Tsunejiro Tomita
Encyclopedia
, born , was the earliest disciple of judo
. His name appears in the first line of the enrollment book of the Kōdōkan
. Tomita, together with Saigō Shirō
, became first in history of judo to be awarded black belt grade
by the founder of judo Kanō Jigorō
, who established the ranking system. Tomita was known as one of the "Four Kings" of Kōdōkan
judo for his victorious efforts in competing against jujitsu schools. He was awarded 7th dan
upon his death on January 13, 1937.
began to develop judo
from jujutsu
, his efforts met with opposition from jujutsu practitioners. However, Kano drew a loyal following that included exceptional fighters. Hence the term "Four Guardians of the Kōdōkan" came into existence referring to Tsunejiro Tomita along with Yamashita Yoshiaki
, Yokoyama Sakujiro
, and Saigō Shirō
.
's success in the United States (Yamashita taught judo to President Theodore Roosevelt
, among others), the 39-year-old Tomita decided to move to New York City. Like Yamashita, Tomita brought a young assistant with him as an exhibition partner. The young man was Maeda Mitsuyo, 26-year old judoka who later became fundamental to the development of Brazilian jiu-jitsu
. Tomita and Maeda with one Soishiro Satake arrived in New York City on December 8, 1904, just one year after Yamashita came to the States.
February 7, 1905: Six hundred spectators in the Columbia University
gymnasium watched an exhibition of judo and "two-handed sword fighting" (kendo
) by six Japanese experts. According to New-York Daily Tribune
, industrialist Edward Henry Harriman brought the experts to America after he became interested in "this type of fighting" on his trip to Asia. Tomita had Maeda rush up to him and take a vicious swing. Tomita would then grab Maeda by the arm or throat and swing him to the mat.
During his return to Japan in 1910, Tomita visited Seattle. To celebrate his visit, the local judo club known as Seattle Dojo
held a judo tournament on October 27, 1910, that was attended by local reporters.
(1942) and Yawara (1964-'65).
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
. His name appears in the first line of the enrollment book of the Kōdōkan
Kodokan
, or the Kodokan Institute, is the headquarters of the worldwide judo community. Literally, kō means "to lecture" or "to spread information," dō means "the way," and kan is "a public building or hall," together translating roughly as "a place for the study or promotion of the way." The Kodokan was...
. Tomita, together with Saigō Shirō
Shiro Saigo
was one of the earliest disciples of Judo. Saigo, together with Tsunejiro Tomita, became first in history of judo to be awarded black belt grade by the founder of judo Jigoro Kano, who established the kyu-dan ranking system.-Biography:...
, became first in history of judo to be awarded black belt grade
Shodan
, literally meaning "beginning degree," is the lowest black belt rank in Japanese martial arts and the game of Go. The 2nd dan is higher than Shodan, but the 1st dan is called Shodan traditionally and the 1st dan is not called "Ichidan"...
by the founder of judo Kanō Jigorō
Kano Jigoro
was the founder of judo. Judo was the first Japanese martial art to gain widespread international recognition, and the first to become an official Olympic sport. Pedagogical innovations attributed to Kanō include the use of black and white belts, and the introduction of dan ranking to show the...
, who established the ranking system. Tomita was known as one of the "Four Kings" of Kōdōkan
Kodokan
, or the Kodokan Institute, is the headquarters of the worldwide judo community. Literally, kō means "to lecture" or "to spread information," dō means "the way," and kan is "a public building or hall," together translating roughly as "a place for the study or promotion of the way." The Kodokan was...
judo for his victorious efforts in competing against jujitsu schools. He was awarded 7th dan
Dan (rank)
The ranking system is a Japanese mark of level, which is used in modern fine arts and martial arts. Originally invented in a Go school in the Edo period, this system was applied to martial arts by Kanō Jigorō, the founder of judo and later introduced to other East Asia countries.In the modern...
upon his death on January 13, 1937.
Early life
As the earliest student at the Kodokan, Tomita was known as Tsunejiro Yamada. He was adopted by a family named Tomita and his name was therefore changed.Four Guardians of the Kōdōkan
When Kanō JigorōKano Jigoro
was the founder of judo. Judo was the first Japanese martial art to gain widespread international recognition, and the first to become an official Olympic sport. Pedagogical innovations attributed to Kanō include the use of black and white belts, and the introduction of dan ranking to show the...
began to develop judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
from jujutsu
Jujutsu
Jujutsu , also known as jujitsu, ju-jitsu, or Japanese jiu-jitsu, is a Japanese martial art and a method of close combat for defeating an armed and armored opponent in which one uses no weapon, or only a short weapon....
, his efforts met with opposition from jujutsu practitioners. However, Kano drew a loyal following that included exceptional fighters. Hence the term "Four Guardians of the Kōdōkan" came into existence referring to Tsunejiro Tomita along with Yamashita Yoshiaki
Yamashita Yoshiaki
Yamashita Yoshitsugu , was the first person to have been awarded 10th degree red belt rank in Kodokan judo. He was also a pioneer of judo in the United States....
, Yokoyama Sakujiro
Yokoyama Sakujiro
, was one of the earliest disciples of Kanō Jigorō. Yokoyama was 22 when he entered the Kōdōkan dojo in April, 1886. Yokoyama further assisted Kano in establishing the Kōdōkan. He was awarded the seventh grade in October, 1904, which was the highest dan in judo at the time...
, and Saigō Shirō
Shiro Saigo
was one of the earliest disciples of Judo. Saigo, together with Tsunejiro Tomita, became first in history of judo to be awarded black belt grade by the founder of judo Jigoro Kano, who established the kyu-dan ranking system.-Biography:...
.
Arrival to the United States
Inspired by Yamashita YoshiakiYamashita Yoshiaki
Yamashita Yoshitsugu , was the first person to have been awarded 10th degree red belt rank in Kodokan judo. He was also a pioneer of judo in the United States....
's success in the United States (Yamashita taught judo to President Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
, among others), the 39-year-old Tomita decided to move to New York City. Like Yamashita, Tomita brought a young assistant with him as an exhibition partner. The young man was Maeda Mitsuyo, 26-year old judoka who later became fundamental to the development of Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art, combat sport, and a self defense system that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting...
. Tomita and Maeda with one Soishiro Satake arrived in New York City on December 8, 1904, just one year after Yamashita came to the States.
Chronology of Exhibitions
- February 3, 1905: Tomita and Maeda gave an exhibition at the Harlem branch of the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA).
February 7, 1905: Six hundred spectators in the Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
gymnasium watched an exhibition of judo and "two-handed sword fighting" (kendo
Kendo
, meaning "Way of The Sword", is a modern Japanese martial art of sword-fighting based on traditional Japanese swordsmanship, or kenjutsu.Kendo is a physically and mentally challenging activity that combines strong martial arts values with sport-like physical elements.-Practitioners:Practitioners...
) by six Japanese experts. According to New-York Daily Tribune
New York Tribune
The New York Tribune was an American newspaper, first established by Horace Greeley in 1841, which was long considered one of the leading newspapers in the United States...
, industrialist Edward Henry Harriman brought the experts to America after he became interested in "this type of fighting" on his trip to Asia. Tomita had Maeda rush up to him and take a vicious swing. Tomita would then grab Maeda by the arm or throat and swing him to the mat.
- February 16, 1905: Tomita and Maeda gave a demonstration "before 1000 PrincetonPrinceton UniversityPrinceton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
students". Maeda threw N. B. Tooker, a Princeton football player, while Tomita threw Samuel Feagles, the Princeton gymnasium instructor.
- February 21, 1905: Tomita and Maeda gave a judo demonstration at the United States Military AcademyUnited States Military AcademyThe United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
at West Point, NY, where Tomita and Maeda performed kataKatais a Japanese word describing detailed choreographed patterns of movements practised either solo or in pairs. The term form is used for the corresponding concept in non-Japanese martial arts in general....
(patterns)—nage-no, koshiki, ju-no, and so on. At the request of the crowd, Maeda wrestled a cadet and threw him easily. Because Tomita had been the thrower in the kata, the cadets wanted to wrestle him too. Tomita threw the first (Charles Daly) without any trouble. However, Tomita twice failed to throw another football player named Tipton using tomoe-nage (stomach throw). Tomita was much smaller, so the Japanese claimed a moral victory.
- March 8, 1905: Tomita and Maeda did better at the New York Athletic Club. "Their best throw was a sort of flying cartwheel," said an article in the New York Times, describing Maeda's match with heavyweight (200 pound) wrestler John Naething. "Because of the difference in methods the two men rolled about the mat like schoolboys in a rough-and-tumble fight. After fifteen minutes of wrestling, Maeda secured the first fall. Ultimately, however, Naething was awarded the match by pin fall."
- March 21, 1905: Tomita and Maeda gave another judo demonstration at Columbia UniversityColumbia UniversityColumbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, this time to about 200 students and instructors in the gymnasium. Following introductions by Prof. Bashford DeanBashford DeanBashford Dean was an American zoologist, specializing in ichthyology, and at the same time an expert in medieval armor. He is the only person to have held concurrent positions at the American Museum of Natural History and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where he was Honorary Curator of Arms and...
, the first part of the demonstration involved showing exercises to "obtain control of the muscles." Then Tomita showed some grips and holds slowly first, then with "lightning speed on his unfortunate assistant." Then Tomita and Maeda tried "a number of wrestling tricks" on the university's wrestling instructor, "who was almost chocked to the suffocating point by one of them." According to Columbia Spectator, "Another interesting feature was the exhibition of some of the obsolete jiu jitsu tricks for defense with a fan against an opponent armed with the curved Japanese sword."
- April 5, 1905: Tomita held an exhibition match at the gymnasium on Broadway for the benefit of the press. During the event, Tomita stated that an erroneous impression existed in the United States as to jiu-jitsu being a self-defense martial art:
- July 6, 1905: Tomita and Maeda gave a judo exhibition at the YMCAYMCAThe Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
in NewportNewport, Rhode IslandNewport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
, Rhode IslandRhode IslandThe state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
.
- September 30, 1905: Tomita and Maeda gave a demonstration at another YMCA, in LockportLockport (city), New YorkLockport is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 21,165 at the 2010 census. The name is derived from a set of Erie canal locks within the city. Lockport is the county seat of Niagara County and is surrounded by the town of Lockport...
, New York. In Lockport, the local opponent was Mason Shimer, who wrestled Tomita unsuccessfully.
Other Notable Events
In April 1905, Tomita and Maeda started a judo club in a commercial space at 1947 Broadway in New York. Members of this club included Japanese expatriates, plus a European American woman named Wilma Berger.During his return to Japan in 1910, Tomita visited Seattle. To celebrate his visit, the local judo club known as Seattle Dojo
Seattle Dojo
The Seattle Dojo is located at 1510 S. Washington in the Squire Park neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. It is the oldest judo dojo in the continental United States, having been founded sometime before 1907 in what is today the International District....
held a judo tournament on October 27, 1910, that was attended by local reporters.
Family
Tomita's son, , was a famous novelist, best known for his judo novels Sanshiro SugataSanshiro Sugata
was the directorial debut of the Academy Award-winning Japanese film director Akira Kurosawa. First released in Japan on 25 March 1943 by Toho film studios, the film was eventually released in the United States on 28 April 1974. The film is based on the novel of the same name written by Tsuneo...
(1942) and Yawara (1964-'65).