Donn Draeger

Donn Draeger served in the US Marines from 1943-56, fighting in the Battle of Iwo Jima, and attaining the rank of captain. He had studied martial arts as a child in Chicago, starting out in jujitsu. By 1948 he had become a 4th Dan in judo. In the early 1950s he was one of the leaders of the US Judo Black Belt Association, which later became the US Judo Federation. Draeger represented the US internationally in several countries and was the only non-Japanese demonstrating kendo at the 1964 Olympics.

Draeger was a student of human combat and founded and directed the International Hoplology Society (IHC) in Tokyo. He wrote several books and articles about Asian martial arts and worked in film, serving as the martial arts coordinator in the James Bond film, You Only Live Twice, in which he also was the stunt double for Sean Connery.