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."
✦
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 ✦
CLASS schedule
We offer judo 4 sessions a year: 1Q-Winter, 2Q-Spring, 3Q-Summer and 4Q-Fall. Each session holds 3 classes on Tues & Thurs.
2024 & 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
2024 CLASS SESSION DATES:
> 1st Quarter Winter Session - Jan 9 to Mar 26
> 2nd Quarter Spring Session - Mar 28 to May 30 (No Class on May 28)
> 3rd Quarter Summer Session - June 4 to Aug 8 (No Class on July 4 & July 9)
> 4th Quarter Fall Session - Aug 20 to Oct 22 (No Class on Sept 3)
2025 CLASS SESSION DATES (TENTATIVE - TBC):
> 1st Quarter Winter Session - Jan 7 to Mar 6
> 2nd Quarter Spring Session - Mar 18 to May 15
> 3rd Quarter Summer Session - Jun 3 to Aug 5
> 4th Quarter Fall Session - Aug 19 to Oct 21
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 Outstanding Judoka of the Year Award
Enzo Sakaguchi - He demonstrates the qualities that exemplifies what we at South Bay Judo try to instill in our students. He is always there and willing to help his peers, and the sensei's. He arrives early and respectfully bows to each instructor and proceeds to set up the mats. His cheerful demeaner and practice ethics are sincere. He is quick to mentor anyone who needs help. His kindness and respectful attitude are displayed wherever he goes. Congratulations Enzo!
2023 Most Improved - Meina Nagai
2023 Fighting Spirit - William Tsjjimura & Edmund Lo
2023 Inspirational - Tumen Gantsooj
2023 Senseis - Mark Williams
