history

H I S T O R Y

The Sturgeon Falls Judo Club was founded in 1964 by one Gerry St.Jacques whose father owned a grocery store (St.Jacque`s Groceteria) on King St. in Sturgeon Falls, Ontario. There were Judo clubs operating in North Bay and Sudbury, Ontario, however, none North of North Bay. The town of Sturgeon Falls, Ontario, is situated approximately 50 kilometres West of North Bay, Ontario.

By 1966, Gerry St. Jacques stopped training for personal reasons, however, several members wanted to keep the club running. One of those was Marcel Gingras who had obtained sankyu (green belt) at the time and was the senior belt. Remember, this was a fledging club. One Rolph Tippler, operator of the North Bay Judo Club and Shodan (1st degree Black Belt) would come to Sturgeon Falls on a weekly basis. Gerry Hebert, an Ontario Provincial Police officer stationed at the Sturgeon Falls OPP detachment started his Judo training in June, 1966.

By 1969, the club's membership had grown to 40 members, both Juniors under the age of 16 and Seniors. The Sensei, R. Tippler, wanted to run the club as a business and M. Gingras sided with him. G. H�bert was adamant that it should be run as a non-profit corporation.

Marcel Gingras

Rolph Tippler

Mel Durand

Gerry H�bert

The Sturgeon Falls Takahashi Judo Club progressed and circa 1968 was incorporated as a non-profit organization (Sturgeon Falls Judo Inc.) The legal work was done by club member and local lawyer Boyd Stewart at no cost to the club.

It had been decided that all members of the club would pay monthly dues. The collected monies were used to purchase original Japanese-type tatami (mats) to replace the homemade mats being used. A weigh scale, weight training and other varied gym equipment was purchased. Monies were also spent in travelling to and from Judo tournaments and seminars.The club was organized and held Monthly meetings. Positions of President; Vice-President; Secretary and Treasurer were filled with yearly elections. An account was opened at the local branch of the Royal Bank where any membership-approved withdrawals were done upon the signature of both President and Treasurer.

Judo teachers were constantly sought out to instruct at the club. One of the first was Mr. Colin Bennet, Nidan (2nd degree B.B.), newly arrived from England and teaching at Cambrian College in North Bay, Ontario. He started visiting the club in 1970. His style of teaching concentrated on competition mostly.

In 1970 the club had to leave the Michaud & Levesque store as the owners were fed up replacing fluorescent lights below the upper floor used by the Judoka. Shockwaves caused by Judoka doing ukemi (breakfalls) were the cause with no cheap solution in site. The club was on the top floor, with a bowling alley as neighbour. It was quite surprising that the lights below the bowling alley were not being damaged...........

Colin Bennett

The club hosted the the North Eastern Ontario Judo tournament on
June 27th, 1971 with over 180 competitors, a total success.

Also in 1971, with a growing membership, it was decided by the committee to expand to the neighbouring villages of Cache Bay and Field, Ontario.

In 1972, the club moved from the school to the unused Canadian Pacific Railway station also in Sturgeon Falls. The C.P.R. demolished this building in 1979. This turned out to be one of the best dojo in the Province, with spacious showers, training room, change room, storage in basement and even a Sauna. Height of the ceiling was not a problem either.

In October, 1977,Gerry Hebert, leaving the club in the capable hands of Bryon French, J. Verdon and R. Carlson, moved to Ottawa where he continued to work in the Security field at different locations such as The House of Commons; The Bank of Canada; Canada Post Corporation where he obtained the rank of Postal Inspector.

In 1984, the basement of the old Town Hall was renovated by Rene Carlson, Joe Verdon and Bryon French. The Sturgeon Falls Judo Club was back in operation until 1989 when the old Town Hall was demolished to build new Fire & Police Headquarters.

From 1989 to 1993, the Judo club was relocated to the basement of the Ontario Hydro office in the town of Warren, Ontario, approx. 40 kilometres West of Sturgeon Falls and then named the "Nipissing Judo Club".

In 1993 the club returned to Sturgeon Falls in the newly built Sturgeon Falls Sports Complex where it operated until the year 2000. The equipment is stored there to date, awaiting the arrival of qualified Judoka. Hopefully an old student will return in the area and get things going again.......

There was a bitter fight involving the Judo Ontario Black Belt Association and the two clubs. R. Tippler had hoped to gain support from the association and have the original club's charter revoked. Following meetings with the OJBBA
in Toronto, they decided that the original club would keep its name and charter.

Shortly afterward, G. Hebert met renowned teacher, Mr. Masao Takahashi of the Ottawa School
of Martial Arts at a Judo seminar near Gatineau, Quebec. An affiliation was made between the
two clubs whereas the club could be called by the name of Sturgeon Falls Takahashi Judo Club.
Things progressed in a positive way thereafter, with the club being sole survivor in Sturgeon Falls.

Masao Takahashi

The club's new location was the gymnasium at the Sacred Heart School on Michaud St. with a growing membership of 50 Judoka. The gym was okay, however, the tatami had to be installed and taken up to be stored after every session.

This period also brought another visiting instructor to the club. This was Allan Jo Stewart who ran a club in Levac, Ontario and was also teaching Judo at the Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario. Stewart Sensei had spent over 7 years learning Judo in Japan, at the Kodokan in Tokyo and various Police dojos in the surrounding area. Gerry Hebert often stated that it was due to his teachings that he was motivated in continuing his study of Judo and related martial arts to this day. He was capable of teaching all aspects of Kodokan Judo, both the sport and the art of it. His self-defence techniques were awesome and especially effective for Police work.

Gerry H�bert

He also worked at Dept. of National Defence Headquarters in the office of Mr. Robert Fowler, Deputy Minister. He later worked in the office of the Minister of Labour. Following this, as Security Officer within Human Resources Development Canada. Upon his arrival in Ottawa, he immediately became a member of the Takahashi School of Martial Arts and presently holds the rank of Yondan, 4th degree B.B., continuing his study of Judo and related Martial Arts to present 2006. He is retired and living in Ottawa.

This caused a rift in the membership whereas Gingras and Tippler started another Judo club at the Lady of Sorrows Parish Hall in Sturgeon Falls. This new club attracted quite few members, but it soon declined. There was also a disagreement involving the name of this new club as it was also called the Sturgeon Falls Judo Club.

Please note that all of the members, upon signing up with the S.F. Judo club were obliged to become members of the Ontario Judo Black Belt Association, otherwise known as Judo Ontario. Not all Judo clubs were doing this at the time.