Takhahashi Dojo was very pleased and proud to have two top-ranked kata experts from Japan teach at the dojo during the 2nd week of February. Michio Fukushima from the Kodokan and Toshiharu Utsuki from the Tokyo Police Academy demonstrated and taught four kata: Koshiki no kata, Goshin-jitsu, Kime no kata and Itsutsu no kata. at the Takahashi Dojo.

The hugely successful seminars and workshops were enthusiastically attended by judo kata aficionados from all parts of the country. It was a terrific workshop and a good time was had by all!

Fukushima Sensei and Utsuki Sensei

Demonstrating Choku-zuki (Straight thrust) from the Goshin Jutsu Kata

Five hachidans. From left to right: Michio Fukushima, Masao Takahashi, Goki Uemura (chairman of the Ontario Grading Board) Toshiharu Utsuki, Hiroshi Nakamura.

Group Picture of Kata Participants

This year the Japanese Embassy is celebrating 80 years of friendly diplomatic relations with Canada, which coincided nicely with the kata seminars.

Japanese Amassador Tsuneo Nishida, and Mrs. Keiko Nishida honoured the dojo with a visit. Ambassador Nishida is enthusiastic in actively promoting Japanese culture in Canada.

In the picture below the Ambassador is seen demonstrating a kata throw (Uki-otoshi) on Charlie Formosa, president of Judo Ontario.

The Takahashi dojo shall be taking part in other Japanese cultural events throughout the year.

Note: More kata picture to be posted. Stay tuned>