McKenzie Therapy & Training

Samurai Judo Academy's Story

Samurai Judo Academy (SJA)commenced at the Newcastle Police and Community Youth Club in September 2005 as an activity that is independently owned and operated by chief instructor or "Sensei" Ken McKenzie, together with Sensei Kas Pilarski  as a voluntary assistant coach. In May 2009, another branch started at Lake Macquarie PCYC but in December 2011, Samurai Judo Academy moved out of the PCYCs to newer and bigger dojo's at Cardiff and Waratah.

Newcastle has had a proud judo tradition, producing world class judo players in recent decades, which unfortunately declined after a number of key coaches either moved out of the area or retired. Sensei Pilarski has been a long standing member of Newcastle judo, performing key roles in the Hunter, but was unable to provide regular coaching due to work commitments. Sensei McKenzie fulfilled this role, moving to the Hunter with over 15 years coaching experience at South Brisbane PCYC, Toowoomba PCYC and Twin Towns PCYC, as well as a number of titles at state, national and international levels.

More recently, SJA have been honoured to be joined by Shodan John Moen, Shodan Bain Dohne and San Dan Les Simons, who have added further value to the richness of instruction available at SJA.

Since it's inception, SJA has steadily grown to become one of the most successful centres for Judo in Australia today, with increasing successes from regional to international levels already achieved. Other highlights include visits in 2005,  2007, 2011 and 2015 by judo students of Ube city, Newcastle's sister city in Japan, and a SJA team visit to Ube in 2010 as part of a 16 year tradition now revived by SJA.

What is Judo?

INTERESTING FACTS ON JUDO

Judo is the 2nd most practiced sport in the world (2nd only to soccer).

Judo is the only sport based martial art where you practice full contact grappling skills in standing and on the ground every time you train. These are the skills you need most in order to defend yourself

Judo is also ideal for children as it promotes physical, mental and character development, combining safe and fun gymnastic skills with a form of self defense that is much less likely to injure someone than martial arts involving striking (kicking, punching etc..)

Rather than striking, Judo involves realistic and effective grappling skills such as throws, hold downs, arm-locks, strangles, escapes and counters for all kinds of attacks

Judo has been recognized as one of the 5 most physically demanding sports in the world, working virtually every muscle and developing every form of fitness from cardiovascular endurance, slow twitch muscle power and fast twitch muscle speed to total body coordination and flexibility

Being registered with the International Judo Federation, Samurai Judo Academy at Newcastle PCYC has affiliated judo clubs in virtually every major city and town in the world, all of which are open to visits from you as a member.

JUDO DESCRIBED

Judo has been variably described as the competitive sport version of jujitsu, Japanese wrestling, a premier Olympic level martial art and a personal development pursuit. It is all of those things, and much more. The spectacular nature of tjudo belies the inate safety of the sport, since it was designed specifically to be practised with full contact by people of all ages, for children of 4 to senior citizens, male and female.

WHAT JUDO CAN OFFER YOU

For children, judo is a wonderful activity to learn a sense of respect and responsibility for others well being, while at the same time providing a the means to develop mind, body and character in a wholesome, challenging and competitive environment.

Through judo, youth and young adults can satisfy their need to master athletic techniques, build strength, fitness and possibly climb to State, National and International level competition success.

For mature adults and parents, judo is arguably one of the best ways of all to develop true self confidence, fitness, a chance to compete or just play socially, help with the development of their children and make new friendships that can last a lifetime.

For senior citizens judo provides skills that could well extend our years - promoting balance, skeletal health, safety from injurous falls, cardio-vascular health, and unlimited opportunity to study the strong cultural, philosophical and historical aspects of judo when our more ambitious competitive days are behind us. Whatever your age or gender, Judo can truly be a way of life!

Judo is unique amongst the martial arts in that it is uniformly governed throughout the world to a single standard and has been an Olympic sport since 1964. The rules, language and standards of judo are the same thoughout the entire world from the smallest outback club to the Olympic Games.

Contact us today for more information.