Girl Power
Margot Sathaye
By: Andrew Zerling
Introduction
During Judo competitions many thrown bodies hit the mat and important lessons are learned. Judo came from feudal Japanese samurai warrior hand-to-hand combat on the battlefield, but now Judo is respected as an Olympic sport. Judo is a male-dominated martial art and sport, but there have been many famous Judo women. Judo seems simple when examined on the surface, but it’s one of the most practical martial arts ever developed by humankind. Here’s why.
Judo is a highly demanding jacket-grappling sport. The jacket resembles the elegant Japanese kimono, which was common attire at the time Judo originated in that area of the world. Even today the Judo jacket is the equivalent of a sturdy jacket worn by most. Thus, it shows its practicality. Judo is usually practiced daily under rigorous free sparring conditions. In every Judo competition, you either win or lose on the mats of Judo; hence, you learn from each loss and improve for the next competition.
Lady Judo Pioneer
Now that Judo is better understood, I will share the story of one of the most accomplished lady Judo players: Margot Sathaye (1941-2000), who devoted her entire life to Judo. Margo, as her friends called her, lived in Tokyo for about 25 years and trained at the Mecca of Judo, the Kodokan Institute of Judo..
Margo has the major distinction of being the first non-Japanese woman to earn 7th dan black belt Shihan master rank in Judo from the Kodokan itself. To put it in perspective, most expert men Judo players don’t even come close to getting that rank. For her to get that highly esteemed rank, she must have had to prove herself regularly for over 25 years in the male-dominated world of Judo!
The Proof is in the Pin
Margo apparently never married; she was married and devoted to Judo. Sadly, she died of cancer at a young age in the year 2000. Her story is not over. I’ve been fortunate enough to have been personally told an amazing story by a Judo master, Sid Kelly, who is currently a Judo 9th dan black belt. His story is about how Margo once demonstrated her Judo mastery to him. Here’s the touching story.
Sid Kelly is a large man, much heavier than Margo, and about the same age. Sid was visiting the Kodokan and visited Margo, whom he already knew. After having a nice conversation, Margo politely asked Sid if she could practice a Judo hold-down or pin that she had invented.
Sid agreed. Margo pinned Sid with his cooperation and masterfully controlled his head and body. After the hold was set, Margo kindly asked Sid if he could truly escape. Sid willingly allowed himself to be held down at first, but now he thought he would probably escape since he’s a strong man and larger than Margo. Well, Margo was able to pin Sid for a solid twenty seconds as he struggled with all his great skill and might to escape. In Judo, a twenty-second pin wins a Judo match. Sid gave up as he realized he really couldn’t escape the pin.
Final Thoughts
The main credit goes to Margo’s inventiveness and her ability to apply what she created. Even in her fifties, Margo showed her Judo mastery on the mats. Margo humbly proved herself once again. That’s true girl power!
Zerling’s first article in Black Belt Magazine, “The Neck: The Grappler’s Secret Weapon,” was fully featured in the book “The Ultimate Guide to Grappling” published by Black Belt Books. Additionally, Zerling is the author of the multi-award-winning book “Sumo for Mixed Martial Arts: Winning Clinches, Takedowns, and Tactics” (YMAA Publication Center), which is available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Zerling holds a B.S. in biology from Temple University in Philadelphia and has been a technical writer for the food and drug industry. He resides in New Jersey.
You’ll love Zerling's eBook available on the Amazon Kindle titled “Juggling for Peak Athletic Performance: Cross-Training Guide.” Elevate your game through the sport of juggling. Unlock your athletic potential with juggling cross-training. Have you been searching for an innovative cross-training activity that will give you an outstanding edge in competition? This 65-page eBook on juggling cross-training for peak athletic performance is very possibly what you’re seeking. Check out this website for more info: https://www.thejugglingathlete.com/
- Girl Power: Margot Sathaye - June 16, 2024
- Juggling for the Martial Arts: Supercharge Your Skills - September 9, 2021
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