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. He entered Nihon University in 1956.[1] His children includes a son, Nicolas Yonezuka and a daughter, Natacha Yonezuka-Gullo.[2] Yonezuka died at Hackensack University Medical Center Hackensack, New Jersey, on October 18, 2014, of complications of Myelodysplastic syndrome, a rare form of blood cancer that resembles acute leukemia. A bone marrow drive was attempted to no avail.[3]
Martial arts careeredit
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 Shorinji Kempo and several styles of karate including 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 went to the United States and began teaching judo at West Point Military Academy. In 1960 he moved to the United States.[4] 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.[5] Additionally, he served as an instructor at the Jerome Mackey judo schools.
Yonezuka was twice chosen to serve as head coach of the United States at the Olympics Judo Team,[6] and he coached three U.S. World Judo Championships Teams as well. Yonezuka believed that the Japanese could not accept that Judo became more like wrestling and less of a martial art.[7] He is also founder, former President and former Executive Director of the U.S. Sumo Federation.[7]
In 2007 he was awarded the rank of Kudan[8] by the United States Judo Federation (USJF), which is the Ninth Degree black belt in Judo becoming one of only several American residents to be honored with the second highest Judo Degree. Since 1995 he also held the 8th Degree Black Belt in Judo from the Kodokan Judo Institute in Japan, an 8th Degree Black Belt in Karate,[9] and was a Godan (Fifth Degree) in Sumo. Additionally he appeared on the cover of the United States Judo Federation Magazine along with Allen Coage in 1977. He would also serve as coach of Sumo Wrestler Emanuel Yarbrough.
Referencesedit
^"平成21年春の叙勲について（米塚義定氏". Consulate-General of Japan in New York. May 1, 2009. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
^. Archived from the original on August 22, 2010. Retrieved September 5, 2010. Cranford Judo & Karate Club: Sensei Yoshisada Yonezuka
April 10, 2024
yoshisada, yonezuka, 米塚, 義定, yonezuka, yoshisada, 1937, october, 2014, judo, instructor, time, olympic, judo, team, coach, personal, informationborn, 1937, 1937diedoctober, 2014, 2014, aged, hackensack, jersey, personal, life, edithe, began, training, track, s. Yoshisada Yonezuka 米塚 義定 Yonezuka Yoshisada May 19 1937 October 18 2014 was a Judo instructor and two time U S Olympic Judo Team coach Yoshisada YonezukaPersonal informationBorn 1937 05 19 May 19 1937DiedOctober 18 2014 2014 10 18 aged 77 Hackensack New Jersey U S Personal life editHe 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 He entered Nihon University in 1956 1 His children includes a son Nicolas Yonezuka and a daughter Natacha Yonezuka Gullo 2 Yonezuka died at Hackensack University Medical Center Hackensack New Jersey on October 18 2014 of complications of Myelodysplastic syndrome a rare form of blood cancer that resembles acute leukemia A bone marrow drive was attempted to no avail 3 Martial arts career editAfter defeating nine 2nd degree blackbelts in succession at the Kodokan he received a special promotion to 3rd degree black belt He also began studying Shorinji Kempo and several styles of karate including 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 went to the United States and began teaching judo at West Point Military Academy In 1960 he moved to the United States 4 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 5 Additionally he served as an instructor at the Jerome Mackey judo schools Yonezuka was twice chosen to serve as head coach of the United States at the Olympics Judo Team 6 and he coached three U S World Judo Championships Teams as well Yonezuka believed that the Japanese could not accept that Judo became more like wrestling and less of a martial art 7 He is also founder former President and former Executive Director of the U S Sumo Federation 7 In 2007 he was awarded the rank of Kudan 8 by the United States Judo Federation USJF which is the Ninth Degree black belt in Judo becoming one of only several American residents to be honored with the second highest Judo Degree Since 1995 he also held the 8th Degree Black Belt in Judo from the Kodokan Judo Institute in Japan an 8th Degree Black Belt in Karate 9 and was a Godan Fifth Degree in Sumo Additionally he appeared on the cover of the United States Judo Federation Magazine along with Allen Coage in 1977 He would also serve as coach of Sumo Wrestler Emanuel Yarbrough References edit 平成21年春の叙勲について 米塚義定氏 Consulate General of Japan in New York May 1 2009 Retrieved August 19 2018 Yoshisada Yonezuka Sensei USJF COM Melvin Givens Bone marrow drive to be held for well known judo coach KITV Archived from the original on November 29 2014 E M Swift September 14 1988 A U S Model Made in Japan Rigorously trained in the birthplace of the sport Mike Swain is the first American male ever to win a world championship in judo Sports Illustrated Archived from the original on September 24 2015 Retrieved October 19 2014 NJIT Hall of Fame Yoshisada Yonezuka Induction Class of 1991 Judo Black Belt Black Belt Buyer s Guide 26 10 Active Interest Media October 1988 ISSN 0277 3066 a b The Christian Science Monitor 4 January 1991 Foreign Judo Jolts Japanese The Christian Science Monitor http www nysjudo org nysjm pdf New York State Judo Inc Minutes Annual Meeting Sensei Yonezuka Archived from the original on August 22 2010 Retrieved September 5 2010 Cranford Judo amp Karate Club Sensei Yoshisada Yonezuka Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Yoshisada Yonezuka amp oldid 1185925394, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
