Sara Robinson
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
98-year-old woman becomes first woman ever to earn Judo's highest-degree black belt
Just two years before her 100th birthday, Sensei Keiko Fukuda has become the first woman to achieve a tenth-degree black belt—the highest rank in the martial art and combat sport Judo. Fukuda is now one of only four living people who've earned the tenth-degree (ordan) black belt. To put the accomplishment into better perspective, throughout history, only sixteen people have ever achieved this honor.
Related: The good news about aging
Fukuda began practicing Judo in 1935 and is the sole surviving student of its founder, Kano Jiguro. At her teacher's urging, she learned English to help spread Judo internationally.
During a time when getting married, building a family, and becoming a housewife was the norm, Fukudo bucked tradition, opting out of marriage to pursue the martial art.
"All I did was Judo...this was my marriage," Fukudo reflected tearfully to the San Francisco Chronicle. "This is when my life destiny was set. I just never imagined how long this road would be."
She described the Jiguro’s school, known as the Kodokan, as "old-fashioned and sexist about belts and ranks." In fact, an edict that prevented women from achieving any higher than a fifth-degree black belt kept Fukuda at that level for thirty years. She was finally elevated to sixth dan in 1972 when a woman's division was created.
Fukodo said she approached Judo and her life with the intent to "be gentle, kind and beautiful, yet firm and strong, both mentally and physically." Fukuda says this kind of beauty is decidedly not external. "A compassionate soul is inner beauty," she explained to the paper. "I believe this is true beauty...All my life this has been my dream."
Dream realized, the 98-year-old Sensei Keiko Fukuda continues to teach Judo three times a week at a woman's dojo.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Monday, August 1, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Early Registration Now Available.
Greatest Judo Training Camp on Earth June 23-25 2011
Information and Registration
Camp 2011 is going to be at the Next Level Center !!!
4317 Stevens Mill RoadMatthews, NC 28104-4381
Our schedule is being updated with additional info when available.
Forms and Pre Registration Now Available
Online Pre-Registration2011 Registration Form
2011 Camp Discounts
There are 3 ways to register for Camp:
1) Online Pre-Registration, and Payment by Pay Pal
2) Registration for Camp by downloading the forms, mail them to us, or by Fax # 704-846-7530.
3) Register at Camp Wednesday afternoon the 23rd
during set up, & anytime during camp.
Camp Schedule 2011
Thursday, June 23rdClasses 9 AM - 5 PM & 6:30 PM - 8:00 PMFriday, June 24th
Classes 9 AM - 5 PM & 6:30 PM - 8 PMSaturday, June 25th
Classes 9 AM - 5 PM
Camp Fees include your Mid-Day and Evening meal.
(Continental Breakfast is included at the Comfort Inn at no additional charge.)
Camp Fees do not include your required membership to the USJA, USJI or USJF!
You may join USJA $45 / USJI $50 / USJF $50 at camp.
Mid-day meals will be catered at our Camp venue.
Camp fees also include your camp t-shirt.
Camp fees do not include your lodging expense
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Just a reminder...
19th Semi-Annual Ippon Open pre-registration closes on Monday, so if you plan on attending and want to save on registration, send it in now.
Ippon Judo
116 Palmetto Rd
STE G
Tryone, GA 30290
$25 for 1st
$15 for 2nd
$10 for 3rd, 4th, etc.
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