In Recognition of the Detroit Judo Club

Thomas Sheehan
Judo USA, July 1977
Official Magazine of the United States Judo Federation

The Detroit Judo Club came into being in 1951. Its beginning was nothing spectacular - just a handful of students and one night a week at the "Y.", providing the work-out wasn't canceled in favor of other activities. And that's what made the difference. That's what generated the drive, the determination, the cohesiveness - those last minute cancellations.

What happened during the next 25 years is a tribute, not only to the men who made it happen, but to the sport which inspired the happening. From those early days at the "Y", the dug grew to become the largest non-profit club in the nation, boasting 700 members and the country's largest dojo, complete with a 50 x 50 tatami mat, 250 locker dressing room, sauna, and all the other features which went to make up the facility. And it was all done on spare time, donated services, and a love for the sport.

In addition to operating the most efficiently run dojo in the nation, the club developed the Annual Midwestern Judo Championship which outstripped all national championships, not only in efficiency and professionalism, but in the number of spectators and contestants. The tournament was a showcase for judo and was responsible for pioneering many procedures and innovations in use today.

What made the Detroit Judo Club really great, however, was not so much what it did for itself, but what it did for Judo. Instead of being satisfied with local affluence, the Detroit Judo Club donated and contributed to regional development on a scale far surpassing the combined total national effort at the time. In addition to writing the national constitution and bylaws, promotion procedures, referee certification guidelines, tournament procedures and contest rules, the Club was solely responsible for developing, financing, and administering the national rank registration procedures; a system which has generated more than a quarter million dollars, financing every international team throughout the '60s and early '70s.

In addition to holding one-third of the positions on the national U.S. Judo Federation Executive Committee, Detroit Judo Club members held simultaneous national positions of President, Editor USJF Handbook, Editor Judo Illustrated, Chairman Rank Registration Committee, Legal Committee, Legislative Committee, Promotion Committee, Referee Certification Committee, and Executive Committee, Technical Director of the Pan American Judo Union, Advisor the Inter-national Judo Federation, Coach and Manager of the Pan American and World Championship Teams, four positions on the U.S. Olympic Committee, and countless positions on national and regional AAU board and regional Yudanshakai.