Author: Bret Gordon
Most people by now know the Judo club started by Steven Hatfield is called Kontei Kodokan Judo, run out of his Technician Dojo in Columbus, Ohio. Kontei 根底 meaning root or foundation, this name was chosen to demonstrate the desire to bring Judo back to its origins as a complete martial art encompassing atemi waza (striking), nage waza (throwing) and katame waza (grappling), opposed to the stripped-down version of tournament Judo promoted by the IJF. Two years ago, I started the Florida branch of Kontei Kodokan Judo out of my school Trio Martial Arts Academy. Because of those, we chose to align with an organization whose mission and goals were the same as ours, and we found our home with the USA Traditional Kodokan Judo Association. The USATKJ is the national governing body for traditional Kodokan Judo under the ITKJ, connected to TAFISA (an IOC recognized organization) as the home for "Judo for All." Upon joining the USATKJ, Hatfield sensei was awarded the rank of 4th Dan as well as a Senior Examiner's License, and I was registered as a 2nd Dan. However, we wanted to do more to help push the Traditional Kodokan Judo movement...
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In November, we officially chartered the Seikan Judo & Jujutsu Association. The purpose of the Seikan 生館 is to oversee instruction of Kontei Kodokan Judo as we grow and bring more schools under our umbrella. In addition, due to our lineage under Jack Stern, we've also established the Seikan as the central governing body for Stern's Gojeon Yudo (his art of Kojido Jitsu, inherited by Dell Sharpe in 2012, remains a separate entity).
Jack Stern For those who don't know about Jack Stern, while he was a controversial figure later in life, his position as a pioneer of Judo and Yudo in America cannot be overlooked or disputed. Affectionately known as "Papasan," he started his Martial Arts career in 1947 while in the US Military in Chinhae, Korea, in Korean Yudo under Tae Ju Chung. After one year, Stern's unit was moved to Northern Luzon in the Philippines where he trained under Berabe Paragas in “Stick Fighting” for 2 years. Then he was transferred again, this time to Okinawa and Japan where he trained under O'Sensei Yamaguchi Gogen in Goju Ryu Karate for 8 months. In Japan, he also trained at the Kodokan under Mifune Kyuzo and earned his black belt in Judo, as well as trained in Kyokushinkai Karate under Grandmaster Mas Oyama at the main Hombu in Tokyo. In 1956, he was discharged from the military and stayed in Japan, living with the Otani Family while continuing his studies in the arts. In 1958 he returned to the states due to his mother being sick.
After returning to the States, he continued to study under Bong Yul Shin, Sung Jae Park and Soo Hwang. In 1960, he opened Paja Dojo in New York. Soon after, he met Grandmaster Hara Naraki and started training in Nippon Goshindo Kenpo and Hakko Ryu, later receiving a 3rd Dan under Grandmaster Hara. He was also part of Grandmaster Hara's demo team at the Japanese Pavilion at the 1964 Worlds Fair alongside such famous practitioners as Michael DePasquale, Sr., Ronald Duncan and Moses Powell.
After returning to the States, he continued to study under Bong Yul Shin, Sung Jae Park and Soo Hwang. In 1960, he opened Paja Dojo in New York. Soon after, he met Grandmaster Hara Naraki and started training in Nippon Goshindo Kenpo and Hakko Ryu, later receiving a 3rd Dan under Grandmaster Hara. He was also part of Grandmaster Hara's demo team at the Japanese Pavilion at the 1964 Worlds Fair alongside such famous practitioners as Michael DePasquale, Sr., Ronald Duncan and Moses Powell.
From his Paja Dojo, Stern started the Korean Yudo Association (American branch) in the late 1960s, and started gathering members into a brotherhood of martial artists. In 1964, he was presented with an official KYA pennant to hang in his school from Sung Jae Park (see left). The KYA-USA would eventually become the World Organization of Mixed Martial Artists (WOMA) and is currently overseen by Dell Sharpe (click here).
Regardless of his other training, Judo remained at the core of what Stern taught and pursued. During his lifetime, he was a member of the Armed Forces Judo Association (which later became the USJA), Judo Black Belt Federation of America (which later became the USJF), New York Judo Yudanshakai, Korean Yudo Association, Shufu Judo Yudanshakai and the Kodokan in Japan.
Regardless of his other training, Judo remained at the core of what Stern taught and pursued. During his lifetime, he was a member of the Armed Forces Judo Association (which later became the USJA), Judo Black Belt Federation of America (which later became the USJF), New York Judo Yudanshakai, Korean Yudo Association, Shufu Judo Yudanshakai and the Kodokan in Japan.
 Stern with Mifune Kyuzo in Japan |  Hatfield with Stern, 2009 |
 Letter from Mifune Koji |  Training with Bong Yul Shin |
 Assorted Rank & Membership Cards, Pt. 1 |  Assorted Rank & Membership Cards, Pt. 2 |
Gojeon Yudo (old transmission Korean judo) refers to the old system of Yudo learned and taught by Jack Stern, based on his training in both Korea and Japan. The simplified curriculum is based around the 40 original throws of the Kodokan. The system was later divided and organized into two branches, the other being named Kojido Jutsu. Stern maintained a relationship with the KYA, and registered students with the Dong Koo Yudo Kwan under Kang Dong Gu as late as 2010.
As stated above, Kojido was inherited by Dell Sharpe upon Stern's passing in 2012. However, Hatfield sensei was Stern's highest ranking student in Yudo and therefore the art went to him. Therefore, through the Seikan students have the opportunity to study either Kontei Kodokan Judo, which is the complete curriculum of Kano's Judo including kata, striking, throwing and grappling, or the Korean version based on the Gokyo no Waza, and earn rank in both.
In a previous article, I listed three distinct Judo styles that have developed in Japan alone:
As stated above, Kojido was inherited by Dell Sharpe upon Stern's passing in 2012. However, Hatfield sensei was Stern's highest ranking student in Yudo and therefore the art went to him. Therefore, through the Seikan students have the opportunity to study either Kontei Kodokan Judo, which is the complete curriculum of Kano's Judo including kata, striking, throwing and grappling, or the Korean version based on the Gokyo no Waza, and earn rank in both.
In a previous article, I listed three distinct Judo styles that have developed in Japan alone:
- Kodokan Judo - The complete art encompassing atemi waza, nage waza and katame waza
- Kosen Judo - Judo training focusing on an expanded ne waza curriculum
- Olympic Judo - Modern sport focusing solely on nage waza
Of course, these are not independent systems of each other - just different styles of the same art separated by teaching methods. You can read more on Kosen Judo specifically at the article linked here. Therefore as practitioners, instead of simply saying Judo, which could mean just about anything grappling related, being specific by adding either Kodokan, Kosen or Olympic lets people know what exactly you teach, and that is exactly what we are doing by calling our club Kontei Kodokan Judo. I should point out that saying "Kodokan Judo" does not mean you are licensed by the Kodokan any more than saying "Olympic Judo" means you went to the Olympics, although Hatfield sensei is an active member of the Kodokan Judo Institute. It simply means we are teaching the art as prescribed by the Kodokan.
The Seikan Judo & Jujutsu Association is a non-political group, and is not in competition with any other Judo organization. We still fully support the USATKJ and will continue registering our yudansha with them, recognizing them as the premier organization in Judo today. Simply, the Seikan exists to centralize instruction in both Kontei Kodokan Judo and Gojeon Yudo, making it easier for other instructors to join us in our mission. Since starting in November, we've already grown from two to five schools in Ohio, Florida and West Virginia. Our goal has always been to help other instructors and provide them with training, networking, advancement opportunities or whatever else they need to grow in the martial arts. The Seikan will help us do just that.
