Blog - 50th State Judo Association

Aiea Taiheiji Judo Club Tournament

November 12, 2023

Lots of Winners from today’s Fold Your Judo Gi Challenge. Good job Everyone! Make your Parents and Sensei’s Happy and Keep Folding Your Judo Gi Nice.

Shobukan Judo Tournament

November 12, 2023

Reverend Kakuo Shiba Memorial Tournament Standouts

September 6, 2023

Congratulation to the fastest Ippons!

Olivia Medlock – Pearl City Hogwanji Judo Club – 2 seconds!
Jaylen Yasay – Pearl City Hongwanji Judo Club – 3 seconds!

Pearl City Hongwanji Judo Tournament Standouts

August 10, 2023

The following students were recognized for their achievements at the Pearl City Hongwanji Judo Tournament:

Kaulana Narciso – Pearl City Hogwanji Judo Club
Terrysa Uyeno – Pearl City Hogwanji Judo Club
Virgilio Martinez – Pearl City Hongwanji Judo Club
Christa Ragudos – Newtown Judo Club

Congratulations!

Professor Natalie Roy – USJF Lifetime Achievement Award

July 4, 2023

Congratulations to Professor Natalie Roy on her 2023 USJF Lifetime Achievement Award.

Judo Biography

This is a story set during a time of female suppression. Sensei Natalie
depicts her struggles and determination to be involved and to help through challenging the odds in a male dominated world:

Nat helped to bridge the gap of yesterday for the girls of today.

She did not give up. Nat discovered life lessons that made her want to
contribute continually to this day by taking on daily tasks to big projects.

Sensei Nat’s two older brothers took judo since they were 7 years old. Nat was an infant at that time but went to every judo event they entered on Oahu. She grew up watching judo at their dojo until the age of 14 years old until a very kind instructor, Sensei Yotoku Meshiro, tried to start a girl’s class. He encouraged girls for self-defense; however she wanted to win a trophy like her brothers. He was such a great sensei teaching youths just as they were starting out. Kids were drawn to him, he recruited kids wherever he saw them. Their club grew to over 250 kids and 5 days of scheduled classes. She was so lucky to learn of his abilities to train youths as she always hung around his kiddie classes to learn his techniques.

She immersed herself in judo, traveled all over Oahu with her older brothers to many dojos. Her brothers instilled in her the desire always to do her best and not to shame the family name. She was a tyrant, not wanting to lose any match in tournaments or practice. She found herself not being able to have practice partners (girls), so she decided to join the senior class which were all males at the time – some were a little younger than she was, others were adults. It was tough being the only girl in class, but her brothers were the assistant instructors, so she was never alone.

Eventually, she was dominating the girls in the 145 pounds & over division with the age range of up to 18 years old. Nat was barely 140 pounds and only 15 years old but because girls did not want to fight with her, they pushed her up the divisions. As she advanced, she tried to enter tournaments as a late registration so people would not drop out of the division. Eventually after a few tournaments no one wanted to fight her. The tournament directors told her she could not enter tournaments because she was “killing the sport of judo”.

That set her on another quest. She was determined to get her black belt. Back in the day a female was not able to collect points for promotion but had to do a series of katas, tumbles, sugiashi moves, and pass the elders’ scrutinizing requests. It would take 3 years to complete the Nage no kata, Newaza kata, Ju No kata with absolutely no flaws. During this time, Nat used to tour with her instructor, Sensei Yasuyuki Sakabe, and demonstrate Nage no Kata at various sport fairs, and at other dojos. She literally practiced 7 days a week seeking perfection. In the meantime, Nat also initiated having girls do the timing tables which was all male at the time. That opened the way for females to take a bigger role in judo. She mustered up enough courage to volunteer as a referee. She did this for several years and got to referee at the high school nationals and was a registered National referee.

High school judo started in 1974, she was just a junior but tried to practice with them. In 1975, after she graduated from high school, she started to help the Pearl City High School Judo team as the assistant instructor – yes, she made her black belt by then. Eventually she became the team’s manager, taking them around to other schools for practice and on longer journeys to the outer islands.

After a few years she became the head coach at Waipahu High School while the former coaching staff stepped away for a year. Nat eventually returned to her former high school.

W H S Judo Team

From High School to Collegiate level judo…

A young Sensei Natalie

While in college a bunch of her friends decided to go to a national collegiate tournament. The University of Hawaii allowed her to enter the tournament but had to be ‘unattached’ or non-affiliated from the school. The tournament was held at the University of Iowa and her friend placed 2nd and she placed 3rd. It was the first time Hawaii went so far to compete at the University of Iowa.

Shimizu, a Judo Standout

Excerpt from UH’s Shimizu a Judo Standout by Jack Wyatt, Special to the Star-Bulletin

“…University of Hawaii’s Natalie Shimizu (Maiden Name) has been casting boys aside for years. And she’s not about to stop. A heartbreaker, you ask.” No, Shimizu, a 21-year old sophomore art major, holds a first degree black belt in judo and she is fresh from the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) judo championships, where she placed third in the women’s open division. The championships were held recently at Cedar Falls, Iowa.”

For the first time, Hawaii tried to start an international tournament called the Pacific Rim Judo Championships. All countries along the rim of the Pacific Ocean were invited. Nat joined the committee to create the program booklet and she enjoyed the opportunity very much. This was a great learning experience for her – observing a tournament from a different perspective. This tournament; however, was also unknowingly her last competition…

Her coach at the time was disappointed with her attendance at club practice. She was exhausted from training for months for the collegiate tournament and decided to take a leave to unwind even though the tournament was only 3 months away. Within those 3 months, she only practiced a couple times at the dojo, although at home she did shadow uchikomis, ran for miles, and lifted weights by herself. Nat worked on mental health with meditation and game plays in her head. The day of the tournament, she realized she should have trained harder, but “it is what it is.”

Her coach gave her such an attitude and spoke so rudely to her in front
of the Hawaii and US team that it sparked a rage. All she could see was
red. Her teammates stayed far away from her as she was fuming. When the
competition began she went to her matches without a coach, although her
brother was on the head table watching. Her parents and family were in
the stand supporting her as well. It was the first time her parents came
to see her judo matches. In the past, they told her brothers to take care
of her because they had other things to do at home.

She won all of her matches until the finals. She challenged international players and her mindset was so strong after the events of the morning that she just wanted to win. Eventually, she made her way to the semi-finals, She faced a girl that broke five girls’ arms prior to Nat’s match. She was full of confidence, but Nat was full of her fighting spirit but still in control of her game plan. She thought what would be so humiliating for a person like her. Her opponent would grab and slam the arm of her competitor’s arm and break it. She did attempt this move several times; however, Nat was waiting for the right moment to get her to the ground. With Nat’s harai goshi, she stumbled to the ground. It was her chance as she pinned her by kesa gatame and sucked all the air out of her. She was tapping out, so the A referee stopped the match. She said could not breathe, as she eased up so she could talk. The referee said with a huff, “Continue” and Nat again squeezed all the air out of her, and Nat eventually won the match.

In the finals, she noticed her toenail was ripped, she had no choice but to ask her coach to tape her toe. She asked her friend to call the coach and tell him to wrap her toe without seeing her toe. Nat was against a USA player and in her mind she was happy she obtained a place in the finals, telling herself ‘second’ is ok. Nat never did this before and lost to her opponent. Lesson learned.

Eventually she returned to her club with no great welcome back, shunned
by her coach, as the under ranks just stayed away. “That’s when I decided to close this chapter in my life.”

The New Chapter…

She went on to help as an Assistant Lecturer at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and eventually became the Lead Lecturer. But as life moves you, she needed to find a full time job and so she had to move on.

After a year or so, the board members of her judo club called her, pleading with her to come back and help the club. Although, they knew the back history with the coach, they begged for her to return. She returned to her former club for the sake of loyalty of those who supported her over the years. However, for two long weeks it was very uncomfortable running class with a man that showed so much hatred for her for not practicing before the big event.

Realizing the loyalty she had for her club and what he put her through, he approached her and apologized. It was a little too late, but she accepted for the sake of her club. During this time, all of the black belts, brown belts left to join the other instructor. It was the first time she observed a rift at a judo club. This is where she grew up and it was where her heart was, as she could not simply just leave. Eventually things subsided and were running smoothly as none of the older students came back. The club was running smoothly once again, so she decided to leave. This was when she knew her competitive days were over. She got invitations to the British Open and others but declined, as it was going to have to be self-funded and all her fellow partners also gave up judo to start their careers.

She went to visit her friends’ dojos here and there while taking her niece and nephew to practice. They were not into judo while in elementary school. However, in high school they wanted to play, and their father and Nat knew they could not send them to any dojo. They needed to teach them. Nat helped the high school judo team for a while until she decided to open Aiea Hongwanji Judo Club with 5 members including their spouses, niece and nephew.

This was catch up time! Teaching them as much as they could, so they could hold their own in judo. At this time, she became the Association’s Secretary as this was all new to her! Nat continued to learn kata in the meantime, every weekend while learning all the finer points to this waza.

Aiea Judo Club was flourishing …

She approached 50th State Judo Association and was pretty persistent in getting in as a member. Eventually they allowed Aiea Hongwanji to join. What a happy day! She joined in all their activities while her brother not wanting to be out front, encouraged Nat to be more politically involved. So that she did – she stood up to all the male members in the Association. Then one day they were voting for a secretary and her friends volunteered her for the position. Shocked – she was new – and they wanted her. Through the ups and downs, she became the 50th State Judo Association’s Executive Secretary. It has been nearly 26 years in the making, doing what she loves, spreading the spirit of judo.

Sensei Natalie at Aiea Hongwanji Judo Club

Sensei Natalie 6th Dan

Notable Lifetime achievements

Assistant instructor Pearl City Hongwanji from 1975 – throughout the years.
Co-Head instructor and Founder of Aiea Hongwanji Judo Club from 1994.
Head instructor for over 15 years.
26 years Secretary / Executive Secretary for Hawaii State Judo Association and 50th State Judo Association.
Assistant Coach/ Manager – over 20 years at Pearl City High School.
Head Coach at Waipahu High School – 1 year.
Assistant coach at Aiea High School – 3 years.
Head Coach over 30 years.
Layout/Designer for most program booklets for major events in Hawaii.
Hosted hospitality room for USJF/ USJA Grassroots Jr. Nationals in 2014, Honolulu, Hawaii.
Proud host of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team (RCT) Memorial Judo Tournament hosted by Aiea Hongwanji Judo Club since 2014.
Encouraged the adoption of the 442nd in the Jr Nationals starting with
2014.
Helped organize Association outings, luaus, selling of 50th SJA T-shirts, grand picnics with huge door prizes.
Organize the Pan Pacific Parade judo section, having more than 300 members marching in the parade for over 10 years.
Coordinate all banquets for promotions, events and hosting the Japan Olympic team in Hawaii.
Write, post, coordinate 50th SJA Monthly tournaments, Shodan Shiais.
Help with registration communication for our clubs.
Help with Promotion applications.
Promotion Committee for 50th SJA.
Advise the up and coming youths who will someday replace our elder advisors.
Highest ranking female judoka in Hawaii, 50th SJA
Over 52 years of dedicated judo service as a competitor, High School Judo Coach, Head Instructor, University Lecturer, 50th State Judo Association Executive Secretary, and among the many other countless activities noted above.

Roy and Shimizu Family

Sensei Nat’s promotion to 6th Dan with Professor Albert Aoki

50th State Judo Association – Professors

50th State Judo Association – Professors
Bottom Row (left to right): Prof. Robert Brink, Prof. George Tsubota, Prof. Frank Morales, Prof. Albert Aoki, Prof. Natalie Roy, Prof. Sam Fujikawa
Middle Row (left to right): Prof. Ray Imada, Prof. Dan Fujikawa, Prof. Clayton Nishina, Prof. Dwight Maeda, Prof. Joel Tsubota, Prof. Yasu Fujikawa
Top Row (left to right): Prof. Kevin Asano, Prof. Ed Hanashiro, Prof. Roy Uemura, Prof. Donald Takeya

Professor Ray Imada – USJF Hall of Fame

July 4, 2023

Congratulations to Professor Ray Imada on his induction into the 2023 USJF Hall of Fame.

Ray T. Imada was born and raised in Hawaii, with frequent time spent in
Kumamoto, Japan during his youth. He had a challenging beginning in kindergarten, speaking only Japanese. His English developed into winning statewide writing contests in elementary school. He was an excellent student to the level of being asked to enter a special school for the gifted in the fourth grade. He refused because he did not want to part with friends he grew up within his Kalihi neighborhood.

When he was nine, his parents decided his “round” girth needed to be addressed. His athletic father decided to send him to a Judo class. Yasuyuki Sakabe, a Shichidan from Japan, became his sensei. Sakabe Sensei, at that time taught at six dojos across the island. He had settled in Hawaii after his visits to Hawaii with his good friend, Masahiko Kimura, who traveled to Brazil and became a legend competing against all comers, including jujitsuist Helio Gracie.

Young Imada tried everything he could to quit the martial art for the first five years. His weight placed him in divisions determined by weight only, so he always matched up with boys more than four to five years his age. He eventually gave in and tried to be a bit more serious in practice. Soon after his fifteenth birthday, he placed third place in a local tourney for the first time.

Surprise Trip to Japan!

Four months later, he left, on three days’ notice, on a surprise trip to Tokyo… alone. His parents and Sakabe Sensei organized a three month stay at a dorm that was walking-distance to both the Kodokan and the Tokyo Police Headquarters. He was scheduled for 82 practice days, two hours daily at the Police headquarters in the morning and four hours per night at the Kodokan. The dorm owner had housed his father during college and helped to organize his son’s stay. After losing twenty pounds, with a heavily bruised and injured body, he came home.

Three weeks later, at his first Shodan Shiai, he won six matches. Five ippon under a minute each and a waza-ari. Most of the opponents, were those he had never beaten since he began Judo. He was awarded a Batsugun promotion and became the youngest shodan at that time, in 1968 at age 15!

He consistently won local competitions. His senior year was his first national event at the High School Nationals. He fought through a broken hand in mid-competition to finish second. A year later, he competed in the 1972 Olympic Trials, finishing in sixth place with a 6-1 record.

Two years later, as he was earning his teaching degree at the University, he was approached by the Yudanshakai to help start a high school competition league in the public schools. As only a nidan, he was honored to work with six long-time sensei who also volunteered. Three years later, in 1977, Judo was officially added as a spring sport in the Oahu Interscholastic Association’s public schools. During this time, he started the Wadokan Judo Club, as a home for his area’s Judo participants.

In the early 1980s, he organized high school students from various schools to train together on weekends to compete in the yearly National High School Judo Championships. Most of the students had never competed on the mainland but did well. In 1980, led by future Olympian, Kevin Asano, the ten students won the Most Outstanding Team recognition.

In 1984, Imada Sensei turned over the original Castle High School coaching duties to one of hisgraduate coaches after ten seasons. He turned his attention to training and assisting his students that were building their own programs at other high schools. Since that time and still today, he has regularly coached and traveled to each of their seven schools to mentor the coaches during the seasons on Oahu, Hawaii and Molokai islands.

In 1996, girl teams were allowed in the league. In the 2003 season, the Interscholastic League of Honolulu (ILH), the Maui Interscholastic League (MIL), and the Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) started programs in their leagues. That started the first official State Championships. Currently, there are more than seventy high schools, with over a thousand students each season. As the lone survivor of the original high school program, Imada Sensei has taken on the additional steps of sharing with any team, dojo, or even leagues. Evaluation input, talks, demos and seminars that could help the high schoolers and their coaches keep him busy. He also attended the meets to evaluate the coaches, officials and parents every season, to emphasize proper conduct and etiquette. For the last six years, he also flew out to Maui and Molokai to help their programs and has flown in pre-season demonstration assistants to help raise the level of competition.

Ray Imada

When violence against women became news during the late 1990s, he organized
a serious self- defense course to help. His free ”Women Awareness and Response
Seminars (WARS)”, was a six week ( 2 times per week) training program.
Students of adult ages were given information, physical and psychological
training. Police, lawyers, Aikido, Kung-fu instruction,, along with “street
smarts” and basic falling/ protective drills provided simple, easy-to-learn
techniques and advice.

Over the course of three years, there were more than 400 graduates and
several dozen “survivors”. Sensei was honored with a proclamation from
the Mayor of Honolulu at the time.

Imada Sensei has always been the organizer of major tournaments for the
50th State Judo Association. From 2008 through 2013, he had run the USJF
National High School Championships. He also was the tournament director
of three USJF Junior, Senior, and Masters National competition, the last
being the 2014 event.

Ten years ago, he decided to distribute a simple collection of Judo history
and etiquette to coaches, parents and older judoka. “Traditions Not to
Be Forgotten” was his reminder for judoka to share the basic history of
Judo and reminders of proper conduct and attitude for students and their
families. Judo is NOT a “sport”, but a way of life. Students don’t have
only to be proud of their medals and trophies, but the WAY they live their
life. His collection has been revised and is still being shared.

Currently, Imada Sensei has been serving as Promotion Committee chair for
the 50th State Judo Association for the last seven years. While still wearing
a judogi for sixty-one years, he anxiously awaits the 50th anniversary
of the Hawaii High School Judo program in 2027, or more fondly 2024, the
starting date of Judo in Hawaii high schools.

Ray Imada

Notable Accomplishments

Youngest Shodan at that time, in 1968 at 15 years old
Help start a high school competition league in the Hawai’i public schools.
1977 started Wadokan Judo Club.
In the early 1980s, he organized high school students from various schools
to train together on weekends to compete in the yearly National High School Judo Championships.
In 1984, Imada Sensei turned over the original Castle High School coaching
duties to one of his graduate coaches after ten seasons. He turned his
attention to training and assisting his students that were building their
own programs at other high schools. Since that time and till today, he
has regularly coached and traveled to each of their seven schools to mentor
the coaches during the seasons on Oahu, Hawaii and Molokai islands.
Organized a serious self-defense course to help violence against women, FREE Program called Women Awareness and Response Seminars (WARS)
Honored with a proclamation from the Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu
Major tournament organizer for the 50th State Judo Association.
Published “Traditions Not to Be Forgotten” includes basic history of judo and proper conduct and attitude for students and their families.
Serving as Promotions Committee Chair, past 7 years
Over 61 years of dedicated judo service as a competitor, High School Judo Coach, Head Instructor, 50 th State Judo Association Promotions Committee Chair, and among the many other countless activities noted above.

“I pick up things from other instructors, I ask questions, I read books, I do everything to try to increase my knowledge.”

“…life is not fun and games. They can realize they have goals, they have to work, and not let anyone just give it to them. I try to make them realize they have to be inquisitive and motivated to bring themselves to what they want to be.”

Pearl City Ken-Shin Tournament

July 4, 2023

Congratulations to the winners of the Jr Kamikaze Team competition!

Winning the team banner, head bands and swords were Connor Iwane, Ryley Ono, Colin Iwane, and Nigel Sarmiento of Pearl City Hongwanji Judo Club.

The runner-ups from Pearl City Ken-Shin Judo Club took home gift certificates.

Congratualtions to all!

Kazoku Invitational Tournament and Technical Exam

April 9, 2023

Congratulations to the winners of the Nagekomi Challenge! Contestants tested how many times they could complete their favorite throw in one minute. Both winners were 2 brothers from Pearl City Hongwanji Judo Club!

1st place Jaylen Yasay: 30 throws!
2nd place Jayden Yasay: 27 throws!

442nd Veteran Memorial Tournament

January 19, 2023

The annual “Go for Broke” Award is presented by Aiea Hongwanji Judo Club to the competitors with the most Ippon wins and no losses. The 2022 recipients were Connor Badua from Leeward Judo Club, and Logan Puahala representing Hawaii Kaikaku Judo Club. Congratulations to the two mighty warriors for their performance and dedication to Judo!

Dr. Lloyd Migita

October 10, 2021

Congratulations Dr. Lloyd Migita!

2021 US Judo Hall of Fame Inductee

Dr. Lloyd K. Migita started Judo in 1946 at the age of 7. At 16, he won the Territorial-wide Senior Judo Tournament. He received his Shodan at age 17 and became the assistant instructor at Shobukan Judo Club. He won a silver medal in the 1963 Senior National AAU Judo Tournament and placed second at the United States Judo Olympic Trials at the New York World’s Fair in 1964. At age 24, he was given his Yodan.

Dr. Migita has taught as a guest instructor at various dojos including an Air Force Base near the University of Wisconsin, Madison (1962); University of California at Davis Judo Club (1967-69); and Woodland YMCA Judo Club in Woodland, California (1967–69).

He held positions in the Judo Black Belt Association of Hawaii as a member of the Board of Directors, Review Committee and Insurance Committee. He has also been the JBBAH coach for several Hawaii teams participating in national competitions, the JBBAH trainer for the special senior training program, and a special lecturer for judo instructors and officials at the University of Hawaii in 1983.

We celebrate Dr. Migita’s 74 years of devotion to judo, and sincerely thank him for his contribution to the study and development of judo.

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