List of judoka

This is a list of highly notable judoka (judo practitioners).

Founder

*Kano Jigoro (Japan, 1860–1938) founded judo, and established the Kodokan in 1882. Judo was the first Japanese martial art to gain widespread international recognition, and the first to become an official Olympic sport. Kano was also a pioneer of international sports. Accomplishments included being the first Asian member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). His official honours and decorations included the First Order of Merit and Grand Order of the Rising Sun and the Third Imperial Degree. He was inducted to the IJF Hall of Fame on 14 May, 1999. [ [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-23144060.html Judo founder named 1st member of IJF Hall of Fame] - Kyodo World News Service.] The "IJF Hall of Fame" was established in 1999. Only three people have ever been inducted into it. See [http://www.intjudo.eu/?Menu=Static_Page&Action=List&m_static_id=122&lang_id=2&mid=10&main=122 IJF Hall of Fame] ] [http://www.usja-judo.org/americanjudo/AJFallWinter.pdf American Judo - a Journal of the United States Judo Association] - article "IJF Hall of Fame in Paris", pages 11-12, Fall/Winter 2005]

Highest grades

Only fifteen people have been promoted to 10th dan by the Kodokan. Twelve were promoted between 1935 and 1984 [ [http://www.judoinfo.com/judan.htm Profiles of Kodokan 10th Dan Holders] ] . The other three were promoted together on 8 January 2006, and they are the only living 10th dans recognized by the Kodokan. [ [http://www.judoinfo.com/judan2.htm Kodokan 10th Dan Promotions] - by Llyr Jones, PhD]

Two judoka have been promoted to 10th by the IJF, though not recognised by the Kodokan. Some countries have also promoted judoka to 10th dan.

Male - Kodokan 10th dan

*Yamashita Yoshiaki (Japan, 1865–1935) (aka Yamashita Yoshitugu) promoted to Kodokan 10th dan in 1935, the first person ever awarded 10th dan by the Kodokan. He was also a pioneer of judo in the United States, where he taught judo to President Theodore Roosevelt.
*Hajime Isogai (Japan, 1871–1947) promoted to Kodokan 10th dan in 1937.
*Hidekazu Nagaoka (Japan, 1876–1952) promoted to Kodokan 10th dan in 1937.
*Kyuzo Mifune (Japan, 1883–1965) promoted to Kodokan 10th dan in 1945. Considered to be the greatest judo technician ever after Kano Jigoro.cite news|publisher=Iwate Prefecture|url=http://www.bunka.pref.iwate.jp/rekishi/yukari/data/mihune.html|date=|title=いわてゆかりの人々]
*Kunisaburo Iizuka (Japan, 1875–1958) promoted to Kodokan 10th dan in 1946.
*Kaichiro Samura (Japan, 1880–1964) promoted to Kodokan 10th dan in 1948.
*Shotaro Tabata (Japan, 1884–1950) promoted to Kodokan 10th dan in 1948.
*Kotaro Okano (Japan, 1885–1967) promoted to Kodokan 10th dan in 1967.
*Matsutaro Shoriki (Japan, 1885–1969) promoted to Kodokan 10th dan in 1969. He was also known as the father of Japanese professional baseball.
*Shozo Nakano (Japan, 1888–1977) promoted to Kodokan 10th dan in 1977.
*Tamio Kurihara (Japan, 1896–1979) promoted to Kodokan 10th dan in 1979.
*Sumiyuki Kotani (Japan, 1903–1991) promoted to Kodokan 10th dan in 1984.
*Ichiro Abe (Japan, c1923–) promoted to Kodokan 10th dan on 8 January 2006, at age 83. Abe was international chairperson of the "All Nippon Judo Federation" and has strong links internationally through the coaching he has done in Europe.
*Toshiro Daigo (Japan, 1926–) promoted to Kodokan 10th dan on 8 January 2006, at age 80. Daigo is a two-time winner of the "All Nippon Judo Tournament" (1951 and 1954), and a former manager of the Japanese national team, and is currently Chief Instructor at the Kodokan. Daigo is known by the nickname "Mr Kodokan".
*Yoshimi Osawa (Japan, c1927–) promoted to Kodokan 10th dan on 8 January 2006, at age 79. Osawa is also still coaching at the Kodokan, and is recognised for his support of women’s judo. Osawa was known by the nickname "Current Ushiwakamaru" (Ushiwakamaru was the childhood name of a legendary twelfth-century samurai who was small but quick.)

Male - non-Kodokan 10th dan

*Henri Courtine (France) FFDJA 10th dan (promoted in 2007).
*Anton Geesink (Netherlands, 1934–), IJF 10th Dan, was the first non-Japanese ever to have won a World Championship. He was inducted to the IJF Hall of Fame on 8 September, 2003. Geesink is the only living 10th dan recognized by the IJF but not by the Kodokan.
*Mikonosuke Kawaishi (Japan/France, 1899–1969) FFDJA 10th dan [Michel Brousse, "Le Judo, son histoire, ses succès", Paris, Minerva, 2002]
*Charlie Palmer (England, 1930–2001), IJF 10th Dan, was the first non-Japanese to be the President of the IJF. He was inducted to the IJF Hall of Fame on 8 September, 2003.

Female - Kodokan 9th dan

*Keiko Fukuda (Japan & USA, 1913–), Kodokan 9th dan - the highest ranking female judoka ever.

Pioneers

*Kenshiro Abbe (Japan, 1915–1985), Kodokan 8th dan, was the youngest student to gain his 4th Dan in Judo. Founded the British Judo Council. He also founded the British Kendo Council, the British Karate Council, and the International Budo Council, and is credited with the introduction of aikido to the UK and Europe.
*Masahiko Kimura (Japan, 1917–1993), defeated founder of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and only lost four times in his entire career.
*Gunji Koizumi (Japan, 1885–1965), Kodokan 8th dan, introduced judo to England. President and founder of the Budokwai. He spent over sixty-four years in judo, teaching it until the day before he died in April 1965.
*Mitsuyo Maeda (Japan, 1878–1941), Kodokan 7th dan, pioneer of judo in Brazil, the UK, and other countries, teacher of the Gracie family, fundamental to the creation of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He was also a prize-fighter in no holds barred competitions.
*Kenji Tomiki (Japan, 1900–1979), Kodokan 8th dan and Aikido 8th dan. Tomiki is perhaps best known in the judo world for development of the Kodokan Goshin Jutsu kata. His work "Judo", published in 1956, is considered a classic.

Notable competitors

Male

*David Douillet (France, 1969–), two-time Olympic gold medalist and four-time World Champion.
*Kosei Inoue (Japan, 1978–), Olympic gold medalist and three-time World Champion.
*Jeon Ki-Young (South Korea, 1973–), Olympic gold medalist and three-time World Champion.
*Toshihiko Koga (Japan, 1967–), Olympic gold medalist and three-time World Champion.
*Tadahiro Nomura (Japan, 1974–), World Champion and three-time Olympic gold medalist. First Asian Olympic competitor to win three consecutive gold medals.
*Wim Ruska (Netherlands, 1940–), two-time World Champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist.
*Hitoshi Saito (Japan, 1961–), two-time Olympic gold medalist and World Champion. Coached 2004 Japanese Olympic judo team.
*Peter Seisenbacher (Austria, 1960–), two-time Olympic gold medalist and World Champion.
*Yasuhiro Yamashita (Japan, 1957–), the most successful competitive male judoka of all time; four-time World Champion and Olympic gold medalist. Compiled a streak of 203 victories (with 7 draws) up until his retirement.
*Hidehiko Yoshida (Japan, 1969–), World Champion, Olympic gold medalist, and MMA fighter.

Female

*Noriko Anno (Japan, 1976–), four-time World Champion.
*Ingrid Berghmans (Belgium, 1961–), six-time World Champion.
*Karen Briggs (England), four-time World Champion. Widely regarded as the most successful British woman in the sport. [http://m2002.thecgf.com/Sports/Judo/Heroes/default.asp Judo Heroes] - 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games website]
*Driulis González (Cuba, 1973–), Olympic gold medalist and three-time World Champion.
*Kye Sun-Hui (North Korea, 1979–), Olympic gold medalist and four-time World Champion.
*Ryoko Tani (Japan, 1975–), two-time Olympic gold medalist and seven-time World Champion. Youngest ever female World Champion in 1993.
*Masae Ueno (Japan, 1979–), Olympic gold medalist and two-time World Champion.
*Ulla Werbrouck (Belgium, 1972–), Olympic gold medalist and six-time European champion.

Other

*Anthony Clarke (Australia, 1961–), two-time World blind judo champion and gold medalist in the paralympics. Two-time Australian champion against sighted opponents.
*Gene LeBell (USA, 1932–), two time AAU Judo Champion. Later turned to wrestling, stunt work, and refereeing matches including Mohammed Ali v.s. Inoki. Prolific author.
*Jason Morris (USA, 1967–), 7th dan with 20 gold medals in international competition, 2008 Olympic coach.
*Jan Snijders (Netherlands, 1943–), instructor and referee at the World Championships and Olympic games. Awarded a silver medal by the International Judo Federation in 2003 for his contributions to judo. 8th dan grade holder.
*Ron Tripp (USA, 1953–), 6th dan. Competed in over 2,000 Judo, Sambo, and Wrestling matches. The only person ever to defeat the BJJ champion Rickson Gracie.
*Yosh Uchida (USA, 1920–), head judo coach at San Jose State University for over 60 years. Instrumental in the development of judo into a competitive sport.

ee also

* List of celebrity judoka
* List of Olympic medalists in judo
* Records related to the World Judo Championships

Footnotes

External links

* [http://www.realjudo.net/legends.htm Judo Legends] - Jason Morris Judo Center (realjudo.net)