Tanabe Mataemon
田辺 又右衛門
Born
1869, Okayama Prefecture
Died 1942, Osaka
Also known as
Mataemon Tanabe · Newaza Tanabe · Newaza no Tatsujin
Description
Japanese jujutsu practitioner, fourth head of the Fusen-ryu school founded by Motsugai Takeda. He became famous for defeating multiple members of the Kodokan in challenge matches - most famously Takisaburo Tobari in 1891 - and came to be considered one of the greatest modern jujutsuka. Nicknamed "Newaza Tanabe" and "Newaza no Tatsujin" for his mastery of ground techniques, he was also equally skilled in standing techniques. He was one of the twenty representing masters chosen in 1895 to open the jujutsu division of the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai, where he taught until his retirement in 1922. He declined to join the Kodokan; Kano incorporated his ground techniques into judo after seeing Kodokan experts struggle against him. He was the inspiration for the character Gennosuke Higaki in Tsuneo Tomita's Sanshiro Sugata novel series. Died in Osaka, 1942.
Teachers (1)
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Tanabe Torajirosports_martial_artsFusen-ryū ConfirmedConfirmedTanabe's father Torajiro was head of the Fusen-ryu; Tanabe began training at age 9 and travelled with his father to challenges from age 14.The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkTanabe's father Torajiro was head of the Fusen-ryu; Tanabe began training at age 9 and travelled with his father to challenges from age 14.
Ranks (1)
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receipt_longMenkyo Kaiden ConfirmedConfirmedHoare's translation states menkyo kaiden was received at 17 by a Tanabe born 1869, giving c. 1886; EN Wikipedia states the same and adds that he and his father then became teachers of their art. Hoare primary, WP apud.The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.Menkyo Licence System (1886)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkHoare's translation states menkyo kaiden was received at 17 by a Tanabe born 1869, giving c. 1886; EN Wikipedia states the same and adds that he and his father then became teachers of their art. Hoare primary, WP apud.
Students (4)
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Uyenishi Sadakazusports_martial_artsFusen-ryū ConfirmedConfirmedUyenishi trained at Handa's dojo in Osaka, where Fusen-ryu master Mataemon Tanabe taught; the peer-reviewed Brough (2020) article states this directly, with EN Wikipedia as apud. The EN Wikipedia Tanabe article independently lists Uyenishi among his notable students.The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
4 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkUyenishi trained at Handa's dojo in Osaka, where Fusen-ryu master Mataemon Tanabe taught; the peer-reviewed Brough (2020) article states this directly, with EN Wikipedia as apud. The EN Wikipedia Tanabe article independently lists Uyenishi among his notable students. -
Tani Yukiosports_martial_artsFusen-ryū PossiblePossibleRumoured study with Mataemon Tanabe; the sources describe this as uncertain. The Fusen-ryu association is plausible at most - EN Wikipedia calls Tani a "possibly-though unlikely" student.Some evidence points to the claim, but it is thin, indirect, or in unresolved conflict with other evidence.
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkRumoured study with Mataemon Tanabe; the sources describe this as uncertain. The Fusen-ryu association is plausible at most - EN Wikipedia calls Tani a "possibly-though unlikely" student. -
Miyake Tarōsports_martial_artsFusen-ryū ConfirmedConfirmedFusen-ryu jujutsu master Mataemon Tanabe named in the 1905 interview, EN Wikipedia and the BJS paper; his dojo's newaza expertise is well documented.The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
3 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkFusen-ryu jujutsu master Mataemon Tanabe named in the 1905 interview, EN Wikipedia and the BJS paper; his dojo's newaza expertise is well documented.visibilityFirst-hand -
Fushimi Tatsusaburōsports_martial_artsFusen-ryū ProbableProbableJA Wikipedia records Fushimi as a Fusen-ryu man who succeeded Handa at the Seibukan; the teacher-student relationship with Tanabe is implied by his Fusen-ryu affiliation and by the style's known line from Tanabe, but is not stated verbatim in any consulted source.The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.location_onSeibukan badge
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkJA Wikipedia records Fushimi as a Fusen-ryu man who succeeded Handa at the Seibukan; the teacher-student relationship with Tanabe is implied by his Fusen-ryu affiliation and by the style's known line from Tanabe, but is not stated verbatim in any consulted source.
Honours (2)
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receipt_longKyoshiKyoshi ConfirmedConfirmedHoare's translation records Tanabe as a judo Kyoshi of the Butokukai from 1906, retirement from teaching in 1922, and promotion to Hanshi in 1927; EN Wikipedia repeats the same sequence. Hoare primary, WP apud.The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.Title (1906)granted by Greater Japan Martial Virtue Society
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkHoare's translation records Tanabe as a judo Kyoshi of the Butokukai from 1906, retirement from teaching in 1922, and promotion to Hanshi in 1927; EN Wikipedia repeats the same sequence. Hoare primary, WP apud. -
receipt_longHanshiHanshi ConfirmedConfirmedHoare's translation records promotion to Judo Hanshi by the Butokukai in 1927; EN Wikipedia repeats the same. Hoare primary, WP apud.The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.Title (1927)granted by Greater Japan Martial Virtue Society
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkHoare's translation records promotion to Judo Hanshi by the Butokukai in 1927; EN Wikipedia repeats the same. Hoare primary, WP apud.
Sources
Identifiers
https://martial.is/entity/01M0AAFQFXZ7G2JDEFZY8M5AKF
Cite and reuse
CC BY-SA 4.0expand_more
Plain text
Muñoz, Frederico (YEAR_PLACEHOLDER). Tanabe Mataemon. In Martialis: Martial Arts
Lineage Database. https://martial.is/entity/01M0AAFQFXZ7G2JDEFZY8M5AKF - CC
BY-SA 4.0. Accessed ACCESSED_DATE_PLACEHOLDER.
BibTeX
@incollection{martialis_01M0AAFQFXZ7G2JDEFZY8M5AKF, author = {Muñoz, Frederico},
title = {Tanabe Mataemon}, booktitle = {Martialis: Martial Arts Lineage
Database}, year = {YEAR_PLACEHOLDER}, url =
{https://martial.is/entity/01M0AAFQFXZ7G2JDEFZY8M5AKF}, urldate =
{ACCESSED_DATE_PLACEHOLDER}, note = {CC BY-SA 4.0} }
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