Judo

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• Judo, the gentle way, is a form of martial arts.

Judo in the Republic of the Philippines

• History

After Dr. Jigoro Kano, the founder of judo, established the Kodokan in 1882, six years later in February 1888, Dr. Jose Rizal went to Japan via Yokohama. Historians noted Dr. Rizal was fascinated by the beauty, discipline, and cleanliness of Japan. It was during his stay in Japan that he learned Judo. However, it is still unknown who taught him Judo. There is now cooperation between the Kodokan Judo Institute and the Philippine Judo Federation (PJF) (formerly PAJA) to conduct research to find out if Rizal was personally tutored by his fellow teacher and European traveler, Dr. Kano. Upon Dr. Rizal’s return to the Philippines, he taught his students Judo while in exile in Dapitan.

During the mid to late 1930’s, some Japanese businessmen in the Philippines introduced Judo among the youth and students. Under a black belt Japanese instructor in a small dojo on Rizal Avenue opposite the former Opera House, Professor Perfecto Mendiola, then an engineering student of the Mapua Institute of Technology, started the sport of Judo

After World War II, Professor Mendiola and some of his former classmates continued practicing the discipline of Judo. Mr. Lucio Ong opened the Philippine Judo School in Echague, Manila.Professor Mendiola founded the Mapua Judo Club in 1950. He is credited with producing the most number of Philippine Judo champions and Yudansha. Professor Mendiola was himself the 1st National Judo Champion followed by the late Col. Neile Arcales and then Mendiola’s student Frank Robles won the title four times before younger judokas took over. Jorge Lontok, another student of Mendiola also organized some clubs in Baguio and Mindanao after he founded his Caltex Judo Club. Ramon Tiu put up his own Dragon Judo Club with some of the original instructors coming from his group in Mapua.

In 1954 Lieutenant Colonel Jose G. Lukban, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director, had the group of Yudansha and founded the Philippine Amateur Judo Association (PAJA), which became the governing body of Judo in the Philippines. In September 1955, under the leadership of Lt. Col. Lukban with the support of Mr. Antonio Delas Alas, PAJA was recognized by the Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation (PAAF) and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC). During this period, Mr. Yuichi Hirose, a Japanese businessman and Judo instructor, came to the Philippines and greatly helped in the further development of Judo.

The first National Individual Judo Championships was held August 1955. The next was held March 4, 1956 at the Far Eastern University in order to select the contestants to represent PAJA in the 1st World Judo Championships in Tokyo, Japan.

In January 1956, PAJA was affiliated with International Judo Federation (IJF) and was given the detailed program of the 1st World Judo Championships, which was held May 1956 in Tokyo, Japan. The program was given by Mr. Yuichi Hirose, a Japanese Judo instructor for the NBI and agent of the Kodokan Judo Institute.

The Manila Chronicle and The Daily Mirror reported the first promotion of PAJA members to Kodokan Dan Grades dated February 24, 1956 and March 7, 1956 respectively. Recipients of the belts which were awarded for the first time in the Philippines were the following:

• Lt. Col. Jose G. Lukban – 4th Grade Black
• Lucio Roska Ong – 3rd Grade Black
• Nicolas Arcales – 2nd Grade Black
• Perfecto Mendiola – 1st Grade Black
• Edwardo Limjap – 1st Grade Black
• Raul Boncan – 1st Grade Black
• Peter Calibo – 1st Grade Black
• Noli Arambulo – 1st Grade Black
• Jose Gonzales – 1st Grade Black

In 2003, the original name PAJA was renamed All-Philippine Judo Federation. The new name was patterned from the All-Japan Judo Federation, but the Japanese judokas actually meant “all the judo federations / club in Japan. This renaming caused some division to its meaning. The 2003 approved name was not used after that. Although incorrect, the title PAJA continued to be used until 2008. In December 2008, the term “All” was dropped and the official title of the governing body of Judo in the Philippines became simply, Philippine Judo Federation (PJF). The official title of the governing body of Judo in the Philippines, the Philippine Judo Federation, was accepted by the Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Sports Commission and appears on the websites of the International Judo Federation and the Judo Union of Asia.

Organizations

• Philippine Judo Association

Judo in Zamboanga City

• History
  • Beginnings

Events

• National Selections

• Collegiate
  • Intramural
    • Ateneo de Zamboanga University Fiesta
    • Western Mindanao State University Palaro
  • Private School Athletic Association (PRISAA)

Judo Clubs in Zamboanga

• Amateur Judo Club
• Ateneo Judo Club
• Western Mindanao State University Python Judo Club
• Zamboanga Central Judo Club