The Beginnings of Judo in Canada
It was around 1924 that Judo was introduced on the Canadian West Coast
under the impetus of and through the enthusiasm of a young Japanese Judoka,
Takagaki, who was at the time a fourth Dan. He and a few fellow immigrant
Japanese founded the first Canadian Dojo, for both socio-cultural and sport
purposes. After a few years, Mr. Takagaki returned to Japan where he later
obtained his 9th Dan.
Among the pioneers of that era was Mr. Steve Sasaki, who became the director
of the Dojo. Later, during a visit to Vancouver, Master Kano gave the name
Kidikan to this first Canadian Dojo.
During World War II Japanese and Canadians of Japanese origin were
relocated to the east of the Rockies. At the end of the War, many of them
preferred to remain in their new communities, and developed the sport of Judo.
This period saw the beginning of the Raymond and Lethbridge Dojos in Alberta as
well as the Hatashita Judo Club in Toronto and the Montreal Shidokan.
In the early 1950's, many European Judoka with black belts settled in the
East, especially in Quebec. Not all of them were teaching Kodokan Judo but they
contributed largely to its practice on a wider scale. They established the
first Canadian Judo Federation (C.J.F.) which became affiliated with the
International Judo Federation, also a newly established organization.
At the time of the first World Championships of 1956, in Tokyo, there were
two representatives from the Canadian Judo Federation. During that same year,
the Canadian Kodokan Black Belt Association (CKBBA) was formed, regrouping
members from several different Provinces , with Mr. Sasaki as its first
president. (October 25, 1956).
In 1958, at the second World Championships, Canada was represented by Mr.
Umetsu, the second president of the CKBBA, who was both a delegate to the
Congress of the IJF, and a competitor. That same year, recognition was granted
to Judo Canada by the International Judo Federation. To this present day, Judo
Canada is the only official organization governing Judo in Canada. Mr.
Hatashita was elected third President of the Association in 1961, and held this
office until 1978. There is presently a Judo Association in each province and
territory.
As Judo Canada began developing a relationship with the IJF, Canadian
athletes began achieving results on the international scene. In 1964, Doug
Rogers won the silver medal at the World Championships followed by a bronze
medal a year later. Almost twenty years later, Phil Takahashi and Kevin Doherty
of Ontario both won bronze medals at the 1981 World Championships. Then in 1984
Berger of Manitoba won a bronze medal in the Los Angeles Olympic Games and in
1992 Nicolas Gill won Canada's third Olympic medal when he placed third in
Barcelona. He repeated this success in the World Championships in Hamilton
Canada with a second place performance.
