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.

 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.

Judo Canada Presidents:

Steven Shigetaka Sasaki

Steven Shigetaka Sasaki started his Judo studies at the age of 12 in Japan.  Five years later he attained the rank of shodan.  In 1922, Mr. Sasaki immigrated to Canada and two years later started the Vancouver Judo Club. During those first few years, Mr. Sasaki paid all dojo operating expenses and did not charge his students for lessons.  In 1932 Mr. Sasaki became the first official judo instructor for the RCMP.

During 1936, Professor Jigaro Kano came to Vancouver and visited Mr. Sasaki's Vancouver Judo Club.  "Products" of the dojo include instructors such as M. Umetsu, Kawano, Omori, T. Doi, T. Tamoto, F. Hatashita and many more.

During his stay, Professor Kano asked Mr. Sasaki to accompany him on a tour of North America and Europe.  Countries covered on the tour included Canada, United States, England, France and Germany.  During the tour, Prof. Kano promoted Mr. Sasaki to yodan (4th Dan).

In 1953, 1954 and 1955 Mr. Sasaki traveled to Toronto on many occasions, at his own expense to try and form a National Canadian Judo Organization.  After three years of hard work, the Canadian Kodokan Black Belt (CKBBA) was formed.  Today, it is known as Judo Canada.

 

In 1958, Mr. Sasaki flew to Tokyo to confer with the International Judo Federation (IJF) and was successful in receiving approval for the CKBBA to join.  Mr. Sasaki was President of the CKBBA for three years, retiring from the position in 1959. In 1971 Mr. Sasaki and Mr. Doi took over the Marpole Community Centre Judo Club.  Kodokan promoted Mr. Sasaki to Shichidan (7th Dan) in 1975.  Mr. Sasaki died in 1992.  His support of Canadian Judo will be greatly missed.