Henri Courtine
Encyclopedia
Henri Courtine is a French judo
ka. He received a bronze medal at the 1956 World Judo Championships
in Tokyo, shared with Anton Geesink
, after losing the semi final to winner Shokichi Natsui
. He is three times individual European champion (1952, 1958 and 1959), and four times with the French team (1952, 1954, 1955 and 1956). He served as sports director of the International Judo Federation
(IJF) from 1979 to 1987.
Henri Courtine was honored the title jūdan
(10th dan) in 2007, as the first ever French judoka.
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
ka. He received a bronze medal at the 1956 World Judo Championships
1956 World Judo Championships
The 1956 World Judo Championships were the 1st edition of the World Judo Championships, and were held at the Kuramae Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan on May 3, 1956.-Men:- Medals table :...
in Tokyo, shared with Anton Geesink
Anton Geesink
Antonius "Anton" Johannes Geesink was a Dutch 10th-dan judoka from Utrecht. He was a three-time World Judo Champion , Olympic Gold Medalist and won 21 European championships...
, after losing the semi final to winner Shokichi Natsui
Shokichi Natsui
was a Japanese judoka from the Akita Prefecture. He became the first world champion in judo, winning the title at the 1956 World Judo Championships in Tokyo, by beating Yoshihiko Yoshimatsu in the final...
. He is three times individual European champion (1952, 1958 and 1959), and four times with the French team (1952, 1954, 1955 and 1956). He served as sports director of the International Judo Federation
International Judo Federation
The International Judo Federation was founded in July 1951. The IJF was originally composed of judo federations from Europe plus Argentina. Countries from four continents were affiliated over the next ten years. Today the IJF has 200 National Federations on all continents...
(IJF) from 1979 to 1987.
Henri Courtine was honored the title jūdan
Dan (rank)
The ranking system is a Japanese mark of level, which is used in modern fine arts and martial arts. Originally invented in a Go school in the Edo period, this system was applied to martial arts by Kanō Jigorō, the founder of judo and later introduced to other East Asia countries.In the modern...
(10th dan) in 2007, as the first ever French judoka.