Sawtelle Judo Dojo-From our humble beginning

Kikuchi Sensei at the Los Angeles Coliseum, Second row, second right

(Photo courtesy from the book, “Fighting Spirit, Judo in Southern California, 1930-1941,” p.57)

Takashi Kikuchi, 7th dan, founded Sawtelle Judo Dojo in 1927.  In 1930, Sawtelle Judo Dojo was established as an adjunct to the West Los Angeles Nikkei Community Center at 2110 Corinth Ave., Los Angeles, CA.    He was also highly active in other Southern California Judo Dojos.  He assisted at Hollywood Judo under Iida Sensei and was active at Uyemachi, Moneta, and Seinan Judo Dojos, among others, prior to World War II. The West Los Angeles Nikkei Community Center is now the Japanese Institute of Sawtelle, primarily focusing on the Japanese language teaching and preschool center.

Rafu Shimpo, October 24, 1930, Mid-Week English Section-

“Y.M.A. Make Plans for Judo Tourney.”

article is in the bottom center of the page.

(Image courtesy of Rafu Shimpo and UCLA Young’s Research Library archives)

Enlargement of above image-

“Y.M.A. Make Plans for Judo Tourney.”

(Image courtesy of Rafu Shimpo and UCLA Young’s Research Library archives)

For some unknown reason at this time, the organizers are called, “Y.M.A.” or “Young Men’s Association.”  This is not to be confused with the more well-known YMCA or the Young Men’s Christian Association.  During this period, many Japanese community centers had “Y.M.A.” or Young Mens’ Association.  But whatever the name it is called here, this is Sawtelle Judo.

Rafu Shimpo, October 31, 1930, Mid-Week English Section –

“Successful Tourney Held by Judo Men.”

article is on the right-hand side of the page.

(Image courtesy of Rafu Shimpo and UCLA Young’s Research Library archives)

Enlargement of above image-

“Successful Tourney Held by Judo Men.”

 (Image courtesy of Rafu Shimpo and UCLA Young’s Research Library archives)

This is the first tournament hosted by Sawtelle Judo Dojo as part of Nanka Judo Yudanshakai on October 23, 1930.  It commemorates the opening of the Dojo as an official member of Nanka on October 16, 1930.  At the time, twenty students trained under Kikuchi Sensei.  The book, “Fighting Spirit-Judo in Southern California, 1930-1941,” documents the opening of Sawtelle Judo Dojo in 1930.  However, it has been rumored that its doors first opened for Judo practice back in 1927. 

In 1930, Dr. Kano asked Roy, “Pop” Moore to be the wrestling coach for the Japanese Olympic wrestling team.

Mr. Moore won a world wrestling title during the period of 1910-1919. It was professional wrestling but not as it is today. Two Japanese wrestlers stayed with the Moore’s for a year prior to the 1932 Olympic Games in LA. One of the two Japanese wrestling was Sumiyuki Kotani, who was involved in Judo and was one of Jigoro Kano’s direct students. Kotani was later a 10th Dan in Judo, only the 7th man to receive a 10th Degree Black Belt while he was still alive.  The other was Ichiro Hatta.  Both Kotani and Hatta competed in the 1932 Summer Olympics.  Hatta would go on to coach the 1936 Japanese Olympic wrestling team in Berlin and become a member of the Japanese Diet, the national legislative body,

Sumiyuki Kotani, 10th dan

(Photo courtesy of Resume of Martial Arts for Jeffrey D. Beish)

Ichiro Hatta, right standing with Shihan Jigoro Kano, seated

Ichiro Hatta (1906-1983) was a pioneer of freestyle wrestling in Japan, and a coach of the Japanese Olympic wrestling team. In 1929 as a 4th degree black belt, he participated as a member of the Waseda University Judo Team that toured the United States promoting Judo. After learning about the effectiveness of western wrestling he introduced it to Japan. In 1931 he started Japan’s first freestyle wrestling program at Waseda University. In 1932 he represented Japan in wrestling in the Olympic Games Los Angeles, and in 1936 he coached the Japanese wrestling team at the Olympics in Berlin. Subsequently, he encouraged both Japan and the United States to exchange teams in various age groups for competition and cultural enhancement. His efforts advanced wrestling in both countries. For over seventy-four years, he attempted to bring nations of the world together in understanding through sports. He became an 8th degree black belt in Judo and Aikido, as well as a 7th degree black belt in Kendo. He also served as a senator in the Japanese Diet.

(Photo courtesy of Judoinfo.com)

It should be noted that Roy H. (Pop) Moore, Sr., had two sons, Roy H. Moore, Jr. a highly ranked Wrestler and Judoka in his own right (who was Mr. Hays instructor and is still alive at 89) and the other was Mel Bruno, who was Mr. Moore’s foster son. Mel lived until he was about 92..

1937 Judo Study Group with the Inglewood Wrestling Club

On board ship heading for Japan

Yaju Yamada (Bangle Judo) seated in the second row, first left, Prince Konoe seat next to him, Captain of the ship, Roy, “Pop,” Moore, Sr. Yamauchi Sensei (Moneta Judo).  Standing in the third row, Roy Moore, Jr., third from the left, Mel Bruno, fourth from the left.  Standing in the fourth row, far right, Frank Emi (Hollywood Dojo)

 (Photo courtesy from the book, “Fighting Spirit, Judo in Southern California, 1930-1941,” p.273)

This manuscript is a Physical Fitness Exercises and Tests and Judo Training manual that was written in 1944 for the US Navy Seabees. The author was Chief Ship Fitter Roy H. (Pop) Moore, Sr., a championship American Wrestler and Judoka. The contest rules for Judo were written by Chief Specialist Emilio (“Mel”)

Bruno, also a top ranked American Wrestler and Judoka, who later headed the Strategic Air Command’s Judo and Physical Conditioning unit.  At the time serving as the head coach of the Inglewood High School wrestling team, Pop Moore had gained a reputation for training the best wrestlers by beating the top wrestlers from amateur and university ranks across the nation.  This perked the interest of Dr. Kano, who was looking for a coach for the Japanese national wrestling team.  Pop Moore accepted Dr. Kano’s invitation to train the Japanese team.  This began a long relationship and cross-cultural exchange between Judo and wrestling throughout the world.  Incidentally, Hatta and Kotani were members of Japan’s Olympic Wrestling Team at that time.

Now, you ask, “What is the connection to Sawtelle Judo?”  Well, Roy Moore, Jr., although he and his father, “Pop,” were members of Moneta Judo, found time to practice Judo at Sawtelle Judo Dojo as a child.  He was promoted to Shodan, 1st degree, at the Kodokan.  He would later go on to teach Judo at the Naval Training Center in San Diego for over 25 years.  He is a currently member of Heisei Judo in Chula Vista, CA and often attends local Southern California Judo tournaments.

Timeless

Tournament held outdoors in Little Tokyo, circa 1930s

(Photo courtesy from the book, “Fighting Spirit, Judo in Southern California, 1930-1941,” p.129)

Grand Judo Tournament in Little Tokyo, circa 1939

(Photo courtesy from the book, “Fighting Spirit, Judo in Southern California, 1930-1941”-Front cover)

Could you imagine competing outside in the fall in downtown LA, on top of a dirt mound with a layer of hay or sawdust with a canvas mat covering over all of it.  Well, we know what canvas feels like, but not one sewn together from used alfalfa bags??  Well, back in the day, that is how they competed in downtown.  Space-age foam, landing on the moon and iPhone was just part of someone’s wildest imagination back then.  Our Dojo used to sawdust covered with a canvas mat and later four large, heavy mats filled with horsehair were dragged across the auditorium floor.

The dirt mound is called dohyō, a mound prepared from sumo matches.  It is an art.  It is all technique.

Modern day dohyo meticulously prepared from a major sumo tournament.  Match area lined with straw bales or “tawara.”  That is the same tawara as in Tawara Gaeshi or rice bale reversal. Platform steps are on the sides.

The following is a series of tournament rosters hosted by Nanka Judo Yudanshakai with Dojos representing Nanka and Hokka Judo Yudanshakais before World War II. Nanka and Hokka are Japanese for Southern and Northern California, respectively. Nanka held two tournaments yearly, one in the Spring and one in the Fall, as we still do today. Some of the Dojos listed do not exist today.

Some are still around: San Gabriel, Venice, Harbor City, Hollywood, Gardena (shown as Moneta), and Sawtelle. The tournament site was old sumo dohyo located in Little Tokyo on the corner of 1st St. and San Pedro St. The Parker Station LAPD parking structure sits on the site now.

Sawtelle Dojo is shown in the upper left written as ソーテル道場.

During the war and post-war years, Sawtelle Judo and the community centers doors were closed due to wartime relocation policies.  The property was under the supervision of the Red Cross.  During the war, Kikuchi remained active in Judo as the head Judo instructor at the Heart Mountain Internment Camp in Wyoming.  Yoshimaro Sogioka, San Gabriel Valley Judo, also managed to help organize the Heart Mountain Judo Dojo, with the cooperation of Kikuchi Sensei, of Hollywood and Inouye Sensei from Seattle. The unit became, “a formidable (Judo) group. 

After the war, he returned to Los Angeles and reopened Sawtelle Judo Dojo in 1950 with the help of Haruo “Harry” Kaisaki, 7th dan.  He remained as head instructor of Sawtelle Judo until 1963. 

He retired from Judo in 1976 while serving as head instructor of Hollywood Judo.  He, Harry Kaisaki and Mr. & Mrs. Ed Osugi are all members of Nanka’s Hall of Fame.

Kano’s U.S. visit during the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles in 1932

Dr. Kano stands front and center with a cane and wearing a fedora.

(Photo courtesy from the book, “Fighting Spirit, Judo in Southern California, 1930-1941 p.20)

As a member of the International Olympic Committee, Kano attended every Olympic Games from the Fifth Olympiad in 1912 in Stockholm to the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, including the 10th Olympiad in Los Angeles in 1932.  His first visit to the U.S. was in 1912 on his return from the Winter Olympics held in Stockholm, Sweden.  During his visit to Los Angeles 1932, he gave a speech, “The Contribution of Judo to Education,” at USC.  The speech outlines his philosophy on Judo as a teaching practice for moral, intellectual, and physical education.  A lifelong advocate of the Olympic movement, he had made a successful bid to have the 12th Olympiad to be held in Tokyo in 1940, only to have it cancelled because of World War II.  The next Olympics, the 14th Olympiad, was later held in London in 1948.

Photo commemorating Dr. Jigoro Kano’s visit to Sawtelle Judo Dojo in April 1932

Dr. Kano sits in the front row, fourth from the right.  This is a view of the north facing wall of the auditorium or the wall to our right as we enter our Dojo.

(Photo courtesy of Sawtelle Judo Dojo)

In March 1930, he approved the formation of the Kodokan Nanka Judo Yudanshakai in the Los Angeles area.  During his visit in 1932, the name was changed to Hokubei Nanka Judo Yudanshakai or North America Southern California Judo Association.  During the late thirties, the head instructors, many Nisei or second-generation, met to rename and establish the Nanka Nisei Yudanshakai.  After World War II, the group adopted the Nanka Judo Yudanshakai as it is known today.  To this day, Nanka continues its close relationship with the Kodokan. 

Headline photo of the crowd at the Los Angeles Coliseum

at the Opening of the 12th Olympiad

(Courtesy of Rafu Shimpo, July 9, 1932, Front page, Japanese section, and UCLA’s Young Research Library)

Along with this photo and his portrait photo, he left two mementos of his visit which still hang inside the Dojo walls today.  Those are the hand calligraphy brushings in shodō, done by Dr. Kano of Seiryoku Zenyo, 精力善用, and Jita Kyoei,自他共栄, or in English, “Maximum Efficient Use of Energy” and “Welfare and Benefit,” respectively.  The characters are in the opposite order as typed here. 

Seiryoku Zenyo, 精力善用-“Maximum Efficient Use of Energy”

Jita Kyoei, 自他共栄- “Mutual Welfare and Benefit”

Or, as Ed Osugi put it,

“You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours and we’ll both be happy for it.”

(“Quo Vadis-Judo,”-Sawtelle Judo News, April 1996, p.6)

Ed Osugi is the father of our current head instructor, Kenji Osugi.

昭和の美 or ”Showa no Bi”-Showa Beauty

Donated by Risei Kano, Dr. Jigoro Kano’s son

During that time, if Japanese was written horizontally, it was written from right to left.  Handwritten letters, still today, are written from top to bottom starting from the right-hand side of a page moving to the left.  Modern Japanese on seen on TV, magazines and internet is now read horizontally from left to right.