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Sunday, July 19, 2009

My Personal Judo History


Sometime in early 1983 while practicing armlocks and throws in the Paglaum Judo Dojo where my friend Russell Nuñez and I have been invited by Elbert Pama another friend, we were observed and later invited by Antonio Mondejar Sensei to join the Paglaum Judo Club. Since then it has all been Judo for me. I have continued to cross train in other martial arts but Judo became my foundation.



Bro. Russell Nuñez, now based in the U.S. and a member of the U.S. Judo Fed.



My training in Judo continued under Efren Diongon Sensei when Antonio Mondejar Sensei left for Oklahoma in the United States. With Diogon Sensei I have participated in teaching Judo to active law enforcers and Criminology students of the University of Negros Occidental - Recoletos where Judo was a vital part of the curriculum.


Antonio Mondejar Sensei (second from right) with American Judokas in his new Ada Judo Club in Oklahoma, USA



In 1994 Masaharu Kinjho Sensei a Kodokan Judo 8th dan visited the Paglaum Judo Club and trained with us. It was with Kinjho Sensei that I learned the difference between "Judo as a sport" and "Judo as culture and as a way of life". Under his strict guidance i have directly learned the ethics of the "bushi". To this day, I have continue to be Kinjho Sensei's student.

Kinjho Sensei was the founder, President, and chief Instructor of the ATLETA Judo Club where I was his appointed Vice President and Assistant Senior Instructor. ATLETA Judo Club had its glory days when its members used to bag a good number of gold medals in national competitions. However, due to some different emerging priorities in the Local Government sponsoring it, ATLETA Judo Club ceased operation. In later years however, Kinjho Sensei started to activate the teaching of Judo in the place where he resides. Kinjho Sensei never ceased to lose enthusiasm in reaching out to the grass roots and teach the culture and values of Judo.


Kinjho Masaharu Sensei together with his children Sueko and Patricia, and Dannie San Joacquin Sensei - a fellow Traveller.

To all my Sensei I give back the honor and sincerely express my indebtedness. Os!

Seijitsu Judo Ryu Oath

  • "Without permission of the Authorities of Seijitsu Judo Dojo, I will not teach or divulge the Knowledge of the Art I shall be taught.

    I will not perform the Art in public for personal gain.

    I will lay no blame on anyone, except myself, in the event of accident, even if it should result in my death.

    I will conduct myself in such a way as never to discredit the traditions and honor of Seijitsu Judo Dojo.

    I will not abuse, or misuse, the Knowlege of Judo.

    I shall push and persevere."


Copied from the original Kodokan Oath and adapted by Seijitsu Judo Dojo; Judo - The Basic Technical Principles and Exercises by G. Koizumi (7th Dan), Founder of the Judo Movement in Great Britain and Europe, July 1958

About Judo


The Purpose of Judo Discipline

According to Jigoro Kano, the founder of Kodokan Judo:

  • "Judo is the way to the most effective use of both physical and spiritual strength. By training you in attacks and defenses it refines your body and soul and helps you make the spiritual essence of Judo a part of your very being. In this way you are able to perfect yourself and contribute something of value to the world. This is the final goal of Judo Discipline."

Anyone who intends to follow the way of Judo must above all instill this teaching in his heart.

Judo in Action; Kazuzo Kudo, 9th Dan; Japan Publications Trading Company, Tokyo, Japan; January 1967

On Judo and the Changing Times

  • "As thoughts on any subject advance, there is the danger that people will tend to regard past ideas as no more than empty academic theory. Such an over-prejudiced attitude must not be condoned."

Tetsuya Sato and Isao Okano, Vital Judo, Japan Publications Inc., 1973

On the Value of Continuous Scholarly Study in Judo

  • "We live today and die tomorrow but the books we read tell us things of a thousand years."

Yamaga Sokō (September 21, 1622 - October 23, 1685) was a Japanese philosopher and strategist during the Tokugawa shogunate. He was a Confucian, and applied Confucius's idea of the "superior man" to the Samurai class of Japan. This became an important part of the Samurai way of life and code of conduct known as Bushido.

On Judo and its Lifelong Pursuit