SHOP
Athlete of the Year Award
| 2024 | ‣ U16 Female – Megan Au, Peak Judo Club ‣ U16 Male – Amir Temirbaev, Peak Judo Club ‣ U18 Female – Carla Van Zyl, Hart Judo Academy ‣ U18 Male – Zachary Harris, Abbotsford Judo Club ‣ U21 Female – Kylee Esparbes, Peak Judo Club ‣ U21 Male – Abel Velasquez Kasap, OSP Police Judo Club ‣ Senior Female – Hailey Ko, Peak Judo Club ‣ Senior Male – Lowan Le Bris, Peak Judo Club ‣ Veteran Female – Isabelle Gelinas, Mile Zero Judo Club ‣ Senior Male – Nathan Eby, Nanaimo Judo Club ‣ Kata Team of the Year – Riley Maruyama, Westminster Judo Club ‣ Kata Team of the Year – Les Darts, Westminster Judo Club ‣ Youth Kata Athlete of the Year – Giulia Emmanuele, Port Coquitlam Judo Club ‣ Kata Dedication Award – Jeff Hoi, Westminster Judo Club |
| 2023 | ‣ U16 Female – Leanna Au, Peak Judo Club ‣ U16 Male – Lowan Le Bris, Peak Judo Club ‣ U18 Female – Nova Rotbart, Abbotsford Judo Club ‣ U18 Male – Amir Temirbaev, Peak Judo Club ‣ U21 Female – Hailey Ko, Peak Judo Club ‣ U21 Male – Nikola Petrovic, Peak Judo Club ‣ Senior Female – Launa Hinton, OSP Police Judo Juniors ‣ Senior Male – Raphael Gaanan, Peak Judo Club |
| 2022 | ‣ U16 Female – Leanna Au, Peak Judo Club ‣ U16 Male – Zach Harris, Abbotsford Judo Club ‣ U18 Female – Ekatarina Danilkov, Steveson Judo Club ‣ U18 Male – Raphael Gaanan, Peak Judo Club ‣ U21 Female – Brae Booth, Creston Judo Club ‣ U21 Male – Nikola Petrovic, Peak Judo Club ‣ Senior Female – Michelle Jorgensen, Kelowna Judo Club ‣ Senior Male – Tim Lyon, Peak Judo Club |
| 2021 | No Awards due to the Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | ‣ U16 Female – Nyota Morisho, Kokushikai Judo Club ‣ U16 Male – Raphael Gaanan, Burnaby Judo Club ‣ U18 Female – Rakiia Lolevia, Burnaby Judo Club ‣ U18 Male – Nikola Petrovic, Burnaby Judo Club ‣ U21 Female – Brae Booth, Creston Judo Club ‣ U21 Male – Ian Ryder, Steveston Judo Club ‣ Senior Female – Alicia Fiandor, Nanaimo Judo Club ‣ Senior Male – Mitchell Wolfe, Abbotsford Judo Club |
| 2019 | ‣ U16 Female – Ekaterina Danilkov, Steveston Judo Club ‣ U16 Male – Raphael Gaanan, Burnaby Judo Club ‣ U18 Female – Brae Booth, Creston Judo Club ‣ U18 Male – Finn Schroeder, Victoria Judo Club ‣ U21 Female – Alicia Fiandor, Nanaimo Judo Club ‣ U21 Male – Korin Gardner, Nanaimo Judo Club ‣ Senior Female – Isabelle Harris, Abbotsford Judo Club ‣ Senior Male – Ian Ryder, Steveston Judo Club |
| 2018 | ‣ U16 Female – Mira Calder, Kokusihai Judo Club & Victoria Regional Training Centre ‣ U16 Male – Emil Schenk, Burnaby Judo Club ‣ U18 Female – Isabelle Harris, Abbotsford Judo Club ‣ U18 Male – Ian Ryder, Steveston Judo Club ‣ U21 Female – Alicia Fiandor, Nanaimo Judo Club ‣ U21 Male – Tristan Alexander, Victoria Judo Club & Victoria Regional Training Centre ‣ Senior Female – Megan Hanks, Aberdeen Judo Academy ‣ Senior Male – Mitchell Wolfe, Abbotsford Judo Club |
| 2017 | ‣ Female – Eibhleann Alexander, Burnaby Judo Club ‣ Male – Korin Gardner, Nanaimo Judo Club |
| 2014 | ‣ Female – Abby Lloyd, Sunshine Coast ‣ Male – Brandon Jobb, Abbotsford Judo Club |
| 2013 | ‣ Female – Lisa Nakajima, Steveston Judo Club ‣ Male – Brandon Jobb, Abbotsford Judo Club |
| 2012 | ‣ Female – Abby Lloyd, Sunshine Coast ‣ Male – Blake Tsuyuki, Burnaby Judo Club |
| 2011 | ‣ Female – Kristi Roots, Port Coquitlam Judo Club ‣ Male – Brandon Jobb, Abbotsford Judo Club |
| 2010 | ‣ Female – Lisa Nakajima, Steveston Judo Club ‣ Male – Brandon Jobb, Abbotsford Judo Club |
| 2008 | ‣ Female – Rebecca Pretious, Abbotsford Judo Club ‣ Male – Scott McCrandle, Burnaby Judo Club |
| 2007 | ‣ Female – Rebecca Pretious, Abbotsford Judo Club ‣ Male – Fred Jaskiewicz, Abbotsford Judo Club |
| 2006 | ‣ Female – Kimi Suda, Abbotsford Judo Club ‣ Male – Blake Tsuyuki, Burnaby Judo Club |
| 2005 | ‣ Female – Kimi Suda, Abbotsford Judo Club ‣ Male – Sacha LaMontagne, Steveston Judo Club |
| 2004 | ‣ Female – Jocelyn McGrandle, Burnaby Judo Club ‣ Male – Blake Tsuyuki, Burnaby Judo Club |
| 2003 | ‣ Female – Kimi Suda, Abbotsford and Jocelyn McGrandle, Burnaby ‣ Male – Dustin Olyphant, Victoria Judo Club |
| 2002 | ‣ Female – Kimi Suda, Abbotsford Judo Club ‣ Male – Byron Nykon, Steveston Judo Club |
| 2001 | ‣ Female – Emi Tasaka, Steveston Judo Club ‣ Male – Andrew Mukai, Steveston Judo Club |
| 2000 | ‣ Female – Cynthya Tan, Steveston Judo Club ‣ Male – Fred Jaskiewicz, Abbotsford Judo Club |
| 1999 | ‣ Female – Cynthia Tan, Steveston Judo Club ‣ Male – Fred Jaskiewicz, Abbotsford Judo Club |
| 1998 | ‣ Female – Stephanie Tsang, Abbotsford Judo Club ‣ Male – Bruce Kamstra, Prince George Judo Club |
| 1997 | ‣ Female – Emi Tasaka, Steveston Judo Club ‣ Male – Sandy Kent, Burnaby Judo Club |
Coach of the Year Award
| 2024 | ‣ Development Coach – Bruce Kamstra, Hart Judo Academy ‣ Female Coach – Sandra Le Bris, Peak Judo Club ‣ Male Coach – Layton Keely, Abbotsford Judo Club ‣ Emerging Female Coach – Hailey Ko, Peak Judo Club ‣ Emerging Male Coach – Kai Richardson, Peak Judo Club |
| 2023 | ‣ Development Coach – Ashley Nobeashi, Kizuna Judo Club ‣ Female Coach – Chin-I Hsiang, OSP Police Junior Judo ‣ Male Coach – Eloy Fiandor, Nanaimo Judo Club ‣ Emerging Female Coach – Tiffany Coolican, Kokushikai Judo ‣ Emerging Male Coach – Payton Harris, Abbotsford Judo Club |
| 2022 | ‣ Development Coach – Andre Godel, Kensington Judo Club ‣ Female Coach – Cynthya Tan, Peak Judo Club ‣ Male Coach – Stu Leatherdale, Kelowna Judo Club ‣ Emerging Female Coach – Karissa Comeau, Abbotsford Judo Club ‣ Emerging Male Coach – Brandon Edwards, Prince George Judo Club |
| 2021 | No Awards due to the Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | ‣ Development Coach – Leelen Samuelson, Creston Judo Club ‣ Female Coach – Yuki Yokosawa, Steveston Judo Club ‣ Male Coach – Tim Lyon, ‣ Burnaby Judo Club |
| 2019 | ‣ Development Coach – Manabu Marokawa, White Rock Judo Club ‣ Female Coach – Gabriela De Sousa, Burnaby Judo Club ‣ Male Coach – Jeremy Grant, Victoria Judo Club |
| 2018 | ‣ Development Coach – Michael Turner, Kokusihai Judo Club & Shidokai Judo Club ‣ Female Coach – Aline Strasdin, Prince George Judo Club ‣ Male Coach – Layton Keely, Abbotsford Judo Club |
Club Awards
| 2024 | ‣ Largest Club by Membership – Abbotsford Judo Club ‣ Largest Club per Capita – Kokoro Judo Club, 100 Mile House ‣ Event of the Year – Provincial Championships, Prince George Judo Club |
| 2023 | ‣ Largest Club by Membership – Abbotsford Judo Club ‣ Largest Club per Capita – Kokoro Judo Club, 100 Mile House ‣ Event of the Year – Pacific International Judo Championships, Abbotsford Judo Club |
| 2022 | ‣ Largest Club by Membership – Abbotsford Judo Club ‣ Largest Club per Capita – Kokoro Judo Club, 100 Mile House ‣ Event of the Year – Youth Provincial Championships, Langford BC – Island Judo Parents Association |
| 2021 | No Awards due to the Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | ‣ Largest Club by Membership – Abbotsford Judo Club ‣ Largest Club per Capita – Taiyoko Sen ‣ Event of the Year – BC Winter Games, Mile Zero Judo |
| 2019 | ‣ Largest Club by Membership – Abbotsford Judo Club ‣ Largest Club per Capita – Taiyoko Sen ‣ Event of the Year – Youth Provincial Championships, Kamloops Judo Club |
| 2018 | ‣ Largest Club by Membership – Abbotsford Judo Club ‣ Largest Club per Capita – Taiyoko Sen ‣ Event of the Year – Fall Inter-Provincial Camp, Invermere Judo Club |
Referee Service Awards
| 2024 | 10+ Years ‣ Stu Leatherdale ‣ Bruce Sydnam 15+ Years ‣ Francis Au-Yeung ‣ Aubrey Comley ‣ Rick Pollon 20+ Years ‣ Glenn Ford ‣ Bruce Fingarson |
| 2023 | International Referee Promotion ‣ Brian Deevy ‣ Sean Hall |
| 2022 | 5+ Years ‣ Sydney Grevatt ‣ Michael Lindsay |
| 2021 | No awards due to the Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | 5+ Years ‣ Au-Yen Ding ‣ Donna Hanson ‣ Keith Durrant ‣ Manabu Murokawa ‣ Matthew Beckett International Referee Promotion ‣ Paul Whishaw, IJF |
| 2019 | 5+ Years ‣ Katie Loendorf ‣ Bruce Sydnam ‣ Stu Leatherdale 10+ Years ‣ Sabine Smolarek ‣ Rick Pollon ‣ Aubrey Comley ‣ Francis Au Yeung ‣ Andy Stoeckli 15+ Years ‣ Glenn Ford ‣ Bruce Fingarson 20+ Years ‣ Graham Magnussen ‣ Sean Hall |
| 2018 | 20+ Years Service ‣ Seiko Ouchi ‣ Ron Kuramoto ‣ Mr. Kojima ‣ Martin Kuramoto ‣ Mr. Huntley ‣ Hiroshi Nishi ‣ Paul Whishaw ‣ Brian Deevy International Referee Promotions ‣ Hiroshi Nishi (Continental) ‣ Brian Deevy (Continental) |
Volunteer of the Year Award
| 2024 | Aubrey Comley, Vernon Judo Club Brian Yakura, Vernon Judo Club |
| 2023 | Morgan Andreassen, Abbotsford Judo Club |
| 2022 | Terry Wong, Island Judo Parents Association |
| 2021 | No Awards due to the Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | James Serhan, Burnaby Judo Club |
| 2019 | Janice Wolfe, Abbotsford Judo Club |
Special Recognition Awards
| 2024 | High Dan Grading ‣ Rick Blanchard, Port Coquitlam Judo Club Longtime Assistant Head Sensei of the Port Coquitlam Judo Club was promoted by Judo Canada to the rank of Rokudan in March of this year. First Female Chair of the Judo Canada Board of Directors ‣ Donna Hanson, Vernon Judo Club Donna Hanson, former president of Judo BC, has made history as the first female Chair of the Judo Canada Board of Directors. After serving five years as Judo BC’s president, Hanson rejoin the national board in May this year and was elected chair this month. She brings extensive experience as an athlete, coach, and National A level referee. She holds the rank of Rokudan, is a Senior instructor at Vernon Judo Club and a member of the Judo BC Equity Committee and the Coach Development Committee. |
| 2023 | Fastest Growing Club ‣ White Rock Judo Club. In 2016 the club had 15 members at the end of 2023, they had 189 members. Kids Kata Pioneers These young judoka participated in variety of kodomo kata events in 2022-23 including demonstrations, tournaments, clinics, petit samurai events and more. They have been instrumental in promoting kids kata in BC and helping the newly formed competitive kata committee in their mission to increase kata participation in BC. ‣ Megan Antosh, Francesco Emmanuele, Giulia Emmanuele, Giulia Emmanuele, Josie Harford, Phoebe Harford, Hananko Morris, Kamiko Morris, Miya Oikawa and Nicholas Oikawa |
| 2020 | Odd Squad Production Society – Team BC Support during COVID-19 Pandemic |
Steve Sasaki Award
Judo was founded in Japan in 1882 by Professor Jigoro Kano and from him, Mr. Sasaki learned the sport as a young boy. In 1924, two years after immigrating to Vancouver, Mr. Sasaki established the Vancouver Judo Club on Powell Street. Named the Kindokwan Dojo, or training place, this was the first official Canadian Judo club. Many of his students went on to become world-class athletes and coaches.
In the 1930’s, Steve became the first official judo instructor for the RCMP. In 1936, Professor Kano visited Sasaki and requested that he accompany him on a European tour to promote the idea and concept if judo in an effort to foster peace and understanding between nations.
The onset of the Second World War changes the lives of countless people, including the Sasakis. The internment of Japanese Canadians during the WWII forced Mr. Sasaki and his wife, Sumiye, to relocate to an internment camp where he continued to organise judo classes. After the war, the Sasakis settled in Ashcroft, where they opened a business and established a dojo.
In the early 1950’s, Mr. Sasaki set out to form a national judo organization. By 1955, he had established the Canadian Kodokan Black Belt Association, an alliance of Western Provinces which later becomes Judo Canada. In 1958, He travelled to Japan and arranger for Canada to join the International Judo Federation.
Steve Sasaki retired in 1968, yet continues his quiet dedication to judo. He founded (and taught at) judo clubs all over Vancouver. He achieved an 8th level black belt in 1986, the same year he was inducted in the Canadian Amateur Sports Hall of Fame, and received Japan’s Order of the Rising Sun.
Steve was inducted into the BC Hall of Fame in the “builder” category in 1995.
The Steve Sasaki award is presented annually to a long time member of Judo BC who exemplifies the principles of Kodokan Judo.
Steve Sasaki Award Recipients
| 2024 | Martin Kuramoto, Steveston Judo Club |
| 2023 | Rick Blanchard, Port Coquitlam Judo Club |
| 2022 | Ron Kuramoto, Steveston Judo Club |
| 2021 | No Awards due to the Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Isao Kuramoto, Steveston Judo Club |
| 2019 | Sandy Kent, Burnaby Judo Club |
| 2018 | Radomir Orescanin, Burnaby Judo Club |
| 2017 | Aline Strasdin, Prince George Judo Club |
| 2016 | George Okazaki, Vernon Judo Club |
| 2015 | Al Hadvick, Victoria Judo Club, Judo BC and Judo Canada |
| 2014 | Seiko and Penny Ouchi, Kamloops Judo Club, Judo BC and Judo Canada |
| 2013 | Mickey Fitzgerald, Parkland Judo Academy and Victoria Judo Club |
| 2012 | Yoshitaki Mori and Yosh Yoshida |
| 2011 | Yuzuru (Jim) Kojima, Steveston Judo Club |
| 2010 | Henry Boas, Penticton Judo Club |
| 2009 | Dave Magnusson, Abbostford Judo Club |
| 2008 | Alan Sakai, Steveston Judo Club |
| 2007 | Dave Speight, Port Coquitlam Judo Club |
| 2006 | Henry Uyeda, Kamloops Judo Club |
| 2005 | Fred Tan, Steveston Judo Club |
| 2004 | Rudi Mahler, North Delta Judo Club |
| 2003 | Yoshitaka Mori, Vernon Judo CLub |
| 2002 | Tokue Suda, Abbotsford Judo Club |
| 2001 | Hermann Mauthner, Invermere Judo Club |
| 2000 | John and Geraldine Huntley, Aberdeen Judo Academy |
| 1999 | Tomoaki Doi and Yonekazu Sakai, Steveston Judo Club |
| 1998 | Tom Mukai, Burnaby Judo Club |
| 1997 | Yeiji (Lanky) Inouye, Victoria Judo Club |
| 1996 | Art Nishi, Steveston Judo Club |
| 1995 | Chris Schenk, Burnaby Judo Club |
Sport BC President’s Award
The Sport BC Presidents’ Awards give BC’s Provincial Sport Organizations an opportunity to showcase those individuals who make a significant, and often unheralded, contribution to their sport.
President’s Award Recipients
| 2023 | Cynthya Tan, Peak Judo Club |
| 2022 | Tokue Suda, Abbotsford Judo Club |
| 2021 | No Awards due to the Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Bruce Fingarson, Delta Kaigan Judo Club |
| 2019 | Rick Pollon, Kamloops Judo Club |
| 2018 | Kiyo and Mary Nomura, Nanaimo Judo Club |
| 2017 | Henry Uyeda, Kamloops Judo Club |
| 2016 | George Okazaki, Vernon Judo Club |
| 2015 | Al Hadvick, Victoria Judo Club, Judo BC and Judo Canada |
| 2014 | Beth and Wes Roots, Port Coquitlam Judo Club |
| 2013 | James Chevrette, Aberdeen Judo Club |
| 2012 | Ron Kuramoto, Steveston Judo Club |
| 2011 | Aline Strasdin, Prince George Judo Club |
| 2010 | Curtis Pentland, Burnaby Judo Club |
| 2007 | Art Nishi, Steveston Judo Club |
| 2006 | James Linton, Kitimat and Haisla Judo Clubs |
| 2005 | Penny and Seiko Ouchi, Kamloops Judo Club |
| 2004 | Ron Wright, Golden Ears Judo Club |
| 1995 | Yuzuru (Jim) Kojima, Steveston Judo Club |
| 1994 | Yeiji (Lanky) Inouye, Victoria Judo Club |
Judo BC Honourary and Life Members
| Art Nishi | Shichidan |
| Ricky Yodogawa | Godan |
| Haruo Hirata | Rokudan |
| Seiko Ouchi | Godan |
| Henry Uyeda | Rokudan |
| Isao Kuramoto | Rokudan |
| Martin Kuramoto | Rokudan |
| Yeiji (Lanky) Inouye* | Kudan |
| Takao Kawasaki* | |
| Yuzuru (Jim) Kojima | Shichidan |
| Yves Le Gal | Shichidan |
| Yoshitaka Mori* | Shichidan |
| George Mukai | Shodan (hon) |
| Tom Mukai | Hachidan |
| Kiyo Nomura | Godan |
| Doug Rogers* | Rokudan |
| James Ramsay | Rokudan |
| *Also Judo Canada Life Members |
World Championships and Olympians
| Olympians – Athletes | ||
| 1964 | Doug Rogers | Silver |
| 1976, 1984 | Brad Farrow | |
| 1972 | Alan Sakai | |
| 1992 | Alison Web | |
| Olympians – Officials | ||
| Yuzuru (Jim) Kojima | ||
| Yeiji Inouye | 1972 | |
| Senior World Championships Medalists | ||
| 1965 | Doug Rogers | Bronze |
| Junior World Championship Medalists | ||
| 1974 | Gary Hirose | Bronze |
| 1996 | Emi Tasaka | Silver |
Judo Canada Honourary and Life Members
| Passport # | ||
| 2003 | Yuzuru (Jim) Kojima | #5 |
| 2003 | Tom Mukai | #123 |
| 2001 | Yeiji (Lanky) Inouye | #17 |
| 2000 | Doug Rogers | #3740 |
| 1994 | Takeo Kawasaki | #1480 |
| 1994 | Kunji Kuramoto | #232 |
| 1994 | Yonezuka (Frank) Sakai | #1541 |
| 1984 | Tomoaki Doi | #316 |
| 1984 | Yoshitaka Mori | #805 |
| 1984 | Shigetaka (Steve) Sasaki | #2518 |
| 1984 | Satoru (Tom) Tamoto* | #273 |
International Judo Federation
| Medal of Merit of the IJF | ||
| 2001 Munich | Yuzuru (Jim) Kojima | Gold |
Hall of Fame
| BC Sports Hall of Fame | |
| 1995 | Judo – Builder – Shigetaka (Steve) Sasaki |
| 1994 | Judo – Athlete – Doug Rogers |
| Judo Canada Hall of Fame – Athletes | |
| 2012 | Pier Morten |
| 1997 | Brad Farrow |
| 1996 | Doug Rogers |
| Judo Canada Hall of Fame – Builders | |
| 2015 | Al Hadvick |
| 2001 | Yeiji (Lanky) Inouye |
| 2000 | Frank Sakai |
| 2000 | Yoshitaka Mori |
| 1999 | Tomoaki Doi |
| 1998 | Satoru (Tom) Tamoto |
| 1996 | Shigetaka (Steve) Sasaki |
| Canada’s Sport Hall of Fame | |
| 1977 | Doug Rogers |
| Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame | |
| 1983 | Shigetaka (Steve) Sasaki |
| 1973 | Doug Rogers |
