Judo BC Organization Chart
Judo BC Organization Chart 2021-2022
Board of Directors/Executive Committee
Ian Briggs
President
Ian Briggs started his Judo journey as an adult under the tutelage of Robert Griechen. Ian’s passion for Judo and his belief in giving back to the community has earned him the role of Head Sensei at Kokoro Judo Club in 100 Mile House, BC. Ian holds the rank of Sandan and is NCCP Dojo Instructor certified.
Off the mats, Ian continues to give back to the community through volunteer and leadership roles at non-profit groups including the Consulting Foresters of BC, Canadian Ski Patrol System and the Cariboo Regional Manger of B.C. Forestry Association.
Professionally, Ian is a registered Professional Forester and actively manages his Forestry Consulting company, Montane Forest Consultants Ltd.
Tetsu Takagaki
Treasurer
Tetsu started Judo as a child, training with his father and after taking a break from Judo in his teens, he picked up Judo again as an adult and earned his Shodan in 2021. Tetsu is an active member of the Nakashima Dojo where he trains, instructs and still practices Judo with his father.
Professionally, Tetsu is a Chartered Professional Accountant who has experience working in public accounting. He has worked as an auditor and tax accountant. Currently he is a senior manager at Crowe Mackay and Company Ltd. specializing in insolvency, restructuring and forensic accounting.
Ramon Rodriguez
Director at Large
Ramon was elected to the Judo BC Board of Directors in June 2014. He started Judo in Venezuela in the mid 1970`s before moving to the USA to attend university in Fresno, California in 1978, where he trained with Imamura Sensei, head instructor of the CSUF Judo Club and the Fresno Judo Club.
Upon moving to Vancouver in 1984 Ramon first practiced at the Vancouver Judo Club with Tamoto Sensei before moving to the Burnaby Judo Club where he was a member for many years before joining to Peak Judo Club in 2023.
Currently he works as an immigration consultant with NKIC and continues to be involved in software related projects as an independent consultant. Previously Ramon has worked as an agronomist, software developer, software architect, business analyst, and project manager.
Previous sport volunteer work includes 8 years as a Director of the Capilano Mini Rugby Club, the largest of its kind in North America.
Eric Cherneff
Director at Large
Eric started Judo at the Victoria Judo Club in 1984, and was an active member there until 2001, when he moved to Hong Kong and joined the Hong Kong Judo Kan. Upon returning to Canada in 2008, he joined the Port Coquitlam Judo Club. In 2015, he relocated back to Victoria and rejoined the Victoria Judo Club. He holds the rank of Godan from the Kodokan, and is qualified as a NCCP Level 2/Dojo Instructor. He has been on the Judo BC Board of Directors since 2013, and has been a member of the Grading Committee since 2020. Although not currently competing, he has competed at Nationals in Senior, Master and Kata categories.
Rick Pollon
Director at Large
Rick started Judo in 1999 in Kamloops with the Kamloops Judo Club. Rick currently is NCCP level 2 dojo instructor. Rick currently holds the rank of Yondan as well as National C referee rank. Rick currently still competes actively in Kata as well as is an active referee. Rick was the head instructor of the Kamloops Judo Club from September 2016 until June of 2020.
Rick currently is a partner in the McMurray group of companies as well is the Equipment and Facilities Manager of 40 A&W’s. Rick is a large supporter of the Y women shelter as well as Big Brothers and Sisters.
Rick joined the Judo BC Board of Directors in November 2020.
Athlete Development (Technical) Committee
Chair Send an Email | Aline Strasdin |
Members | Kane Morishita Layton Keely Chin-I Hsiang Stu Leatherdale Jeremy Le Bris |
Grading Committee
Chair Send an Email | Eric Cherneff |
Members | Mickey Fitzgerald Ron Kuramoto Aline Strasdin Bruce Kamstra Paul Whishaw |
Kata Committee
Chair Send an Email | John Morris |
Members | Ron Kuramoto Aline Strasdin Stephen Duran |
Referee Development Committee
Co-chairs Send an Email | Graham Magnusson Brian Deevy |
Members | Ron Kuramoto Paul Whishaw Aartje Sheffield |
Advisors | Jim Kojima |
Coaching Development Committee
Chair Send an Email | Bruce Fingarson |
Members | John Huntley Fred Gietz Donna Hanson |
Equity Committee
Chair Send an Email | Ashley Nobeashi |
Members | Cynthya Tan Aline Strasdin Yuki Yokosawa Donna Hanson Renee Hock Lisa Nakajima Katie Thomson |
Membership Committee
Members | Ashley Nobeashi Aline Strasdin Jeremy Grant Stu Leatherdale Jeremy Le Bris Katie Thomson |
Safe Sport Committee
Members | Bruce Fingarson Yuko Suda |
Tournament Development Committee
Chair Send an Email | Ramon Rodriguez | |
Members | Aline Strasdin Ramon Rodriguez Giuseppe Emanuele Steve Horvath |
Judo BC Honourary and Life Members
Haruo (Hap) Hirata | Rokudan |
Yeiji (Lanky) Inouye*† | Kudan |
Takao Kawasaki* | |
Yuzuru (Jim) Kojima | Shichidan |
Isao Kuramoto | Rokudan |
Martin Kuramoto | Rokudan |
Yves Le Gal | Shichidan |
Yoshitaka Mori*† | Shichidan |
George Mukai | Shodan (hon) |
Tom Mukai | Hachidan |
Art Nishi | Shichidan |
Seiko Ouchi | Godan |
Doug Rogers*† | Rokudan |
James Ramsay† | Rokudan |
Henry Uyeda | Rokudan |
Ricky Yodogawa | Godan |
*Also Judo Canada Life Members |
Staff, Advisors & Coordinators
Executive Director Send an Email | Katie Thomson |
Sport Development Director/Head Coach Send an Email | Jérémy Le Bris |
Team BC Manager & Travel Coordinator Send an Email | Sandra Le Bris |
Communications and Programs Coordinator Send an Email | Cynthya Tan |
BC Games Provincial Advisor Send an Email | Jeremy Grant |
School Programs Coordinator Send an Email | |
Judo BC Merchandise Coordinator Send an Email | Layton Keely |
Online Courses Coordinator Send an Email | Giuseppe Emmanuelle |