Sensei Henry Uyeda (head instructor-retired)
6th degree black belt, certified continental referee and level II certified national coach, Sensei Uyeda joined the Kamloops Judo Club in 1959. Under his leadership, the club has hosted numerous international tournaments; resulting in strong relationships with several Japanese Judo instructors and clubs. Sensei Uyeda leads by adhering to the cultural pillars of Japanese Judo tradition: honour, discipline and hard work. In 2006, he received the Steve Sasaki Award from the BC Judo Association for being “a judoka who has achieved in competition and has demonstrated the spirit and essence of the sport.”
Sensei Yosh Yoshida (1929-2011)
7th degree black belt, Sensei Yoshida has been with the club since its beginning in 1956. He started practicing Judo in 1939 at the age of 10. His many awards include: the BC Champion trophy (1960), the Nikkei Honour Roll from the Kamloops chapter of the National Association of Japanese Canadians (1995), and a Distinguished Service award from the city of Kamloops (1995). In May 1998, Sensei Yoshida was inducted into the Kamloops Sports Hall of Fame.
Born In: Chemainus, British Columbia, Canada
Born On: 19/11/1929
Passed Away In: Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada
Passed Away On: 12/07/2011
November 19, 1929 – July 12, 2011
Yoshio Yoshida of Kamloops passed away on Tuesday, July 12, 2011 at 81 years of age.
He leaves behind his loving wife Hatsue, sons Stanley of Vancouver, Don of Virgina, Ken of Kamloops, Gary and Suzanne of Whistler, grandchildren Shena, Lyric and Rohan Yoshida, brothers Hidewo (Setsuko), Tetsuo, and Suyeki (Lorna) Yoshida, sister Anna (Barry) Kato as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his father Chiyoki, mother Mitsu and step-mom Tsugie, his sisters Haruka (Mickey) Yokome and Midori Yoshida and son Patrick Yoshida.
Yoshio was born on November 19, 1929 in Chemainus General Hospital. He relocated to Tashme in 1942 and upon being released in 1946, moved to Kamloops and graduated from Kam High in 1950. Yoshio and Hatsue Konishi were married on November 6,1954 and raised five boys. He founded the Judo Club in 1956 and became a middle weight judo champion in 1960, eventually attaining the seventh degree in black belt. Yoshio was a professional carpenter and worked on various large projects including the Mica Dam, Royal Inland Hospital, the Aberdeen and Fortune Malls, the North Shore Credit Union, and many residential homes and schools. Yoshio was an avid fisherman, and opened Yosh’s Fish and Tackle Shop in 1984 and closed it in November of 1998.