Chicago Tenri Judo Dojo was founded on the principles of Judo’s founder, Jigoro Kano:
“Jita Kyoei”
“Mutual Welfare and Benefit for All”“Seiryoku Zenyo”
“Maximum Efficiency in the Use of Mind and Body”
We pride ourselves on teaching and practicing traditional Judo principles as taught at the Kodokan in Japan.
The history of our dojo goes back 6 decades. While its history is long and unique, it has remained true to its principles to this day. Its birthplace was on the south side of Chicago by a few Nisei (2nd generation Japanese-Americans) black belts and Judo devotees whose vision it was to practice the true teachings of Kodokan Judo. These principles are proudly practiced to this day.
CHRONOLOGY
1954 – 1958: IIT Judo Club (Illinois Institute of Technology)
1958 – 1969: Uptown Dojo, Chicago
1971 – 1991: BTC Judo Dojo, Chicago
1991 – Present: Chicago Tenri Judo Dojo, Des Plaines
IIT Judo Club – 1954 – 1958
One of the first clubs in Chicago was located in a field house on the campus of the Illinois Institute of Technology on the south side of Chicago. Fresh from the internment camps of WWII, a small group of Nisei’s from California began practicing Judo. They were black and brown belts, many in their 20’s and 30’s who were taught in California but had to suspend their training because of the war. Their instructors were often their parents/instructors who were taught by Judo masters from Japan.
Uptown Dojo – 1958 – 1969
Within a few years, it was apparent that a new home would be needed for the growing membership at IIT. The first home was located at the Chicago Buddhist Church located in the Uptown area of Chicago, thus the name, Uptown Dojo. The dojo started off with 13 kids, 8 – 10 black belts, and maybe about 20 adult senior novice students.
Key leaders in those first years were Hik Nagao, Hideo Hama, Tak Otsu, Dick Fukuyama, Bill Kaufman, Yoshitaro Sakai, Tom Watanabe, Paul and Phyllis Harper, Hiro Iwamoto, Jim Iwai and many more.
With a few years, Uptown Dojo became one of the top clubs in the country, competing in local, regional and national events with some going on to the international scene and a couple of them even going to compete in Pan-American and World Championships and Olympic Games.
Some of the notable students and instructors that came out of Uptown Dojo:
Irwin Cohen, Olympic Team 1972
Steve Cohen, Olympic Team 1988
Jim Colgan, Pan-AM Team, Olympic Coach, 9th dan, International Coach and Referee
Dr Paul and Phyliss Harper
Micheal Ogata – National Champion
Ernest Watanabe, medalist, Senior Nationals
Robert Mita, medalist, Senior Nationals
Louis Goldstein, Maccabiah Gold Medalist
Ralph Pesce, Senior National Champion
Kei Narimatsu, International Referee, World Championships – Egypt
In 1965, we again moved to a new location on Devon Avenue in Chicago. The Dojo was now located in an abandoned bowling alley and continued success seemed to follow them. Unfortunately, in 1969, this chapter of the dojo closed down.
Uptown Dojo was resurrected by Irwin and Steve Cohen. They moved the dojo to the suburbs and became a for-profit-club.
BTC Judo Dojo – 1971 – 1991
Head instructor: Sensei Dick Fukuyama, 7thdan.
In 1971, the original site, now known as the Buddhist Temple of Chicago, in the Uptown area was looking for continued use of their space. The Head Minister of the Temple, Rev Gyomay Kubose encouraged Dick Fukuyama to resurrect a dojo there. The new name would be known as BTC Judo Dojo. This dojo was both a competitive and social club whose main emphasis was to teach traditional Judo principles AND to have a fun in a safe and encouraging environment.
The youth program flourished with its dedicated instructors and youth and adult students. Besides Sensei Dick Fukuyama, Ernie Watanabe, Robert Mita, Dennis Fukuyama, Ken Fukuyama, Alan Kato, Joe Kajita, Kei Narimatsu were instrumental in teaching and promoting traditional Judo.
Some of the notable members of this dojo included:
Hillary Wolf: Senior National Champion, Junior World Champion, 1996 Olympic Team, starred in the original Home Alone series
Brett Wolf: current Junior International and Paralympic Coach
Daniel Agemura: Junior National, 2nd place
Kevin Narimatsu: Junior, High School and Collegiate National medalist
Scott Narimatsu: Junior National Champion
Chicago Tenri Judo Dojo – 1991 – Present
Head Instructor: Sensei Kei Narimatsu, 6thdan, International Referee and Coach
In 1991, with a changing neighborhood, BTC Judo Dojo relocated to Des Plaines, into the lower level of the Tenrikyo Midwest Church. It is now named Chicago Tenri Judo Dojo. The dojo underwent some changes during those early years. Most of the students from BTC did transfer over but over time, distance and interest waned. Sensei Narimatsu, though living in Geneva IL continued to be the constant standard bearer of the dojo and became the Head Sensei soon after moving. During those hectic early days, Ernie Watanabe and Robert Mita were key instructors in getting the new dojo started.
Around the mid 90’s, several people and events changed the course of the dojo forever. Acknowledgment has to be given to Eric Haerr and Jason Gunder who came to us from Harper College Judo Club. They were instrumental in helping to bring in many Senior members for the dojo, including foreign born Judokas. From that, our adult novice and advanced programs grew. We began to attract local residents from the area. They were mainly eastern Europeans who where black belts and wanted a place to practice for themselves and their children. Also at that time, some of the old-timers from BTC and Uptown also came back. Ernie Watanabe, Mike Ogata, Alan Kato, Frank Oliveri, Jim Colgan helped to bring great credibility to the program.
About 4 years ago, a new minister was assigned to the Tenrikyo Midwest Church. His name is Rev. Kunihito Fumioka. He is currently a sandan (3rd dan) and heads up the Junior/Youth group. Sensei Fumioka’s vast knowledge of Judo and how to teach has provided great leverage to the junior program.
In our 27th year of operation, our youth program now has upwards of 20 kids practicing and 12 – 15 adults training each practice. Of those adults, 3 – 9 black belts are in attendance for each session. Over the years, we have had instructors and students from all over the United States plus Algeria, Armenia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, China, Columbia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Morocco, Mongolia, Pakistan, Puerto Rico, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, United Kingdom, Yugoslavia
HONOR BOARD include:
Dick Fukuyama, 7th dan, Senior Head Instructor (1917 – 2001)
Goro Oki, 7th dan Technical Advisor (JPN) (1923- 2017)
James Colgan, 9th dan, Sr Technical Advisor, International Coach and Referee
Kei Narimatsu, 6th dan, Head Instructor, International Referee and Coach
Miguel Lopez, 6th dan (MEX)
Dave Moeller, 4th dan
Kunihito Fumioka, 3rd dan (JPN)
Daisuke Hirata, 3rd dan
Daisuke Endo, 2nd dan
Jason Gunder, 2nd dan
Mirek Jazgier, 2nd dan (POL)
Norman Nemec, 2nd dan
Bruce Piazza, 2nd dan
Tom Shimoda, 2nd dan
Anna Maria Graham, 2nd dan
Deyan Kolev, 1st dan (BUL)
Danilo Janjic, 1st dan (SLO)
Henry Liu, 1st dan
Zach Nemec, 1st dan
Osmil Millan, 8th dan (WI – Visiting Instructor)
Micheal Ogata, 5th dan (FL-Visiting Instructor)
Gigi Selagea, 4th dan (ROM) (Visiting Instructor)
Leslie Hutchins , 3rd dan (WI – Visiting Instructor – GBR)
Ian Rowland, 2nd dan (WI – Visiting Instructor – GBR)
Frank Oliveri, 3rd dan (AZ- Visiting Instructor)
Brett Kumataka, 1st dan(IL-Guest Instructor)
Kyle Kumataka, 1st dan(JPN-Guest Instructor)
Armin Goren, 1st dan (posthumously)
PHILOSOPHY
Judo Principles
There are actually three principles that our dojo considers key elements of its teaching and practice. Each are steeped in tradition and yet, each are timeless in their application to core belief values, ethical conduct, and organizational standards. We pride ourselves in our teaching of basic and advanced judo techniques, philosophies, discipline, safety, affordability, self-confidence and life-balances. Judo is not only a sport, it is a way of life with applicable principles in all areas of business, family, interpersonal relationships, friendships, personal ethics, conduct, attitudes and behaviors, psychology of thinking. In short your core beliefs about life. Put another way, Judo becomes a metaphor for life.
And while no one is perfect, striving for these principles will guide you to lead a good life and achieve self-satisfaction for yourself and perhaps those around you.
JUDO – The Gentle Way
As anyone who has been in Judo for any length of time can attest, Judo can sometimes be anything but GENTLE. Judo competition is as “rough” as any contact sport can be. But it can also be the gentlest activity you could ever do, and one of the safest contact sports around. Judo practice, by its very nature, can be exhausting, some say grueling to attain perfection, but it can also be esthetically beautiful when a technique is performed to that perfection. Can Judo be both gentle and rough? Yes and yes which makes Judo a sport for all ages, for men and women, for the competitor or someone just wanting a little exercise, for the intense or the relaxed, or for someone looking for just a little discipline in their life.
“Jita Kyoei” – “Mutual Welfare and Benefit for All”
Clearly stated, whatever we do in Judo, in our lives or in practice, the end results are beneficial for yourself as well as for your partners. In Judo, this means practices are not always combative, but cooperative and intended to train the body to apply techniques in a non-aggressive way so that the body and mind can learn how to do these techniques easily and efficiently. It is not the purpose to injure your opponent. In Judo, your opponent becomes your partner to learn, whether in a competitive tournament or in a dojo (practice hall) to practice.
It is the purpose to learn the principles of Judo of harmony and cooperation with yourself, with your partner, with your environment. In this way, you bring equilibrium to your world and hopefully happiness to your life.
As you leave the doors of the DOJO, your mission, your Jita-Kyoei starts there. Judo is a life’s lesson that is practiced in the dojo as well as in your life.
“Seiryoku Zenyo” – “ Maximum Efficiency in the Use of Mind and Body”
By definition Judo means “The Gentle Way”. Because of this, many interpret maximum efficiency to mean minimal effort. This is not true. Maximum efficiency is perfection in an effort. It is doing things without thinking. It is to be in perfect synchronization with your body and your opponent. It is throwing an opponent in the most efficient manner possible and perfectly. Whether this means using your opponents force against them by sidestepping their action or creating leverage on your part to create an imbalance, the resulting effort should exhibit a smooth and effective action to make an opponent move someplace where they do not want. This is the physical definition – simple physical laws of physics/motion to create movement along a path resulting in one person lying on their back.
But Seiryoku Zenyo was meant to meant more that that. From the very beginning of Jigoro Kano’s teaching, he meant it to extend outwards to life itself. To create efficiencies, harmonies that push things along in the same direction rather than in opposing directions. To direct an effort worthy of our attention knowing that our effort was maximized fully and that no wasted movement was expended in the completion of that task. And he meant to apply this in Judo and in life, in business, in sports, in play as well as in your health. He meant this to help society to create peaceful harmonies among people all over the world.
Judo has always been a teaching of world principles that respects everyone, regardless of their status in life,
“Sempai Kohai” – The teacher/student parallel
The Sempai is the teacher, the Kohai is the student. In most modern societies and especially in eastern (Asian) traditions, there is a deep and abiding understanding of respect and reverence to one who is older, higher rank, upper class, a parent, a teacher, a boss, one of higher authority (police, military), or anyone perceived to be of higher status.
There is no question that a student should always respect their teacher; children, their parents; an employee, their boss. The parent has more life’s lessons (wisdom) than their children. The teacher has more education than their students. The boss has the right to direct his/her company the way they see fit. The general must command the troops to follow orders.
But one should also consider the alternative. What if there were no kohai’s (students), would you still be a sempai (teacher)? If there were no children to raise, would you still be a parent? Would a general still have an army, if there were no troops to lead?
I believe that the Sempai – Kohai relationship, should be based on Mutual Welfare and Benefit for all. It is important for the Sempai to not only command respect but to earn the respect of the Kokai. You command respect with words and deeds, personal and organizational. You command respect by your ethics and attitudes. You command respect with discipline but also with kindness and empathy. In other words, you command respect by giving RESPECT first. Paradoxically, one can also say that the Sempai should give greater respect to the Kohai than in the reverse.
Earning respect is characterized in the same way as commanding respect. You are unlikely to earn respect with dishonesty, anger, resentment, antipathy, treachery. You are unlikely to earn respect if you do not care about people, your students, your employees. You are unlikely to earn respect if you do not follow up on your word – “say what you do and do what you say.” You are unlikely to earn respect if you are not completely trustworthy and honest, especially if someone is not watching.
I believe that respect comes for your core and your heart. It is the basis of all human interaction and is one of the most important characteristics of becoming a black belt in Judo.
The BOW: In Judo as in many martial arts, bowing is an important part of showing respect. It is the equivalent of shaking hands and more. In most Asian cultures, the Kohai bows much lower that the Sempai, to show respect, deference to the rank. However in Judo, regardless of rank, each bows to each other at the same degree (approx. 300). This is Mutual Welfare and Benefit for ALL
At Chicago Tenri Judo Dojo, our core principles depend on each of our members, youth and adult, to develop excellence in Judo as well as excellence in their lives, to be productive members of society, to contribute to a better world, to pass on their wisdom to the next generation including the students/Kokai’s coming up below them. This is the obligation of each of our members. This is how we pay it forward as each of us paves the JUDO WAY from Kohai to Sempai.