Yoshisada Yonezuka (米塚 義定 Yonezuka Yoshisada, ; May 19, 1937 in Nakadomari, Aomori, Japan), is a Judo instructor and two time U.S. Olympic Judo Team coach. He began training in track and sumo wrestling as a child. In 1954, he began to train in judo in high school and became the Northern Japan High School Champion in 1955.
Yonezuka entered Nihon University in 1956.[1] After defeating nine 2nd degree blackbelts in succession at the Kodokan, he received a special promotion to 3rd degree black belt. He also began studying several styles of karate shorinji-kempo, wado ryu, and shito-ryu.
In 1959, he was a member of the university team winning the team championship. The following year he graduated Nihon University majoring in business. Following his childhood dream he came to the United States and began teaching judo at West Point Military Academy. In 1962, Yonezuka founded the Cranford Judo Karate Center. He was also the founding coach of the Judo program at New Jersey Institute of Technology (then known as Newark College of Engineering) during the mid-60s.[2]
Yonezuka was twice chosen to serve as head coach of the U.S. Olympic Judo Team, and he coached three U.S. World Judo Championships Teams as well.
He was awarded the Kudan[3] which is the Ninth Degree in Judo in 2007 becoming one of only several American residents to be honored with the second highest Judo Degree. He also holds the 8th Degree Black Belt in Karate.[4]