Keiko Fukuda Joshi Judo Camp

Fukuda Sensei has been promoted to the rank of 10^th degree black belt in the martial art of judo, the highest rank that can be achieved. This promotion is of historic significance, as she is the first woman to receive this rank in judo history and the first person in the United Stated to be promoted to this rank.

Fukuda Sensei who is now 98, started studying the art of judo in Japan in 1935 and is the only living student of Dr. Jigoro Kano, the founder of judo. Fukuda Sensei performed a judo demonstration in the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Fukuda Sensei traveled the world teaching judo and moved to the United States in the 1966 and became a U.S. citizen in 1972. In 1974, the first women’s judo camp in the United States was held with Fukuda Sensei as one of the main instructors and continues on annually as Keiko Fukuda Joshi Judo Camp. She also founded the Keiko Fukuda International Kata Championship in 1989. In 1990, the Japanese government awarded Fukuda Sensei the Order of the Sacred Treasure in recognition of her outstanding dedication to the advancement of Kodokan Joshi Judo. San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown officially declared August 19, 2001, “Keiko Fukuda Day” in honor of her 9^th degree black belt promotion.