AHSS had one of the top judo clubs in Ontario during the 1970s with more than 400 students participating.
Judo club attracts over 400 to sport
Judo is generally categorized as a modern Japanese martial art created in 1882 by Jigoro Kana. With its origins from jujutsu, judo’s most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the objective is to either throw or take down an opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue an opponent with a pin, or force an opponent to submit with a joint lock or a choke. A judo practitioner is called a ‘judoka,’ and a judo instructor is called the ‘sensei.’ The judo uniform is called a ‘judogi.’
Judo was introduced to the Almaguin community by Sy Yoshida as part of the night school program hosted at Almaguin Highlands Secondary School. After he was hired to teach history at Almaguin in 1971, Bill Atkinson helped Mr. Yoshida co-found the Almaguin judo club as an after-school program. The judo club typically had about 20 judokas each year.
When the club was in operation, over 400 students had the opportunity to learn the sport of judo. The judo club at Almaguin was ranked as one of the top clubs throughout Ontario during the 70s. The judo club at Almaguin continued until Mr. Yoshida’s retirement from teaching in 1989.
One of only three in Ontario
Unlike many of the other sports at Almaguin, the judo club did not compete against other high schools in the Muskoka-Parry Sound district. At the time there were only three other high school judo clubs in all of Ontario. All competitions were managed through Judo Ontario.
The Almaguin judo club participated in regional tournaments in a number of cities: Peterborough, Timmins, Iroquois Falls, Sudbury and North Bay, to name a few. In fact, Almaguin hosted the 1979 Ontario judo championships with over 250 competitors and placed third overall. Winners at the regional tournaments advanced to the Ontario provincial championships, and if successful advanced to the Canadian national championships. Winners at the national level then qualified for the Canadian national team. The national team participated in international tournaments around the world and the top competitors in each weight class in the ‘A’ division advanced to the world championships and the Olympics.
Alder brothers have strong influence
A discussion of the Almaguin judo club would not be complete without a special mention of the Alder brothers, David, Robert, Jim and Jerry. Their father encouraged them to take up judo, as he did not want them getting bullied (they were fighting with each other anyway) and he wanted them to see the world. The Alder boys first started judo in 1969 in North Bay. During their time at Almaguin, they trained and taught judo at the school, while at the same time training in North Bay one day per week. Their father bought the Arnstein dance hall and the Alder boys started and ran the Arnstein judo club for a number of years before they moved on to university. Their mother also took up judo from her sons at the age of 50. When Mr. Atkinson was asked what made the Alder boys so successful in judo, he responded, “When a commercial comes on, they do push-ups, when another commercial comes on, they do sit-ups. They just never stop!
Words of advice...
Some of the members from the Almaguin judo club were asked about what they would attribute to their individual and the Almaguin club’s success and what advice they would give current and future judokas.
Here is what we heard:
Here is what we heard:
- “Don’t just go to the practices; work on your fitness, go running, lift weights.”
- “Don’t be passive and rely on the coach to develop you. You need to take responsibility for your personal development.”
- “Participation in other sports, such as wrestling and weightlifting, helps to promote the body.”
- “Judo develops confidence, fitness and self-discipline. The discipline of sport serves you well.”
Notable Judo Alumni
Suyeki “Sy” Yoshida – Mr. Yoshida taught at Powassan District High School (PDHS) and transferred to Almaguin when PDHS amalgamated with Almaguin in 1969. As the driving force behind the Almaguin judo club, he provided quiet leadership and positively influenced the lives of many boys and girls (yes, some girls joined the judo club as well). Members of the Almaguin club commented that Sy “did not seek the limelight, was a super nice guy and would do anything to help anybody.”
The Alder Brothers
Jerry Alder – Jerry is the youngest of the four Alder boys who grew up in beautiful Arnstein. All four Alder boys achieved black belt status. Jerry was on the national judo team from 1980 to 1988, competing in the 60 kg. weight class before eventually moving up to the 65 kg. weight class.
Jerry represented Canada at the World Championships, the Commonwealth Games and the PanAm championships against countries such as England, Scotland, Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Japan, Cuba, Brazil and the United States. Jerry won numerous national medals and some international ones.
He was chosen for Canada’s Olympic judo team in 1980, but plans to compete in the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, were thwarted by the boycott.
David Alder – David is the oldest of the Alder boys. He joined the military out of high school. David competed as a team member for Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and Nova Scotia. He also medaled at the Canadian national championships and was a national team member. David represented Canada at tournaments in the United States, Belgium and a number of other European countries while in the military. He taught judo to over 150 members in the Canadian Military Judo Club. David reached 5th degree black belt and retired from judo after 39 years in the sport.
Jerry Alder – Jerry is the youngest of the four Alder boys who grew up in beautiful Arnstein. All four Alder boys achieved black belt status. Jerry was on the national judo team from 1980 to 1988, competing in the 60 kg. weight class before eventually moving up to the 65 kg. weight class.
Jerry represented Canada at the World Championships, the Commonwealth Games and the PanAm championships against countries such as England, Scotland, Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Japan, Cuba, Brazil and the United States. Jerry won numerous national medals and some international ones.
He was chosen for Canada’s Olympic judo team in 1980, but plans to compete in the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, were thwarted by the boycott.
David Alder – David is the oldest of the Alder boys. He joined the military out of high school. David competed as a team member for Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and Nova Scotia. He also medaled at the Canadian national championships and was a national team member. David represented Canada at tournaments in the United States, Belgium and a number of other European countries while in the military. He taught judo to over 150 members in the Canadian Military Judo Club. David reached 5th degree black belt and retired from judo after 39 years in the sport.
Joel Barton – Joel joined the wrestling team at Almaguin in 1977 and added judo to his repertoire the following year. Joel was the provincial heavyweight judo champion in 1979 and 1981 and went on to represent Ontario in the Canadian Junior Olympics in 1979. From 1979 through 1981, Joel received certificates of achievement from the province in recognition of his distinguished performance. He attributes his success in judo to the skills and attributes of his Almaguin coaches, Sy Yoshida – leadership and presence; and Bill Atkinson– support and sense of humour.
Judo Teams
Front from left: Jerry Alder, Jim Alder, Si Yoshida (Coach), Carol Bain, Luanne Bowman. Back from left: Bill Atkinson (Coach), Greg Paget, Peter Camani (Coach), Steve Helson, Ed Bowers, Sue Sharp
Third in the All-Ontario High School Judo Competition Front from left: Rick Schmidt, Michele Schmidt, Sy Yoshida (Coach). Back row: Gabriel Aultman, Joel Barton, Bill Atkinson (Coach)
Front from left: Joel Barton, Gerry Alder, Peter Camani (Coach), Bill Atkinson (Coach), Ian Kelly. Back from left: Al Wintermeyer, Dan Smith, Eyron Odd, Lynn Philips, Rob Kelly, Shirley Tessier. Absent: Si Yoshida (Coach), Glenn Milne, Brian Harmer, Richard Galey, Suzanne Sharpe, Bob Tessier, Vince DesChamps, Chris Kent