SOUTH BAY JUDO
Wilson Park - Dee Hardison Center - 2400 Jefferson St. Torrance, CA 90501 - 424-392-4732
"He who fears loss, has already been beaten."
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Dr. Jigoro Kano
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"It is not important to be better than someone else, but to be better than yesterday."
✦
Dr. Jigoro Kano
✦
"He who fears loss, has already been beaten." ✦ Dr. Jigoro Kano ✦ "It is not important to be better than someone else, but to be better than yesterday." ✦ Dr. Jigoro Kano ✦
1st Quarter - Winter Session Recap
1st Quarter (Winter Session) started on Tues, Jan 7 and ended with our Senior In-House Shiai & Promotions on Tues, Mar 4 and our Junior Shiai & Promotions on Thurs, Mar 6. Congratulations to all the shiai winners and those who received their promotions.
Other SBJ events during the session were:
SBJ Annual Awards Luncheon - Congratulations Julie Do - SBJ Outstanding Judoka and to Mark Williams - promotion to Shodan. Go to our Awards page for additional information and details.
We wish to thank everyone who participated in our annual Super Bowl 50/50 fundraiser.
We had our first SBJ dining night - Lazy Dog on Feb 23 to Feb 26. This was a 4 day event and thank you for those who came and ate breakfast, lunch and dinner, dined in and did take-out too!
We have a session break week of Mar 10.
Our 2nd Quarter (Spring Session) starts on Tues, March 18 and goes to Thurs, May 15. The on-line registration period for this session is starts on Mon, April 28 and closes on Wed, Mar 12.
Nanka Shorai Practice - March 15
Nanka Novice Tournament - March 23
We will be participating in the City of Torrance Annual Bunkasai Japanese Cultural Festival, hosted by TSCA on Sat, April 5 and Sun, April 6. On Sat, April 5 we will be doing our annual judo demonstration and we will have our “world famous” SBJ shave ice. Come out and check out the Bunkasai!
Christa Deguchi Clinic - April 12 & 13
Shorai Practice @ SBJ 1 to 4 pm - April 26
Our 2nd SBJ Dining Night will be on Wed, April 30 - Panda Express and Yogurtland fundraiser.
On-line registration for 3Q-Summer - April 28 to May 29
2025 - sbj activites & events
CLASS schedule
We offer the following:
NEW & RETURNING students - we have clases 4 sessions a year: 1Q-Winter, 2Q-Spring, 3Q-Summer and 4Q-Fall. Each session holds 3 classes on Tues & Thurs.
2025 CLASS TIMES & SCHEDULE - TUES & THURS:
> CLASS 1: 5:00pm to 6:15pm - Juniors (5 to 12 years old) - New & Returning Students
> CLASS 2: 6:30pm to 7:45pm - Juniors (5 to 14 years old) - New & Returning Students
> CLASS 3: 8:00pm to 9:15pm - Older Youths & Adults (13+) - New & Returning Students
2025 CLASS DATES (UPDATED 01/21/2025):
> 1st Quarter Winter Session - Jan 7 to Mar 6
On-line registration starts on Mon, Dec 16 & ends on Fri, Jan 3
Session Break - No Classes - Mar 11 & 13
> 2nd Quarter Spring Session - Mar 18 to May 15
On-line registration starts on Mon, Feb 17 & ends on Fri, Mar 12
Session Break - No Classes - May 20, 22 & May 27
> 3rd Quarter Summer Session - May 29 to Aug 5 (No Classes on June 19 & July 3)
On-line registration starts on Mon, Apr 28 & ends on Wed, May 21
Session Break - No Classes - Aug 7, 12 & 14
> 4th Quarter Fall Session - Aug 19 to Oct 21 (No Class on Sept 2)
On-line reg starts on Mon, July 14 & ends on Fri, Aug 15
Session Break - No Classes - Oct 23, 28 & 30
> Holiday Session (Returning Students ONLY) - Nov 4 to Dec 11 (No Class on Nov 27)
On-line reg starts on Mon, Oct 6 & ends on Fri, Oct 31
2026 Class Dates (Updated 01/21/2025):
1st Quarter Winter Session - Start Jan 6, 2026
On-line registration starts on Mon, Dec 15, 2025 & ends on Fri, Jan 2, 2026
Meet the instructors
Milton Shiosaki
Head Instructor - 5th Degree Black Belt
Sensei Milton has been teaching judo for over 40 years and coaches our competitors in local, state, and national events. He is the lead instructor coordinating the South Bay Judo programs, competition training, and our program’s fundamentals and values. He is also Safe Sport, CDC Concussion, and First Aid/CPR certified.
Membership – USJF and USA Judo
Coaches Certification – USA Judo
Ed Shiosaki
Head Advisor and Club Administrator - 6th Degree Black Belt
Founder of South Bay Judo in 1999, Sensei Ed has over 45 years of experience in Judo. He has coached and developed numerous national and international champions. He is Safe Sport, CDC Concussion, and First Aid/CPR certified.
Membership – USJF and USA Judo
Coaches Certification – USA Judo
ASSISTANT INSTRUCTORS
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Jefferey Tejero
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You Matsutani
Shane Shiosaki
Craig Shiosaki
Alan Honda
John Hernandez
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Yuko Felde
David Honda
Myles Honda
Machiko Matsutani
Maria Matsutani
Marina Matsutani
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Joan Shiosaki
Sandy Honda
Matt Sawada
Chris Williams
Nancy Williams
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Mark Williams
Skyler Shiosaki
Cheyenne Fu
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Romeo Sangdee-Takeuchi
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Luis Vazquez
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Dan Alef - 5th Degree Black Belt
Valerio Iottie (Italy) - 2nd Degree Black Belt
History of judo
What is Judo?
Judo is a popular sport practiced world wide. It has seen a rise in mainstream martial arts with the recent success of Judoka Ronda Rousey and Kayla Harrison in the UFC.
In 1882, Judo was founded by Professor Jigoro Kano in Japan. He combined the different techniques he had learned in Jujitsu, omitting some of the more dangerous techniques to form the Olympic sport of Judo.
Judo meaning "the gentle way," uses techniques focused on using a persons natural movement and balance against themselves. Judo provides an excellent physical workout that increases stamina, strength, and endurance while also increasing mental sharpness and self-confidence.
Judokas learn to fall and be thrown safely. They will also learn to throw and take down their opponents and transition to ground work and pins. As judokas progress they will learn more advanced techniques to include chokes and arm-locks.
Judo is often used to cross-train between wrestling, soccer, football and other sports.
History of South Bay Judo… The Beginning
South Bay Judo was founded in the Fall of 1999 on September 27. Working with the City of Torrance and with the encouragement of the Torrance Cultural Arts Center and Parks and Recreation, we began our first class with 4 instructors and 8 students. By the end of that session, our class had grown to 17 members. That was the beginning. We practiced on gymnastic mats that could only be attached on two sides and it was way too soft for judo, but looking back ..... they served us well.
We were limited in what we could teach, but most importantly ...... we had fun!
A few years later, we bought NEW TATAMI mats! Due to the success of our Super Bowl fundraiser, we were able to purchase 72 -1 meter x 1 meter mats (approximately 3' x 3'). This was possible due to all our members, friends, sponsors, businesses in the community and supporters from other judo clubs. Thank you.
Since then, club has grown to over 100 members strong. We moved from the Torrance Cultural Arts Center and now have our DOJO at the Dee Hardison Sports Complex, Wilson Park Gym.
Awards
2023 - Enzo SakaguchI
SBJ OUTSTANDING JUDOKA
2024 - julien do
sbj outstanding judoka
2024 Outstanding Judoka of the Year Award
Julien Do - Julien demonstrates the qualities that exemplifies what we at South Bay Judo try to instill in our students. He has shown a lot of growth in his judo technique as well as his ability to learn and compete. He also helps the Sensei's in the first class occasionally and is always willing to help during classes. His competition skills have improved after each tournament and shows that he can listen to instructions and can apply during tournaments. Many of you will never know when Julien wins or loses as he is humble in victory and gracious in defeat. He is a role model for all judokas of South Bay Judo.
2024 Most Improved – Yuma Sakamoto & Chris Kachline
2024 Fighting Spirit – Zachary Ordinario & Robbie Midgette
2024 Inspirational – Landen Rubio & Manami Takeuchi
2024 Senseis – Enzo Sakaguchi & William Tsujimura
