98-Year-Old Is First Woman To Earn Judo’s Highest Belt

This story might be one of the most inspirational stories you will ever hear. Sensei Keiko Fukuda is only the sixteenth person and first woman to ever earn Judo's highest belt level, tenth degree black belt. This is inspiring for two reasons....first, she is the only woman to do this and she is 98 years old. When she was very young, she studied under Master Kano, the founder of Judo and his dream was to teach the art all over the world. There were only 5 or 6 that wanted to do it, she was the only one of them to actually do it. Women were never allowed to go higher than fifth degree black belt. She remained at 5th degree for 30 years. In 2006 she was awarded ninth degree and this year was given the ultimate honor of tenth degree. Judo was her life and she never married because of her quest. Learn more about this amazing woman below whose motto is, "Be gentle, kind and beautiful, yet firm and strong both mentally and physically." Wow.