Judo

What is Judo
The word JUDO literally means “Gentle Way”, and is originally derived from the ancient art of JIU JITSU, which is a system of unarmed self-defence. Judo is a clean competitive sport, exciting to watch, and one of the fastest growing sports in Canada today. In the 1964 Olympics in Japan, Douglas Rogers won a silver medal for Canada. Since then, Canadian Judo has shown much progress in both the Pan American Games and the World Championships.

In 1982, Kevin Doherty and Philip Takahashi both took bronze medals in the World Championships while Mark Berger took a bronze Olympic medal in 1984. Nicolas Gill also took an Olympic bronze medal in 1992 in Barcelona, a silver medal in the World Championships in 1993, a bronze medal in the World Championships in 1995 in Japan, 1999 Worlds bronze in Birmingham, and silver medal in the 2000 Olympics.


Head Instructor – Duncan Vignale– 7th Dan Black Belt
  • Started studying Judo in Hamilton in the 1950’s and has trained under Sensei’s Masao Kawasaki, K. Takata 8th Dan (Kodokan Instructor, Mits Tanino and Frank Hatashita.
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  • Sensei Duncan has held several positions with Judo Ontario and Judo Canada including: council member, vice-president and president of Judo Ontario and vice-president of Judo Canada.
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  • Sensei Duncan holds National Referee Status and served as chairman on Judo Ontario’s Black Belt Grading Board and was a member on Judo Canada’s National Grading Board.
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  • As a competitive Judoka for over 20 years, Sensei Duncan has won the Ontario and Eastern Canadian Championships and placed three times in the Canadian Championships. In 1964, he was selected as the alternate to Mr. Doug Rogers, who won the silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
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  • Judo Ontario Head Coach for 4 years and many of his students have ad successful competitive careers both nationally and internationally.
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    Assistant Instructor – Rick Koglin 4th Dan Black Belt
  • Has been studying Judo since 1977 and has trained under Sensei’s Chris Toule, Goki Uemura, Joe Toule, Frank Hatashita, Robert Varga, Don Smith and Duncan Vignale.
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  • Tournament history: 1983 and 1984 Ontario Juvenile Champion, 1983 Canadian Winter Games Champion, 1984 Canadian Juvenile 3rd Place, 1985-1989 Ontario I.J.F. Junior Champion, 1988 Canadian I.J.F. Junior 3rd Place.
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  • Sensei Rich has taught Judo since 1993 at a number of Dojos including, Yawara Dojo – Owen Public School, North Hill Private Schools in Woodbridge and Concord; Seidokai Dojo – Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, Woodbridge Private School; East Asian Studies Department, University of Toronto and Yamanaka Budo Life Centre, Markham.
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  • Sensei Rick has been the Assistant Judo Instructor at the Centre for Marital Arts since 2004.
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    Why Learn Judo

    Anyone can learn Judo, young, old, man, woman or child. All can benefit from the physical and mental training of Judo. Shy children can develop more self-confidence, aggressive children learn to control their emotions more readily. Judo training and Judo philosophy also develop personal self-control, physical well being and peace of mind.

    From a student’s very first lesson he/she will be under the close supervision of the instructors. Our instructors are qualified men and women who have vast experience and knowledge regarding different types of students. The first thing a student learns is how to fall properly so he/she will not injure themselves. When this has been accomplished to a satisfactory degree, the instructor then teaches the students how to apply various Judo throws and holds. As the students improve and progress, they learn to co-ordinate mind and body at which time a great sense of mental relaxation will be experienced.

    Curriculum

    Judo Canada approves the Judo program being taught at the Centre for Martial Arts.

    The Judo program presented is one that follows the traditional Japanese grading system that ranges from the white belt of the novice up to black belt level of an instructor.
    The levels in this grading system are 1. White Belt, 2. Yellow Belt, 3. Orange Belt, 4. Green Belt, 5. Blue Belt, 6. Brown Belt, 7. Black Belt (1st Dan)

    At each belt level the student must learn a specific number of techniques and be tested on those techniques before he/she can move up to the next level.

    The time required for a student to advance from one belt level to the next will depend upon the number of times a student attends class in a month as well as the effort each student puts forth in training. As the student advances in ranks, the time in each rank will increase as the technical skills required become more demanding and challenging.

    Each student will receive a training syllabus to ensure that they know the requirements at each belt level. In order to practice Judo each student will be required to wear a traditional white martial arts uniform called a Gi.


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