As you know by now, it is always a pleasure for me to post something interesting and inspirational about and for female martial artists.
Today we continue our tradition and this a big one!
Our featured female martial artist, Keiko Fukuda, was born in 1913 in Tokyo, Japan.
It wasn’t until 1935 that she actually started practicing the martial art of judo at the age of 21. Look at those dates again and be amazed like I am.
At that time, Japan and many other industrialized countries were still deeply affected by The Great Depression that started in 1929 and continued for many even until the end of World War II in 1945.
I don’t consider myself a Japanology expert, but I am pretty sure that Japanese women weren’t necessarily encouraged to pursue a martial arts career in the 1930s.
Keiko Fukuda was even exceptional in those days by flat-out rejecting an arranged marriage to do just that after being being invited to study judo by its founder Jigoro Kano himself in the newly created women’s division!
Kano had been a Jujutsu student of her grandfather, Fukuda Hachinosuke, who at one time had been a samurai.
Amazingly, today Keiko Fukuda is the last living pupil of Kano.
Empowering and inspring women about the kata (forms) of Kodokan judo, Keiko Fukuda published the instructional book Born for the Mat in 1973.
In 2001, the United States Judo Federation awarded her a rare red belt for her lifelong contribution to judo.
It was in January 2006 that the Kodokan Judo Institute also awarded her the 9th degree black belt (9th dan).
Keiko Fukuda is currently the only woman in the world to hold a 9th degree black belt from any recognized judo organization.
At the time of writing this post, Keiko Fukuda is close to 97 and I bet some of you are thinking that she probably spends her days just sitting at home in front of the TV watching The Price Is Right or whatever.
Nothing could be further from the truth, because she still teaches at the Soko Joshi Judo Club in the Noe valley district of San Francisco, California as well as at the annual Joshi Judo Camp, a camp she founded in 1974 to give women judoka an opportunity to train together.
Gentle, Strong, Beautiful, she is judo pioneer, Keiko Fukuda, the highest ranking female judoka in the world.
I am dedicating today’s post to all female martial artists. Past, current and future.
Jeremy Logan Glick (9/3/1970-9/11/2001) was one of several passengers who counterattacked the hijackers of United Airlines flight 93.
On September 11, 2001, “a date which will live in infamy”, thirty-one-year-old Jeremy Glick, and his fellow passengers, sacrificed their lives to prevent terrorists from flying into its Washington, D.C. target.
On that day Jeremy Glick helped save countless lives, displaying character, courage, and honor – he is an American Hero.
Did you know that Jeremy was also an accomplished martial martist? A judoka, to be exact?
I found out that he was trained by trained by Nagayasu Ogasawara, 8th degree Black Belt, who was head judo coach at West Point United States Military Academy Judo Club from 1989 until 1996. Mr. Ogasawara received 1994 National Collegiate Coach of the Year and 1996 Olympic Coach of the Year in Judo.
Nagayasu Ogasawara’s jaw dropped when he saw Jeremy Glick at the 1993 national collegiate judo championships in San Francisco. Ogasawara was coaching Army’s team. Jeremy Glick, a college senior, was at the tournament alone and believe it or not, competing independently.
“He had no team. He had no coach,” said Ogasawara, who had taught Glick judo from the age of 7 until he left for college. “So I said, ‘OK, I’ll coach you.’
Jeremy Glick went on to win the title of US National Collegiate Judo champion in 1993, while he was a student at the University of Rochester.
On September 11, 2002, Glick was awarded the Medal for Heroism, the highest civilian honor bestowed by the Sons of The American Revolution.
He was also awarded the Arthur Ashe Courage Award in 2002.
In September 2008, the United States Judo Association (USJA), awarded Jeremy Glick with an Honorary 10th Degree Black Belt.
