Yoshisada Yonezuka

Education

Nihon University.

Career

Martial Arts 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. 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 1960 he moved to the United States. 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. 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, and he coached three United States. 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 In 2007 he was awarded the rank of Kudan 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, 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.

Achievements

• In 1954, he began to train in judo in high school and became the Northern Japan High School Champion in 1955. He is also founder, former President and former Executive Director of the United States. Sumo Federation.

Membership

In 1959, he was a member of the university team winning the team championship.