Kayoko Yoshikai

Highest Ranking Judo Woman 10th Dan Sensei Keiko Fukuda

Congratulation to Fukuda sensei!
The news came out in early August, 2011. At 98 years old, Sensei Keiko Fukuda has been promoted to the highest degree in Judo. She is the only woman in the world ever to achieve this, and there are only three others alive in the world today with a 10th degree black belt. With Sensei Fukuda, there are now four. She was also the first woman to receive the 5th through 9th degrees. Until 1972, the 5th degree was the highest allowed for women. Sensei Fukuda devoted herself to judo for 77 years. She is such an inspirational figure for so many people, not just women. Once upon a time, it was not possible for a woman to be a judo instructor and also have a marriage. They had to choose either marriage or judo. Fukuda Sensei’s destiny was to marry judo. Seventy-seven years in the all-male judo world and the Kodokan school was a long journey.
“Be gentle, be kind, and be beautiful, yet firm and strong both mentally and physically” has been her personal motto and for women’s judo
Congratulations Fukuda Sensei!
I blogged about her back in 2/4/2010, 2/10/2010 and photo of us in July 18th blog. Please take a look.

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