A Living Legend: Judo Master Keiko Fukuda
- July 2009
- Uncategorized
I received an email today, asking if I could write a brief letter of congratulation on a lifetime of achievement to Keiko Fukuda. I was amazed to learn more about Keiko Fukuda, and very inspired by her story:
Keiko Fukuda is the highest-ranked female judo practitioner in the world. At 96, she is a 9th degree black belt, has studied judo for 74 years, and still teaches three times a week in San Francisco.
Ms. Fukuda was born in Tokyo on April 12, 1913. She began the practice of judo in 1935 at the age of 21. Fukuda Sensei is revered as the last living disciple of Jigoro Kano, the founder of judo. When Fukuda began taking lessons in 1935, she was one of only two dozen women in the school, which is known today as the Kodokan International Judo Center.
Kano had invited her to study judo because of her martial art lineage. She was the granddaughter of a renowned jujitsu master, Fukuda Hachinosuke, who had taught that Japanese martial art to Kano.
As featured recently on San Francisco’s CBS Channel 5, “…. Sensei Fukuda….a San Francisco woman, in her 90’s is inspiring others in the ancient art of self-defense and making history as well. Keiko Fukuda has Parkinson’s disease, arthritis in every joint, a triple bypass and has recovered from two heart attacks. In a small studio in San Francisco’s Noe Valley, the 95-year-old Fukuda holds court. She’s had a hold on judo the past 80 years. The top female practitioner of the sport – ever. Fukuda came to lecture in the Bay Area 40 years ago and never left. She’s a pedigree. Her grandfather was a famed samurai jiu-jitsu warrior. She attended the first judo class which ever allowed women. Fukuda is now a 9th-degree black belt. No woman has ever achieved that rank in history.”
“She’s the best teacher. In fact, the highest ranking teachers in the world come to study with her,” said judo black belt Fran Christie. Her students can be 70 years her junior. The mind is sharp – her body is not. But her spirit is something else. “She will start a sentence with, ‘When I get old,'” said friend Dr. Shelley Fernandez. “She does not see herself as old.”
Fukuda is not one to throw her weight around, unless some unfortunate rookie steps in, not knowing what to expect. Her stature is small but her importance can not be overstated. Fukuda has blazed a path that has taken her where no woman has ever gone before, and because of her the history of her sport must constantly be updated…” (© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Fukuda, at 96, still teaches three days a week and she still flips people. It is quite a sight.
CLICK to see Sensei Fukuda in action
With a total devotion to her art, Sensei Keiko Fukuda continues mentoring women of all ages and teaches them discipline, self-defense, and love for the sport…and themselves. Sensei Fukuda is quite simply a wonderful role model as a teacher, aging woman and an incredible, humble and gentle martial artist.
LifeCompass is proud to be publishing: Born from the Heart: The Life of Judoka Keiko Fukuda.
For any requests, please contact Leslie Lewis at leslie@lifecompass.us or 415.652.8440. To pre-order a copy of the book:
A copy of the book can be ordered by sending a check for $25.45 to:
Julia Hoitt
778 Winterside Circle
San Ramon, CA 94583-5233
Email hoitts@sbcglobal.net
