Han Ho San, one of the most influential figures in German judo, has died at the age of 87. The European Judo Union confirmed his passing, describing an influence that extended across several generations of German judoka.
Born in South Korea, Han was a holder of the 9th Dan and a state-certified coach. As a competitor he finished fifth at the 1961 World Championships in Paris. A year later he moved to Germany, where he joined the German Judo Federation's coaching structure in 1965.
He served as a national coach from 1965 until his retirement in 2000, a period of roughly 35 years. In 1993 the federation board appointed him head coach, a position he held until the end of his service. He became a German citizen in 1974.
His work was formally recognised when the federation named him Honorary National Coach in 2001. In 2004 he received the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.
For German judo, Han represented something more than a long coaching career. Across 35 years he shaped the way successive national teams trained and competed, passing on a standard that remained visible long after he stepped back from the mat.