Sato Shizuya practiced classical Kodokan judo directly under Mifune Kyuzo. (Author's note: the appellation sensei has been sometimes eliminated from Sato's name, and the names of others in this article. only as an editorial convenience, in order to avoid repetition.) Mifune was one of the last tenth-degree black belts (dan) directly taught and elevated to this top rank by the founder of Kodokan judo, Kano Jigoro. Mifune first set foot in the renowned Kodokan Judo Institute in July 1903. A resolute and natural talent, Mifune attained his first dan in only fifteen months, and his second dan came but four months later. At the youthful age of 24, he obtained fourth dan.

The legendary Mifune devised the Oguruma throw, later adopted as part of the sanctioned judo curriculum, and at just 110 pounds would continuously overcome opponents double his weight. By the time he was 30, he advanced to sixth dan and was sometimes called the "God of Judo." Mifune even won a match with a young, 240-pound, six-foot-tall sumo wrestler when he was 40 years old. At age 47, when most contemporary judoka (judo practitioners) would have already retired from competition, Mifune won the 1930 All-Japan Judo Championships against the well-known Samura Kaichiro. They were both seventh-degree black belts. Mifune sensei was never known to have been vanquished in a contest, often devastating youthful black belts while in his 70s, and he is believed by many to be the finest judo technician that ever lived.

Mifune Kyuzo passed away in 1965, but he left behind the sum and substance of classical judo: judo as a traditional martial art, not solely a sport. His teachings arc preserved by his top pupils, including Ito Kazuo, Sato Shizuya, and Walter Todd Sensei (judo eighth dan and President of the Shudokan Martial Arts Association).

    Ito Kazuo was also a direct student of the originator of judo, and he became one of the most senior disciples of Mifune Kyuzo. Sato considers Ito his main judo teacher and the person from which he received the largest amount of judo instruction. He recently explained to this writer that Ito was like his father in judo and Mifune could be compared to his grandfather.

    Ito Kazuo was born in 1898 in Shinjo City and tirelessly studied the martial arts from his father, an expert in jujutsu, for many years. Although unusually proficient in traditional jujutsu, Ito Kazuo eventually began learning classical judo and became a follower of Kano when he entered the Kodokan as a first-degree black belt in 1920. Then, in 1922, he joined the dojo of Mifune Kyuzo.

    Ito served for many years as a senior trainer at the Kodokan, Meiji University, Kogakuin University, and Tokyo University, and he was an advisor to the American Embassy Judo and Jujutsu Club, which was founded by his finest student Sato Shizuya. Ito, author of This Is Judo, taught several skillful pupils in his lifetime, including prominent budo author Donn Draeger, Shudokan Martial Arts Association President Walter Todd, and Sato. Ito Kazuo, one of history's most distinguished judoka, ranked tenth dan, died in 1974.

    From Ito, Sato learned judo, jujutsu, and goshin-jutsu (self-defense training). Moreover, after losing his father during the war, he was taken in by Ito, and came to live above Ito's dojo as an uchi deshi, or "live-in student." Ito supported Sato through college, and following the young man's graduation from Meiji Gakuin University, aided him in acquiring a position with the foreign division of the celebrated Kodokan.

    In addition to practicing under Mifune and Ito, Sato later met and trained closely with Tomiki Kenji (1900-1979), judo adept and originator of Tomiki-ryu aikido. Tomiki began his judo training under Kano at the age of 10, and at age 26 he became a student of Ueshiba Morihei, founder of aikido. An eighth dan in both judo and aikido, Tomiki developed his own system of aikido, which included a theoretical methodology that was similar to the one he had first studied in judo, and incorporated the aiki-jujutsu and prewar aikido of Ueshiba. Tomiki was a professor of physical education at Waseda University for many years, and it was from Tomiki that Sato learned aiki-jujutsu, aikido, koryu jujutsu (ancient forms of jujutsu), tanbo-jutsu (short-stick art), tessen-jutsu (iron-fan art), and judo.

    Sato also had the good fortune to study with kendo (modern Japanese swordsmanship) authority Takano Hiromasa. Takano sensei (1900-1987) was one of Japan's most esteemed kendo experts and was ranked tenth dan by the prestigious Kokusai Budoin of Tokyo. Sato even learned Wado-ryu karate-do from the art's mastermind, Otsuka Hironori (1892-1982). Otsuka, also a Kokusai Budoin tenth dan, was a senior disciple of Funakoshi Gichin, creator of Shotokan karate-do. Otsuka eventually combined karate-do with jujutsu to form Wado-ryu.

    Following World War П, the Japanese martial arts and ways were banned by the occupation forces. In November 1951, the ban on the practice of budo was lifted, and several high-ranking Japanese martial artists united to settle on a course of action that would bolster budo in Japan. Mifune Kyuzo, Ito Kazuo, and Sato Shizuya of judo; Takano Hiromasa of kendo; Otsuka Hironori of karate-do; and others whose names are renowned in the martial arts world, determined the best approach would be to organize the first post-war nationwide martial arts presentation in Japan. As their plans advanced. Prince Kaya Tsunenori of Japan's Imperial Family joined their ranks to become their inaugural chairman. With the assistance of the budo community and the imperial family, the group held the initial All-Japan Budo Exhibition in January 1952. The demonstration was a resounding success, and this accomplishment can be credited, in many ways, with the regeneration of budo in Japan.

    With the election of Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko as the second chairman, the organization acquired its conclusive title: Kokusai Budoin-International Martial Arts Federation. Prince Higashikuni. uncle to the late Emperor Hirohko, retired from Chairmanship at the age of 100. He was awarded Japan's greatest citation in 1940: the Order of the Golden Kite, First Class (a rough counterpart to the U.S. Congressional Medal of Honor), and he was also Japan's initial Prime Minister after the war.

    Later, in 1968. Ito Kazuo and Sato Shizuya traveled to twelve countries, giving presentations as part of a Kokusai Budoin international lour. In April 1969, Ito. a founding member of the federation, was chosen as the first Chief Director of the Kokusai Bedouin. Then, in 1975, following the death of Ito, Sato Shizuya was selected as the Kokusai Budoin General Secretary. In 1982, Sato became the second Chief Director of the association.

    Beginning in 1975. under Sato's leadership, the Kokusai Budoin expanded to form international branches in the Netherlands. Great Britain, France, Belgium, Germany, India, the United States, and other European and Asian nations. Membership in the Kokusai Budoin was, and still is, restricted to martial artists who are ranked fourth-degree black belt (or a classical equivalent) and above. It remains something of a fraternal society for the senior members of the budo community alike, in which they may have entree to, and the assistance of, a martial arts peer group within which they can share their thoughts and perceptions. In following years, the Kokusai Budoin formed a sister association called the Kokusai Budo Renmei, which extends associate membership to martial artists ranked third dan and below. Currently, 34 countries are home to members of the Kokusai Budoin/Kokusai Budo Renmei, attracted to the federation by its stated mission, "to promote and popularize the Japanese martial arts, as well as to work for world peace and goodwill."

    Sato's approach to the Japanese martial arts and ways is fairly conservative and he works diligently to promote the time-honored values that are associated with these arts. Sato recently wrote in Gendo, the Kokusai Budoin's international newspaper:

    Sato travels the world each year, teaching budo, and acting in his official positions as Kokusai Budoin chief director, director of the Kokusai Budoin Nihon Jujutsu Division, and co-director (with Oshita Tokuji, ninth dan) of the Kokusai Budoin Judo Division. He is well-qualified to make the above observations.

    Sato has also developed his own system of modem jujutsu, which he emphasizes is Nihon (Japanese) jujutsu, as opposed to many Western methods of so-called "jujutsu," that are often a conglomeration of miscellaneous judo and karate-do "tricks," and which are frequently developed by individuals that have never even seen authentic jujutsu. Sato's method is a synthesis of various forms of koryu jujutsu (particularly Kito-ryu) and tanbo-jutsu. It has been influenced by his extensive study of judo and Tomiki-ryu aikido as well. During one of the author's annual visits to Japan, Sato indicated that his method was:

... A system of techniques taken from many of the old schools. Techniques are arranged in order to maximize practicality. The emphasis in training develops balance, and therefore, speed and power. Making use of physiological weak points, an assailant is controlled with a minimum of force. The control practiced allows the use of a technique appropriate to the situation. Nihon jujutsu teaches control rather than the use of excessive force in self-defense since the goal is to develop balance and peace.

    Sato in his lectures and seminars also never fails to make the point that budo and sports are fundamentally different. He especially emphasizes this concept whenever he discusses judo. He stated, 'Today judo is popular throughout the world and emphasized as a competitive sport. Kokusai Budoin does not teach judo as a sport, but as another martial art. It is a vehicle to develop the mind and body, and inspire judoka with the traits of friendship, cooperation, and understanding."

    Sato presently holds the rank of hanshi, ninth dan in Nihon jujutsu, and is hanshi, eighth dan, in classical judo as well. Although 64 years old, he continues to vigorously demonstrate and teach judo and ju jutsu. Through his yearly tours to multiple countries, Sato Shizuya sensei also works to promote friendship among martial artists of all nations, and continues" to pursue his belief in "world peace and goodwill through the practice of budo."