    granted by Kokusai Budoin, International Martial Arts Federation
    fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
    Frederico Muñoz
    Researcher, Martialis
    2 sources expand_more
    fact_check
    Listed as 'Nihon Jujutsu Meijin 10th dan' on IMAF official site and INJA website
    “Nihon Jujutsu Hanshi 10 Dan – Kokusai Budoin, IMAF”
    — Sato Shizuya - International Nihon Jujutsu Associationlink history info
    “Shizuya Sato • Nihon Jujutsu Meijin 10th dan (1929 – 2011)”
    — About - Kokusai Budoin, International Martial Arts Federationlinkhistory info
  • sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō
    military_tech9 dan Confirmed
    Confirmed
    INJA's own site and IMAF Americas' independent FAQ page both directly state Judo Hanshi 9 Dan.
    The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.
    Dan-Kyu System
    granted by Kokusai Budoin, International Martial Arts Federation
    fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
    Frederico Muñoz
    Researcher, Martialis
    2 sources expand_more
    fact_check
    INJA's own site and IMAF Americas' independent FAQ page both directly state Judo Hanshi 9 Dan.
    “Judo Hanshi 9 Dan – Kokusai Budoin, IMAF”
    — Sato Shizuya - International Nihon Jujutsu Associationlink history info
    “Shizuya Sato, Hanshi, Hanshi 10-dan Nihon Jujutsu and Hanshi 9-dan Judo”
    — FAQ - Kokusai Budoin, IMAF Americaslink history info

Students (2)

  • Lance Gatling
    sports_martial_artsNihon Jujutsu Confirmed
    Confirmed
    Explicitly refers to Sato as 'my sensei' in his own writing on The Kanō Chronicles; also described as 'direct student of Sato Shizuya sensei' in independent sources
    The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.
    location_onUS Embassy Judo Club badge (1990–2011)
    fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
    Frederico Muñoz
    Researcher, Martialis
    4 sources expand_more
    fact_check
    Explicitly refers to Sato as 'my sensei' in his own writing on The Kanō Chronicles; also described as 'direct student of Sato Shizuya sensei' in independent sources
    visibilityFirst-hand
    “My sensei, Satō Shizuya (1929–2011)”
    — Lance Gatling. (2026-02-02). Tomiki Kenji sensei on the future of budō. The Kano Chronicleslink history info
    visibilityFirst-hand
    “My sensei was a graduate of Meiji [...] So, he taught there from 1957 until he died five years ago, and at the time I was taking Judo there, Judo and Jujutsu, Nihon Jujutsu, his style.”
    — Budo, a way of life [2] — Lance Gatling [Nihon Jujutsu, Judo & Jodo]link info
    visibilityFirst-hand
    “I came here in 1986 and I was a member of this dojo since 1990”
    — Budo tourism: what do the budoka think? Lance Gatling, Sandro Furzi and Michael Reinhardtlink info
    “Lance Gatling was a direct student of Sato Shizuya sensei, the founder and 10dan Nihon Jujutsu, Director, International Martial Arts Federation, for over 20 years.”
    — Judo Forum - Lance Gatling Nihon Jujutsu link
  • John B. Gage
    sports_martial_artsNihon Jujutsu Confirmed
    Confirmed
    Joined US Embassy Judo Club under Sato's direction in 1986; Sato 'accepted me as his student' per Gage's own account; later served as Sato's assistant at international seminars
    The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.
    location_onUS Embassy Judo Club badge (1986–2011)
    fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
    Frederico Muñoz
    Researcher, Martialis
    3 sources expand_more
    fact_check
    Joined US Embassy Judo Club under Sato's direction in 1986; Sato 'accepted me as his student' per Gage's own account; later served as Sato's assistant at international seminars
    visibilityFirst-hand
    “Fortunately, Sato Sensei accepted me as his student”
    — JMAC - I Am JMAC: John Gage Senseilink
    “Upon arriving in Tokyo, Japan in 1986, Gage-Sensei joined the US Embassy Judo Club, under the direction of Sato Shizuya Sensei.”
    — JMAC - John Gage Senseilink
    “traveled around the world as an assistant to Sato Sensei at martial arts seminars”
    — JMAC - John Gage Senseilink

Honours (1)

  • receipt_longHanshi 9 DanHanshi Confirmed
    Confirmed
    INJA's own site and IMAF Americas' independent FAQ page both directly state Judo Hanshi 9 Dan.
    The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.
    Title
    granted by Kokusai Budoin, International Martial Arts Federation
    fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
    Frederico Muñoz
    Researcher, Martialis
    2 sources expand_more
    fact_check
    INJA's own site and IMAF Americas' independent FAQ page both directly state Judo Hanshi 9 Dan.
    “Judo Hanshi 9 Dan – Kokusai Budoin, IMAF”
    — Sato Shizuya - International Nihon Jujutsu Associationlink history info
    “Shizuya Sato, Hanshi, Hanshi 10-dan Nihon Jujutsu and Hanshi 9-dan Judo”
    — FAQ - Kokusai Budoin, IMAF Americaslink history info

Sources

Sato Shizuya - International Nihon Jujutsu Associationlink history info
US Embassy Judo Club, Tokyo, Japanlinkhistory info
About - Kokusai Budoin, International Martial Arts Federationlink history info

Identifiers

https://martial.is/entity/01KYND6715JYA1K07KHXH3FNG6
Wikidata

Cite and reuse

CC BY-SA 4.0expand_more
Plain text
Muñoz, Frederico (YEAR_PLACEHOLDER). Shizuya Satō. In Martialis: Martial Arts Lineage Database. https://martial.is/entity/01KYND6715JYA1K07KHXH3FNG6 - CC BY-SA 4.0. Accessed ACCESSED_DATE_PLACEHOLDER.
BibTeX
@incollection{martialis_01KYND6715JYA1K07KHXH3FNG6, author = {Muñoz, Frederico}, title = {Shizuya Satō}, booktitle = {Martialis: Martial Arts Lineage Database}, year = {YEAR_PLACEHOLDER}, url = {https://martial.is/entity/01KYND6715JYA1K07KHXH3FNG6}, urldate = {ACCESSED_DATE_PLACEHOLDER}, note = {CC BY-SA 4.0} }
data_object JSON-LDdata_object Turtle

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