“Our Mark Twain of Martial Arts” Donn Draeger 1922 – 1982

“Our Mark Twain of Martial Arts”

Donn Draeger was a US Marine from 1943-1956 with the rank of Major. He was an internationally known teacher and practitioner of Japanese martial arts. He authored several important books on Asian martial arts, was a pioneer of international judo in the United States and Japan, and a leading martial arts researcher respected in martial arts and military communities worldwide.

He reportedly became involved in the martial arts at the age of 7 in Chicago. He first trained in jujutsu, but soon changed to judo. By 1948, he ranked 4th dan in judo, a grading which likely occurred during his Marine duty in Tianjin, China in 1946.

In 1952, Draeger was one of the leaders of the newly established US Judo Black Belt Association, the first national-level judo organization in North America and forerunner of the United States Judo Federation. Draeger's national-level postings were many and in 1964, he was named United States Amateur Athletic Union judo representative in Japan, in anticipation of judo's inclusion in the 1964 Olympics. He also participated in judo activities in Japan. In 1961, Draeger and British judo athlete John Cornish were the first non-Japanese athletes to demonstrate nage-no-kata during the All-Japan Judo Championships.

Draeger became a member of the Nihon Kobudo Shinkokai, the oldest Japanese cultural organization for the study and preservation of classical martial arts. He was the first non-Japanese practitioner of Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū, achieving instructor status (kyoshi menkyo) in that system.

He also held high ranks in Shindo Muso-ryujodo and kendo.

In 1959, he was awarded a bachelor of science degree from Sophia University, Tokyo. His leadership and credentials were key in making the study of martial arts an acceptable topic of academic research, and his research, theories and concepts inspired a generation of martial arts researchers and practitioners.

In his later years, Draeger spent four months a year on field trips throughout Asia.

Draeger wrote many books on Asian martial arts. Most influential were: Asian Fighting Arts, with Robert W. Smith, (1969); Martial Arts and Ways of Japan, 3 vols (1973-74). Other highly regarded books included: Judo Training Methods, with Takahito Ishikawa (1961); Shaolin: Lohan Kung Fu Fighting Techniques, with P’ng Chye Khin (1979); Japanese Swordsmanship Technique & Practice, with Gordon Warner (1982); Classical Budo (1973), Classical Bujutsu (1973); Kodokan Judo with Tadao Otaki (1983). A training manual on Kenjutsu was popular in the U.S.

He passed away in October 1982.

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