1st woman ever to get Judo's highest-degree black belt: 98 years old

[entropy13]

Is earning a black belt on your life list? Then this elderly woman in San Francisco just might be your ultimate hero.

Just two years before her 100th birthday, Sensei Keiko Fukuda has become the first woman to achieve a tenth-degree black belt—the highest rank in the martial art and combat sport Judo. Fukuda is now one of only four living people who've earned the tenth-degree (or dan) black belt. To put the accomplishment into better perspective, throughout history, only sixteen people have ever achieved this honor.


full article here (http://shine.yahoo.com/event/vitality/98-year-old-woman-becomes-first-woman-ever-to-earn-judos-highest-degree-black-belt-2523297/).

[MT Alex]

Amazing woman. She's a real life Yoda:)

[WhiteLotus]

Great achievement.

[Damn_Smooth]

Next time I'll think twice before I go purse snatching. :D

[razaron]

Next time I'll take a gun before I go purse snatching.

[Reventon]

Even though shes 98, i wouldnt want to fight her...

[Wile E]

Pshhh, this is just a typical oba-san.

http://anenglishmaninosaka.blogspot.com/2006/01/ode-to-oba-san.html

[Triprift]

Way to go Granny.

[theJesus]

Is earning a black belt on your life list? Then this elderly woman in San Francisco just might be your ultimate hero.

Just two years before her 100th birthday, Sensei Keiko Fukuda has become the first woman to achieve a tenth-degree black belt—the highest rank in the martial art and combat sport Judo. Fukuda is now one of only four living people who've earned the tenth-degree (or dan) black belt. To put the accomplishment into better perspective, throughout history, only sixteen people have ever achieved this honor.


full article here (http://shine.yahoo.com/event/vitality/98-year-old-woman-becomes-first-woman-ever-to-earn-judos-highest-degree-black-belt-2523297/).
Interesting that it's named after our most-likely martially-challenged administrator.

[twilyth]

She's really 32. She just did a lot of crank.

[MRCL]

Seeing as how ridiculously demanding Dan-grade tests are for Karate, i have much respect for her. My Karate sensei back then had the third or fourth Dan, and he trained in Japan for a year to achieve that.

The ultimate goal however is this: If you wear your black belt for so long that all color has come off, and its become white again, you mastered the martial art. And only then. Senseis black belt had a considerable amount of white...

[jmcslob]

Even though shes 98, i wouldnt want to fight her...

I would....to be able to kick the ass of someone that highly ranked would be an epic story for the grand kids....

[Wile E]

I would....to be able to kick the ass of someone that highly ranked would be an epic story for the grand kids....

As you daydream this looking up at the ceiling from the floor she put you on.