Martial Artists Pay Tribute to 96-Year-Old Female Judo Pioneer
By J.K. Yamamoto
OAKLAND—Generations spanning almost a century were brought together at a martial arts event held Nov.8 at Mills College to pay tribute to Keiko Fukuda, the highest-ranking woman in judo.
Fukuda, 96, stands less than 5 feet and weighs less than 100 pounds, but is considered a giant in her sport, where she reached the level of ninth dan.
She is the subject of San Francisco filmmaker Yuriko Gamo Romer's documentary "Be Strong, Be Gentle, Be Beautiful," currently in production.
Romer said that the fundraiser at Haas Pavilion was an opportunity for people in other disciplines, such as karate, kung fu and taekwondo, to learn about Fukuda's story and meet her in person.
A five-minute clip from the film explained that Fukuda's grandfather, Hachinosuke, was a samurai and a master of jujitsu. His top student, Jigoro Kano (1860-1938), went on to become the founder of judo; bowing to his photo is still the practice in judo dojos. In 1934, when she was 21, Fukuda was invited by Kano to study at the new women's division at his school, Kodokan.
Although she had studied such arts as ikebana, calligraphy and shamisen, Fukuda gave it all up for judo. She rejected a marriage arranged by her family because as a wife she would not be able to pursue her judo studies. She also wanted to honor Kano's request that she teach judo overseas, although this would not happen until after World War II.
Fukuda taught judo in the U.S. for the first time in 1956 and later taught at Mills for more than a decade, starting in 1966. She also taught out of her home but was soon unable to accommodate the number of students. She moved classes to a Buddhist temple in Japantown, then established Soko Joshi Judo Club, an all-female dojo, in San Francisco's Noe Valley neighborhood.
"I never dreamed my fate would bring me here to a foreign country, that I would teach so many people and live my life alone," she is quoted as saying. "I never thought about this, all I ever thought about was judo, judo, judo."
Fukuda and her supporters confronted sexism within Kodokan's judo ranking system for women, which stopped at fifth dan, a rank that she held for 30 years. After much lobbying, she gradually rose through the ranks and became the first woman to be promoted to ninth dan.
In 2002, she was named a Living National Treasure by the Japanese government. She is the only student of Kano still living. Despite suffering from Parkinson's disease, arthritis and other ailments, she continues to teach.
Fukuda returned to Japan in October for the first time in over 20 years, with Romer and her crew joining her. She was invited by Kodokan in Tokyo to be an honored guest at the annual All Japan Kata Tournament and also was able to visit her family cemetery and childhood home, and to meet her old schoolmates.
Romer said the trip doubled the amount of footage that she had and also changed the structure of the film, since she initially did not know that Fukuda was going to visit Japan. The documentary, which will be broadcast in both Japan and the U.S., must still be limited to one hour.
"It was an amazing experience to be in Japan with her, to see the respect that was given to her," Romer said. "At every tournament, even the high-ranking men would bow ... I just want to say that she's been a beacon of light and inspiration to us all. I want to thank Fukuda-sensei for letting me into her life."
The event included a demonstration of judo kata (forms) by three students from Soko Joshi Judo Club, including Vicki Trent, a fifth-degree black belt who has studied judo for 33 years, 30 of them with Fukuda.
They showed the self-defense techniques described in Fukuda's latest book, "Ju no Kata" (Forms of Gentleness), published four years ago.
The principle is to move with the opponent's attack, using that person's strength against him or her.
A variety of other groups performed:
• Suigetsukan (Moon Reflected on Water School), an Oakland-based dojo that teaches jujutsu, aikido and battodo (sword fighting).
• Michelle Elefante, head instructor of the Okinawan Karate Club of San Francisco and martial arts instructor for Teddy Bears at Destiny Arts Center in Oakland, and her students, some as young as 4.
• Sifu Sonya Richardson, executive director of Hand to Hand Kajukenbo Self-Defense Center in Oakland, and Sifu Lorraine Mann, head instructor of kajukenbo programs. (Created in Hawaii, kajukenbo combines boxing with different martial arts, including judo and
karate.)
• World Oyama Karate, which is celebrating its eighth year in the Bay Area. Some of the more advanced members broke baseball bats and blocks of ice.
• Santa Clara-based Monticello Academy, whose taekwondo program has students ranging in age from 5 to 50.
• Gold Mountain Kung Fu School, based in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park.
• Northern California Naginata Federation, led by Miyako Tanaka, who teaches at the El Cerrito dojo. (Naginata is similar to kendo but involves a pole-like weapon and is studied by women more than men.)
• Capoeira Mandinga, which demonstrated the only indigenous American martial art. Developed by African slaves in Brazil, capoeira was banned by the authorities, but continued to be practiced in secret, disguised as a dance.
Fukuda was given a standing ovation when she was introduced, and each group bowed to her before and after performing. Afterwards, martial artists of all ages posed for pictures with her.
The sensei also chatted with another woman pioneer, civil rights activist Yuri Kochiyama, now in her late 80s and living in Oakland.
For more information on the film or to make a donation, visit www.flyingcarp.net
