Also known as

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

  linkKōdōkan Jūdō 3

  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.

  sports_kabaddiBudokwai badge (1926-1933)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  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.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

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

  — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Sarah Mayer - Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo

  "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 linkinfo
• 
  Tani Yukio

  linkKōdōkan Jūdō 3

  Confirmed

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

  sports_kabaddiBudokwai badge (1926-1933)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

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

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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 linkinfo
• 
  Kanō Jigorō

  linkKōdōkan Jūdō 3

  Confirmed

  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.

  sports_kabaddiKodokan badge (1934-1935)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  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.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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 linkinfo
• Is
  Isogai Hajime

  linkKōdōkan Jūdō 3

  Confirmed

  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.

  (1934-1935)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  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.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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 linkinfo
• 
  Mifune Kyūzō

  linkKōdōkan Jūdō 3

  Confirmed

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

  (1934-1934)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

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

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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 linkinfo
• Ya
  Yamamoto Masanobu

  linkKōdōkan Jūdō 3

  Confirmed

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

  (1934-1934)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

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

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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 8am."

  — 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 linkinfo
• Ha
  Hatta Ichiro

  linkKōdōkan Jūdō 2

  Probable

  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.

  (1934-1935)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  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.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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 linkinfo

  "She trained with Ichiro Hatta and reached first kyū."

  — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Sarah Mayer - Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo

Ranks (3)

• linkKōdōkan Jūdō

  military_tech1 dan 3

  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).

  Dan-Kyu System (1935-02-23)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  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).

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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)linkinfo

  "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 linkinfo

  school1 kyu 3

  Confirmed

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

  Dan-Kyu System (1935)

  granted by Kodokan

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

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

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Following another six 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 linkinfo

  school4 kyu 3

  Confirmed

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

  Dan-Kyu System (1932)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  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.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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 linkinfo

Sources