98-year-old woman earns Judo’s highest-degree black belt
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.
Fukuda began practicing Judo in 1935 and is the sole surviving student of its founder, Kano Jiguro. At her teacher s urging, she learned English to help spread Judo internationally.
During a time when getting married, building a family, and becoming a housewife was the norm, Fukudo bucked tradition, opting out of marriage to pursue the martial art.
“All I did was Judo…this was my marriage,”" Fukudo reflected tearfully to the San Francisco Chronicle. “”This is when my life destiny was set. I just never imagined how long this road would be.”"
She described the Jiguro’s school, known as the Kodokan, as “”old-fashioned and sexist about belts and ranks.”" In fact, an edict that prevented women from achieving any higher than a fifth-degree black belt kept Fukuda at that level for thirty years. She was finally elevated to sixth dan in 1972 when a woman s division was created.
Fukodo said she approached Judo and her life with the intent to “”be gentle, kind and beautiful, yet firm and strong, both mentally and physically.”" Fukuda says this kind of beauty is decidedly not external. “”A compassionate soul is inner beauty,”" she explained to the paper. “”I believe this is true beauty…All my life this has been my dream.”"
India Not Serious in Composite Dialogue With Pak: FO
November 20, 2009 by Trend PK
Filed under Breaking News
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Foreign Office Spokesman Abdul Basit said on Friday that India did not seem intent on composite dialogue with Pakistan, adding that it did not want to resolve core issues including water and Kashmir.
Abdul Basit maintained that Pakistan was a responsible state and answers Indian accusations through proper channel. He said India just look at terrorist incidents in its own territory and neglect terrorism in Pakistan. If Pakistan and India do not hold talks, it would be tantamount to the accomplishment of the terrorists’ agenda. Abdul Basit said US-India relations did not affect Pakistan unless they’re not against Pakistan’s interests.
The foreign office spokesman said India did not seem intent on initiating the composite talks with Pakistan. Pakistan wishes the commencement of the composite talks with India, not just a photo session, adding his country wants fruitful negotiations with its neighbor. The FO spokesman said if the negotiations were not jump-started, it would be a step forward towards the completion of terrorists’ agenda, adding it seemed India did not want peace in the region and was not serious in resolution of issues relating Kashmir and water. Abdul Basit said India wanted to dither the resolution of problems by abandoning the negotiations.
India Not Serious in Composite Dialogue With Pak: FO was first posted on November 20, 2009 at 10:10 pm.
