Bubbe, what’s a dojo?

Or “This is a sport for a nice Jewish girl?”

Rene “Rusty” Glickman-Konakogi, a 73-year-old bubbe from Brooklyn, was recently honored with the Emperor’s Order of the Rising Sun — one of Japan’s highest honors — for her contributions to women’s judo.

Rusty took up the sport as a young lady to protect herself from the gangs around her Coney Island home.

From her bio at the Women’s Sports Foundation website:

Rena “Rusty” Kanokogi holds a seventh-degree black belt in judo, making her the highest-ranking American woman in the sport of judo. Kanokogi first started competing in the late 1950s, when women were barred from judo leagues. In disguise, she competed as a member of the all-men’s team until she was discovered and disqualified. Soon after, Kanokogi dedicated herself to ensuring that women are able to compete in judo competitions. For her years of commitment, she received the honor of World Pioneer of Women’s Judo, which was given to her by the International Judo Federation (IJF) Congress in Japan, which has representatives from 103 countries.

In 2007, the USA Judo Referee Commission voted unanimously to award the John Osako Award for excellence in refereeing to Kanokogi. The prestigious John Osako Award is given to those who have worked continuously to develop their referee skills and contribute unselfishly to the Olympic sport of judo.

Currently, Kanokogi is the president of Kyushu Judo & Community Service and the president of New York State Judo Inc. Kanokogi was the NBC sport expert commentator at the 2004 Olympic Games for judo. In 2002, she received a citation from the Brooklyn borough president for her contribution to the Brooklyn fitness program. She also was given the 2002 Woman of Achievement Award by Kingsboro Community College. In 2001, she was presented with the bronze medal by the International Judo Federation.

Kanokogi is a former member of the Women’s Sports Foundation Board of Trustees (1996-2001) and the current chair of the International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame Alumnae Association. She is featured in the Women’s Sports Foundation book, “SuperWomen: 100 Women 100 Sports.” She was inducted into the International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1994 and received the 1991 Women’s Sports Foundation President’s Award. (9/08)

Here’s a Sports Illustrated article on her from 1986.

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Kaplan’s Korner on Jews and Sports © 2009 New Jersey Jewish News

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