Judo teacher and author
Sadaki Nakabayashi (September 14, 1916 – September 29, 1977) is a former judo teacher and author.[1] Nakabayashi authored a number of judo books including Judo, (Athletic Institute series) in 1968, How to Improve Your Judo in 1960, Fundamentals of judo in 1964.[2] He also wrote the book fundamentals of Judo along with George Uchida and Olympic Coach [3] Yoshihiro Uchida[3] Nakabayshi taught for a period at the Kodokan.[4] Nakabayashi is considered to be one of the best Judo instructors to have been sent to the United States.[5]
World War II
Nakabayashi was a soldier in the Japanese Army in World War II.[6] He attended Kokushikan Judo College / Kokushikan University where he majored in Judo and Kendo.[7] He was an instructor of Taiho Jutsu.[8]
Judo
He started learning Judo at the age of 12 in 1927.[7] He served as the second degree, third degree, and forth degree black belt college Judo champion.[7]
Nakabayshi was brought to the United States by the US Air Force to teach judo[9] and later served as the chief instructor at the New York Athletic Club.[10] He established the Judo Program at West Point.[11] He was key in the development of the 1964 US Olympic Team.[12] As a 7th Dan, he served as a technical adviser for the United States Judo Federation.[13] and was considered one of the best judo instructors of the time.[6] In 1964, he was the highest ranking Judoka in the United States.[7] By 1969 he was
the highest ranking judo instructors in the Eastern United States[14] and eventually earned the rank of 9th Dan.[6] He would serve as a kata judge for Nage-no-kata.[15] He would serve as the as a judge in the AAU Women's Kata Championships.[16] Nagabayshi emphasized the changing nature of throws in Judo.[17]
Author
Sadaki Nakabayashi co-authored a book in 1960 called How to Improve Your Judo.[18]
Students
Nakabayashi's students included the judo twins.[6] Nakabayshi firmly believed that judo was growing and changing from the older techniques.[19] Another of his students was Bernard Lepkofker and Ron Hoffman.[7]
As early as 1973, he had organized the Nakabayshi Judo Invitational Tournament.[11]
References