Judo Master Makes 10th Degree Black Belt
Saturday, August 6, 2011 Meredith May, Chronicle Staff Writer
Sensei Keiko Fukuda of S.F. became the first woman to be promoted to judo's highest level. Photo: Lance Iversen / The Chronicle
After 98 years, the phone call finally came.
Last week, Sensei Keiko Fukuda of San Francisco became the first woman to be promoted to judo's highest level: 10th degree black belt.
Only three people in the world, all men living in Japan, have ever reached that mark.
The martial arts promotion by USA Judo brought 98-year-old Fukuda to tears at the women's dojo where she still teaches in Noe Valley. (Fukuda was the subject of a Chronicle Datebook profile on July 25.)
She gave up marriage and left her homeland to dedicate her life to judo, fighting gender discrimination that kept her at lower belt levels decades longer than men less skilled than she.
"The time was right," said U.S. Judo Federation promotion board member Eiko Saito Shepherd.
A celebration is being planned for mid-October to coincide with Fukuda's annual International Kata Championship at San Francisco City College.
"All my life," Fukuda said, "this has been my dream."
Sensei Keiko Fukuda at 98 years old teaches hand techniques to her Judo students at the women's dojo in San Francisco's Noe Valley. Fukuda is the only living student of judo's founder Jigoro Kano who opened his first judo school in 1882. Photo: Lance Iversen / The Chronicle
A student greets Sensei Keiko Fukuda before class starts. Fukuda, the only living student of judo's founder, Jigoro Kano, teaches judo three days a week at a women's dojo in San Francisco. Photo: Lance Iversen / The Chronicle
Wilina Monar a black belt herself helps Sensei Keiko Fukuda with her ninth degree belt, as Shelley Fernandez right takes a call for Fukuda. At 98 years old Fukuda still teaches Judo three days a week at the women's dojo in San Francisco's Noe Valley. Thursday July 21, 2011. Photo: Lance Iversen / The Chronicle
Sensei Keiko Fukuda at 98 years old stretches with her students at the women's dojo in San Francisco's Noe Valley. Thursday July 21, 2011. Fukuda is the highest ranked women in Judo and the world at ninth degree and the only living student of judo's founder Jigoro Kano who opened his first judo school in 1882. Photo: Lance Iversen / The Chronicle
Sensei Keiko Fukuda at 98 years old still teaches Judo three days a week at the women's dojo in San Francisco's Noe Valley Thursday July 21, 2011. Fukuda is the highest ranked women in Judo and the world at ninth degree and the only living student of judo's founder Jigoro Kano who opened his first judo school in 1882. Photo: Lance Iversen / The Chronicle
Sensei Keiko Fukuda relaxes in her San Francisco home with her cat. Fukuda at 98 years old is the highest ranked women in the world at ninth degree and the only living student of judo's founder Jigoro Kano who opened his first judo school in 1882. Thursday July 21, 2011. Photo: Lance Iversen / The Chronicle
Keiko Fukuda at 98 years old is the highest ranked women in the world at ninth degree and the only living student of judo's founder Jigoro Kano who opened his first judo school in 1882. Thursday July 21, 2011. Photo: Lance Iversen / The Chronicle
Sensei Keiko Fukuda at 98 years old poses for a portrait with her students at the women's dojo in San Francisco's Noe Valley. Thursday July 21, 2011. Photo: Lance Iversen / The Chronicle
Sensei Keiko Fukuda at 98 years old gets a helping hand from two of her black belts as they step up onto the mat. Fukuda teaches Judo techniques to her students at the women's dojo in San Francisco's Noe Valley. Thursday July 21, 2011. Photo: Lance Iversen / The Chronicle
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