Sawtelle Judo Dojo
Sawtelle Judo Dojo is one of the oldest Judo schools in the United States. Originally established in 1927, we celebrate our 90th year. Our Dojo was forced to close its doors during WWII. Later after WWII ended, Kikuchi Tadashi Sensei re-opened our Dojo in 1950. Sawtelle Judo Dojo is dedicated to introducing interested students to the principles of Kodokan Judo, not only as a practical sport and self-defense mechanism but as a principle that maximizes efficient use of the mind and body. The fine instruction and practice facilities have resulted in many junior and senior champions of whom we are very proud of.
What is Judo?
Judo began in the late 1880’s in Japan. It is a modern adaptation of traditional jujitsu. The founder, Dr. Jigoro Kano, stated that Judo is the elevation of an art to a principle. In studying Judo, it is essential to train the body and to cultivate the mind through the practice of methods of attack and defense. The four basic areas of Judo are throws, hold downs, chokes and arm locks.
What does the student learn?
Each class begins with a series of warm-up and stretching exercises. This aids in developing flexibility. At first, students are taught to fall correctly to protect themselves from injury and to develop safe practice skills. Other exercises help to sharpen movements that will refine their Judo techniques. Lessons are given by one of the instructors or “Senseis.” The techniques are taught and practiced with other dojo members while being corrected by the “Senseis.” After the lessons, “randori” or free practice occurs, where members improve their techniques in motion with full contact and learn counter techniques which are eventually used in tournaments.
Beginning Judo students start at the white belt level. Children are promoted as they learn each curriculum for each level and show a degree of competence. The promotion levels progress from yellow belt to orange, green, blue and purple and for those thirteen years old and up, brown and black. Adult students begin at the white belt level and as the United States Judo Federation promotion standards dictates, the first level of promotion is to a brown belt. From that point, the student works towards his/her black belt.
Judo tournaments
Judo tournaments are held throughout the year on a local, regional, national and international level. By competing in judo tournaments, points are earned toward promotions. All students are encouraged to participate in tournaments.
The instructors
At Sawtelle Judo Dojo, the instructional staff is among the finest in the United States. Kenji Osugi, seventh degree black belt, is the head instructor. Other instructors are Thierry Dusigne and Einhard Schmidt, (both fifth degree black belts), Chitoshi Baba and Julius Bhang (both fourth degree black belts), and Jerry Hazemoto (second degree black belt). Our head advisor is Norikazu Maeda (longtime member and black belt). The sixth and seventh degree black belts are allowed to wear red and white belts to distinguish their high rank in the judo world.
Most Americans, influenced by Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris and Jackie Chan martial arts movies, assume Judo is about hitting, kicking and the total destruction of the opponents. Judo is far from that. Although Judo has its roots in martial arts, it has structured rules, strict safety regulations and adheres to the ethical philosophies of an educator and founder of Judo, Professor Jigoro Kano. In 1882, Professor Kano founded the Kodokan Judo Institute in Tokyo, Japan, which still is the international authority for Judo.
It is a modern adaptation of traditional Jujutsu, or “Gentle Art.” The founder, Dr. Jigoro Kano, stated that Judo is the elevation of an art to a principle, or “Gentle Way.” In studying Judo, it is essential to train the body and to cultivate the mind through the practice of methods of attack and defense. There are four basic ways to win in Judo, by throwing the opponent on their back, pinning the opponent for 20 seconds, submission by chokes, and submission by locks to the elbow joint. Chokes and joint locks are prohibited for junior participants.
Since 1964, Judo has been an Olympic sport. As with all Olympic sports, it takes many years of dedication and hard work to be competitive. More than competition and hard work, Judo is a way of life. The philosophy in judo is “Maximum, Efficient use of Energy of Mind and Body and Mutual Welfare and Benefit.” The practitioners of Judo not only apply these principals to Judo, but to everyday life. Sawtelle Judo Dojo has trained our students based on these founding principles of Judo as a form of physical fitness, self-defense and to the application of these principles in any endeavor in your life and to the benefit of others and society as a whole.
The purpose of Judo
At Sawtelle Judo Dojo, we teach Kodokan Judo, emphasizing basic Judo fundamentals and principles of Judo. There is nothing fancy about it. Many novices might be intrigued by it. But, it is just plain vanilla Judo. It is not an easy sport, hard on the body, with a variety of basic movements practiced repeatedly, over and over, again. After focused session of instruction and practice, the place can become a very, very noisy place with the incessant and vocal feedback of correction after correction and the shrill of Kiais. Since 1927, thousands have walked the doors of our Dojo and onto the canvas mat once covering piles of straw or horse hair.
Quoting one of our instructors when asked how long it takes to become a Black Belt, “Judo is like writing a paper, book or novel. But, you first start by picking up and holding a pencil properly. Then, you practice writing letters, followed by words, like “cat” and “dog,” then, sentences, paragraphs, chapters, etc., and finally a paper.” But, even when you receive your Black Belt, you realized that you have just mastered the basics and have a whole lot more to learn and experience. Have you written a book, let alone a Pulitzer Prize? Judo more parallels one’s life journey with its ups and downs of challenges and setbacks. But, you learn to get back up.
At our Dojo, with four different classes, our members range from the cutest, but, mischievous four year olds tumbling on the mat to the sixty years old still on the mat. At one time, we did have instructors in their nineties still teaching;
Little Kids
Special Needs
Juniors 6-12 year olds
Seniors 13 and older
They are people of all different professions, nationalities and sexes enjoying Judo. Most of our members are recreational with a few competitors, even some who in their day were National champions. Some compete internationally. We even have some visitors from around the world drop in for a practice or two.
They all have their own individual Judo goals;
Some want to just win medals at tournament.
Some want to maintain their ability to throw people safely on their backs with control and speed.
Some want their next belt promotion.
Some want to benefit by being stronger.
Some want to be fitter and healthier.
Some want to be more discipline and confidence.
Some want to be part of a community.
Some want to break a sweat and get a great workout after a day of work.
Some want to be able to defend themselves.
Some want to become Judo instructors.
Some pursue being a Black Belt.
Some gain camaraderie and friendship with a common pursuit.
Some are already devoted to training others.
Some have Olympic Dreams.
Professor Kano created Judo from Jujutsu as the means to learn about humanity, not only Waza, or just Judo techniques. The word "Kodo" means to learn, prove and practice the principle. The word "Kan" means hall. Professor Kano named Judo "Kodokan Judo" shows us how he made much of the principle and made it a main goal of life to learn. Professor Kano said that the purpose of Judo is to strengthen body by practicing attack and defense, to complete one’s character by training the mind, and finally to devote oneself to benefit society.
Sawtelle Judo Dojo is one of the last remaining Dojos that use to dot the LA landscape back in our founding days. Times and people have constantly changed. We practice Kodokan Judo, three nights a week.
We practice on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays beginning with Juniors from 6:00-7:30 pm and Seniors from 7:30-9:30 pm. Please come by and watch our practices at the dojo in West Los Angeles;
Sawtelle Judo Dojo
2110 Corinth Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Phone; (310) 463-4962
How does one join Sawtelle Judo?
New students must complete our registration enrollment, liability waiver and USJF membership registration forms. Once registered, we will fit you into a new Judogi and begin your instruction with basic etiquette, Dojo rules, history before your first lesson in ukemi, or breakfalls. Students may begin practicing Judo at six years old or older. We also a Little Kids' class for ages 3-1/2-6 years old practicing basic falling, tumbling and rolling movements on Wednesday and Friday from 5:00-5:45 pm. We also have a Special Needs class on Mondays from 5:00-5:45 pm. All levels of experience are welcome to practice.
Our mission remains to “Create champions in Judo and in Life.”
For more information, you can also visit our website at SawtelleJudoDojo.com.
We’re also on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and now Instagram at Sawtelle Judo Dojo.
“Ju”- Gentle “Do”-Path, Road “Judo”-The Gentle Way-
Sawtelle Judo Dojo is affiliated with the following organizations; United States Judo Federation (USJF) Nanka Judo Yudanshakai (Southern California Judo Black Belt Association) United States Judo Association (USJA), California Judo, Inc. (CJI), USA Judo.
03/07/2025
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