Keiko Fukuda, the world's top female judo master, dies at age 99

The world’s highest-ranked female judo master, Keiko Fukuda, died at age 99 in San Francisco, her caregiver said Saturday. The Japanese-born 4-foot, 10-inch powerhouse was the granddaughter of a samurai, and she learned judo from the martial art's original founder. During World War II, Fukuda ventured into Tokyo's bombed-out streets to reach the dojo, where she led classes. Fukuda came to the U.S. in 1966 and opened San Francisco's Joshi Judo Club for women in 1970. In July 2011, Fukuda became the only person in America and the only woman in the world to earn the status of "10th dan," the highest level of mastery possible in judo. She continued to teach classes at Joshi Judo Club three times a week up until she died of natural causes Feb. 9. [Source]

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