Yoshiaki Yamashita
(1865-1935)
The Shihan's assistant from the very founding of the Kodokan, he is one of the great names in Judo. He entered the Kodokan in 1884 and gained a formidable reputation from his contests with the strong men of other jujutsu schools during the Meiji period. He later went to the United States where he taught Judo to President Theodore Roosevelt and altogether enjoyed a colourful life. In 1935 Kano Shihan awarded him the first 10th Dan.
