Donald Frederick "Donn" Draeger (April 15, 1922 – October 20, 1982) was an American practitioner and teacher of martial arts.

[1] He was the author of several important books on Asian martial arts,[5] and was a pioneer of international judo in the United States and Japan.

In April 1945, Draeger was promoted to first lieutenant, and transferred to III Amphibious Corps, which was preparing for the planned invasion of Japan.

Draeger returned to the USA in the spring of 1946, and for the rest of the year, he served with Marine detachments in Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

While at Camp Lejeune, he was promoted to captain, commanded a company, and coached the base judo team.

[15] Draeger reportedly began his involvement in the martial arts while living in the Chicago area, at around the age of 7 or 8.

[16] His first training was in Yoshin-ryu jujutsu, but he soon changed to judo and by age 10, he reportedly achieved the grade of 2nd kyu (the lower of the two levels of brown belt).

[23] During this time, Draeger also trained in Chinese martial arts, learning baguazhang under Wang Shujin while in Japan.

[24] By mediation of his training partner Robert W. Smith, Draeger fought a challenge match against Huang Sheng-shyan, defeating him by a choke.

[26] Draeger became a member of the Nihon Kobudo Shinkokai, the oldest Japanese cultural organization for the study and preservation of classical martial arts.

He was the first non-Japanese practitioner of Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū, achieving instructor status (kyoshi menkyo) in that system.

He also held high ranks in Shindo Muso-ryu jodo, kendo, karate and aikido, among other arts.

[2][27][28][29] Draeger studied the evolution and development of human combative behavior and was director of the International Hoplology Society (IHC) in Tokyo until his death in 1982.

Specifically, he served as martial arts coordinator for the James Bond film You Only Live Twice, where he also doubled for actor Sean Connery.