Other names Hank Kraft Teacher(s) T. Ishikan | Style Judo Name Hank Kraft | |
Rank 7th degree red and white belt in Judo | ||
Henry Hank Kraft, born in Queens, NY attended Grover Cleveland High School and Pace College. In 1963 he received his 3rd Dan in Judo. At latest check he is a 7th Dan in Judo.
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A New York City based Judo Instructor for almost 4 decades, Kraft picked up Judo after enrolling in a month-long course at CUNY Queens College. He was drafted into the Army for the Korean War, and later studied Judo at the Kodokan. He worked as an insurance salesman and real estate broker.
Judo Official
Hank was instrumental in the Long Island Senior Championships. He would serve as a rank chairman for the NY Judo Yudankashi In 1969, he would work as the Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee for the New York Judo Association. He worked with a Judo committee to get US Grand Champion and future Olympic Bronze Medalists Allen Coage (who became wrestler Bad News Brown) a full scholarship to the Kodokan. Hank would serve as an administrator and on the board for the New York State Judo Association. He would also serve on the interscholastic section for NYS Judo Association. He would later be elected treasurer to the New York State Yudankashi of the Judo Black Belt Federation.
Judo Coach
Kraft has trained over 55 national and international competitors who have ranked 1, 2, or 3 in their division. His school, Queens Judo Center, was the winner of the Yoshida Cup in 1971. During that year he would serve as the instructor for Arthur Canario, the number 3 ranked Judoka in the United States. He served as the alternate manager for the U.S. judo team at the 1974 Pan American games. He would serve as an alternate manager for the 1976 USA Judo Olympic Team. He also trained American teams against a German Team for Judo. Kraft recently trained 2000 Olympic hopeful Alain Andrianov. Kraft as reported by the daily news said that Andrianov was a strong contender for a medal if not for citizenship issues. Hank Kraft was registered by Team USA and USA Judo as a 7th degree black belt in Judo in 2013.