{{short description|American judoka}} {{Infobox judoka | image = | name = Shintaro Higashi | nickname = Sensei | residence = | other_names = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1984|12|14|df=yes}} | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | death_cause = | sport = Judo, Aikido, Karate, BJJ, Jūjutsu | coach = Nobuyoshi Higashi | club = Kokushi Budo Institute | rank = | rank_alt = {{JudoRank|red|white}} 6th Dan Black belt in ''judo''<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2023-03-02|language=en|title=Shintaro Higashi: Record, Net Worth, Weight, Age & More!|date=12 October 2021 |url=https://bjjfanatics.com/blogs/fighters/shintaro-higashi}}</ref><br />{{Nowrap|{{JudoRank|black}} Black belt in ''Brazilian jiu-jitsu''}}<ref name="bjj_black_belt" /> | students = | website = [https://shintarohigashi.com/ Website] | footnotes = | height = 5 ft 10 in | weight = 100 kg <!-- Medal record --> | show-medals = | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport | Men's Judo}} {{MedalCountry | {{USA}} }} {{MedalCompetition|USA Judo Senior National Championships}} {{MedalBronze | USA Judo Senior National Championships|2015 |Kumite −100}} {{MedalGold | USA Judo Senior National Championships|2011 |Kumite −100}} {{MedalBronze | USA Judo Senior National Championships|2009 |Kumite −100}} {{MedalGold | USA Judo Senior National Championships|2007 |Kumite −100}} {{MedalBronze | USA Judo Senior National Championships|2003 |Kumite Open Weight}} }} '''Shintaro Higashi''' (born December 16, 1984)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.judoinside.com/judoka/29803|title=Shintaro Higashi, Judoka, JudoInside|publisher=}}</ref> is a Japanese-American judo competitor and 6th degree black belt in judo for the United States in the 100 kg category.<ref name=kb>{{cite web|url=http://www.kokushibudo.com/judo-nyc-instructors/|title=Instructors|author=Shintaro Higashi|work=Martial Arts NYC: Jiu Jitsu, Judo, Aikido}}</ref> He is the head instructor at the [https://www.kokushibudo.com Kokushi Budo Institute], a member of the New York Athletic Club, and a professor at Brooklyn College.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ratemyprofessors.com/ShowRatings.jsp?tid=1223888#|title=Shintaro Higashi at Brooklyn College - RateMyProfessors.com|publisher=}}</ref><ref name=teamusa>[http://www.teamusa.org/usa-judo/athletes/Shintaro-Higashi www.teamusa.org] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20141112171058/http://www.teamusa.org/usa-judo/athletes/Shintaro-Higashi |date=2014-11-12 }}</ref>
==Personal life== He attended Hunter College, where he earned a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in education. He also attended NYU Stern where he earned an MBA. While at Hunter, he was a member of the wrestling team, on which he received All-State status.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.huntercollegeathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=188 | title=Shintaro Higashi - 2006-07 - Wrestling }}</ref> He is the son of Nobuyoshi Higashi, the founder of Kokushi-ryu jujutsu and a Judo, Aikido, and Karate instructor. Higashi is also fluent in Japanese.<ref>{{cite web|author=Neighborhood Joint By ERIC ASIMOV NOV. 26, 2010 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/28/nyregion/28joint.html |title=At New York Buddhist Church, Japanese Martial Arts - The New York Times |work=The New York Times |date=2010-11-26 |accessdate=2019-12-04}}</ref>
==Martial arts== He holds black belts in Judo, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, jujitsu, Aikido, and Karate.<ref name=kb/> He received a red and white (6.dan) belt in Judo in 2017 at the age of 32, becoming one of the youngest people to ever achieve the rank. He has also inherited his father's dojo, [https://www.kokushibudo.com Kokushi Budo Institute] in New York City. <ref>https://www.kokushibudo.com/about</ref>
He has won Gold in the 2007, 2011 USA Judo Senior National Championships and placed 5th in the US Open.<ref name=teamusa/> He also took Gold in the International Tournament Am-Cam Judo Challenge and placed third in the National Championships.<ref name=teamusa/> He would be a member of Team USA in 2007, 2010 World Judo Championships – Men's 100 kg and 2011 World Judo Championships – Men's 100 kg for the world games.<ref name=kb/> He trained for the 2008 and the 2012 US Olympic Team at 100 kg.<ref name=SD>{{cite web|url=http://scarsdale.dailyvoice.com/sports/scarsdales-higashi-aims-2012-summer-olympics|title=Scarsdale's Higashi Aims for 2012 Summer Olympics|date=7 June 2011|work=The Scarsdale Daily Voice}}</ref> He achieved 43rd in the world ranking for Judo behind Kyle Vashkulat in the United States.<ref name=SD/> He has also trained in freestyle wrestling, boxing and has a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Brian Glick.<ref name="bjj_black_belt">{{cite web |last1=Blackett |first1=Todd |title=Shintaro Higashi Promoted To BJJ Black Belt By Brian Glick |url=https://jitsmagazine.com/shintaro-higashi-promoted-to-bjj-black-belt-by-brian-glick/ |website=JitsMagazine |date=23 March 2023 |access-date=23 March 2023}}</ref>
He has a martial arts (primarily Judo)-focused Youtube channel with over 270 000 subscribers. <ref>https://www.youtube.com/@Shigashi84</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{sports links}} * http://www.shintarohigashi.com/
{{DEFAULTSORT:Higashi, Shintaro}} Category:Living people Category:American male karateka Category:Judoka trainers Category:American male judoka Category:American people of Japanese descent Category:Sportspeople of Japanese descent Category:1984 births Category:Brooklyn College faculty Category:American mixed martial arts podcasters