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CLASSES
PROGRAMS
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Judo Classes
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Class Schedule
Monday 8:00 - 10:00 PM Tuesday 7:30 - 8:30 PM Kata Thursday 8:00 - 10:00 PM Friday 6:00 - 7:00 PM Open Mat Sunday 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
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PHILADELPHIA JUDO CLUB
The Philadelphia Judo Club was the first martial arts academy in Philadelphia. It began in 1949 as the Philadelphia Jiu Jitsu Club located within the center city YMHA. The head instructor was Jack Feinsinger. The Philadelphia Jiu Jitsu players would compete frequently in Judo tournaments, hosted by George Uchida. During this time period, Jiu Jitsu did not have a ranking system, so Mr. Uchida awarded Judo rank to the competing Jiu Jitsu players. In 1953, Dr. Eichi Koiwai took over as head instructor and changed the name to the Philadelphia Judo Club. From this time until the arrival of Sensei Takahiko Ishikawa in 1962, the Philadelphia Judo Club grew in numbers and was the home of the first black belts to be awarded in any martial art in Philadelphia.
The club currently practices within Maxercise and has been led by Art Bourgeau since 1982. We are fortunate to have numerous black belts within our ranks as well as top level younger participants. Many of our students cross-train with our Brazilian Jiu Jitsu program. Art and our other instructors have proudly kept the spirit of the Philadelphia Judo Club alive.
Instructors
Art Bourgeau
John Disimone
Ray Huxen
Alma Qualli
HISTORY
Kodokan Judo
Judo, "gentle [ju] way [do], was founded by Dr. Jigoro Kano (1860-1938). Kano began his training in Tenshin Shinyo Ju Jitsu at the age of seventeen under the instruction of Hachinosuke Fukuda (1829-1880). This style of Ju Jitsu emphasized striking (atemi) and grappling techniques (ne waza). Fukuda along with Kano performed a demonstration of Ju Jitsu for President Ulysses S. Grant in 1879.
In the year of 1880, Fukuda died. Kano continued his Ju Jitsu education under the guidance of Tsunetoshi Iikubo (1835-1889). Iikubo taught the Kito Ryu style of Ju Jitsu which emphasizes more on the throwing techniques (nage waza) of Ju Jitsu. Kano recognized right away how the two styles complimented each other, "from Master Fukuda I learned what my life's work would be [...] from Master Iikubo I learned varied techniques and the importance of timing."
In 1882 the Kanjuko School is established in the Eishoji Temple in Tokyo. During this period Kano shared the teaching with Iikubo. As time progressed, Kano began understanding the movements of the Kito Ryu in a different light than Iikubo. Due to the fact that Kano was a very educated man, he was able to analyze events that would happen during randori (free-practice), and evolve the technique. In time, Kano was able to throw his teacher Iikubo at will. The time had come for Kano to move on alone.
In 1884 the Kanjuko School moved and the name was changed. Kodokan Judo was born and would find it self moving several more times before finding a permanent home back in Tokyo. During these formative years of Judo, Kano was elected into the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and was able to have Judo introduced by the Japanese Ministry of Education into the Universities as an art as well as a required part of the syllabus. This position is still retained today.
Since the debut of Judo in the 1964 Olympic games in Tokyo, Judo has spread all over the world. Kano's dream to unite the world and bring peace was achieved if only for the millions of Judokas practicing today. Second to Soccer, more people than any other sport in the world practice Judo. Although the popularity has declined over the years for Judo within the United States, the numbers are climbing again and Judo is being recognized as the ultimate sport, art and way of life.
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