Yoshisada Yonezuka
Encyclopedia
, is a Judo instructor and two time U.S. Olympic Judo Team coach. He began training in track and sumo wrestling as a child. In 1954, he began to train in judo
in high school and became the Northern Japan High School Champion in 1955.
Yonezuka entered Nihon University
in 1956. After defeating nine 2nd degree blackbelts in succession at the Kodokan
, he received a special promotion to 3rd degree black belt. He also began studying several styles of karate
shorinji-kempo, wado ryu, and shito-ryu.
In 1959, he was a member of the university team winning the team championship. The following year he graduated Nihon University majoring in business. Following his childhood dream he came
to the United States and began teaching judo at West Point Military Academy. In 1962, Yonezuka founded the Cranford Judo Karate Center. He was also the founding coach of the Judo program at New Jersey Institute of Technology
(then known as Newark College of Engineering) during the mid-60s.
Yonezuka was twice chosen to serve as head coach of the U.S. Olympic Judo Team, and he coached three U.S. World Judo Championships Teams as well.
He was awarded the Kudan which is the Ninth Degree in Judo in 2007 becoming one of only several American residents to be honored with the second highest Judo Degree. He also holds the 8th Degree Black Belt in Karate.
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...
in high school and became the Northern Japan High School Champion in 1955.
Yonezuka entered Nihon University
Nihon University
Nihon University is the largest university in Japan. Akiyoshi Yamada, the minister of justice, founded Nihon Law School in October 1889....
in 1956. After defeating nine 2nd degree blackbelts in succession at the Kodokan
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...
, he received a special promotion to 3rd degree black belt. He also began studying several styles of karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
shorinji-kempo, wado ryu, and shito-ryu.
In 1959, he was a member of the university team winning the team championship. The following year he graduated Nihon University majoring in business. Following his childhood dream he came
to the United States and began teaching judo at West Point Military Academy. In 1962, Yonezuka founded the Cranford Judo Karate Center. He was also the founding coach of the Judo program at New Jersey Institute of Technology
New Jersey Institute of Technology
New Jersey Institute of Technology is a public research university in Newark, New Jersey. It is often also referred to as Newark College of Engineering ....
(then known as Newark College of Engineering) during the mid-60s.
Yonezuka was twice chosen to serve as head coach of the U.S. Olympic Judo Team, and he coached three U.S. World Judo Championships Teams as well.
He was awarded the Kudan which is the Ninth Degree in Judo in 2007 becoming one of only several American residents to be honored with the second highest Judo Degree. He also holds the 8th Degree Black Belt in Karate.