• President Theodore Roosevelt Practices Jui-jitsu
    John Hutton
    East Room
    State Floor
    White House Guests
    sports
    drawings
    This illustration shows President Theodore Roosevelt learning jui-jitsu from Yamashita Yoshiaki in the East Room. The spectators include future president William H. Taft, Roosevelt's sons, Theodore, Kermit, Quentin, and Archibald, and three women: most likely Roosevelt's wife, Edith, and daughters Alice and Ethel. Around 1905, the president invited the celebrated martial artist and instructor to the White House to provide a demonstration. The president himself took part in the demonstration in the East Room. This artistic interpretation was created by John Hutton for the White House Historical Association. Hutton's whimsical illustrations were featured in his book "How to Draw the Presidents," published by the White House Historical Association.