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Our Past Senseis

Sensei..."He who has gone before"

Thank you to all of our Senseis who continue to unselfishly donate their time and expertise.

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Sensei Al Warburton

 

Sensei Al Warburton started judo in 1966 at a summer school program. Instructor was Masao "Harry" Kawasaki.

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Sensei Al joined Rendokan Judo Academy in 1967 at the Ottawa Street Y. He moved with the club thru the Barton St. location, Kenilworth Ave, Onteora, and currently the CJCC.

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Sensei Al received rank of Shodan on August 13th 1979, Nidan on May 23rd 1994 and Sandan on August 20th 2009. He is NCCP Level 2 Judo Certified.

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Sensei Al married a wonderful girl he met at judo. Chris is a brown belt (retired) and the mother of their two sons. They tried judo but it was not the sport for them.

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Sensei Ian Bruce

 

Sensei Ian Bruce was introduced to judo by his grade 11 English teacher in Bendigo, Austraila, where he grew up. After moving to Melbourne for university he mainly trained with the University of Melbourne Judo Club. He received a sports award from university in 1989 for his success at that national university championships while still competing as a novice, and the team were runners up in the university championships in both 1989 and 1990.

 

A shoulder reconstruction surgery after university and moving around the world for further studies and work kept him out of regular training for many years, but in 2006 he sought out Kawasaki Rendokan Judo Academy when his two young boys wanted to wrestle at the time. Ian started training again as well, and while recovering from an injury started helping out with instructing. He also trained and coached with the Western Judo Academy in 2009 and 2010 while back in Melbourne, Australia for a year.

 

In 2011 he received his Shodan and continues to instruct at Kawasaki Rendokan, primarily the kids' groups. He also enjoys training with helping coach his boys who are now blue and green belts. Sensei Ian is a professor in electrical and biomedical engineering at McMaster University.

Sensei Jennifer Mathewson

 

Sensei Jennifer Mathewson was born in Sudbury, Ontario. Sensei Jennifer began Judo in 1982 with Sensei Ron Farrell, YMCA North Bay Judo Club. As Sensei Jennifer's father was her Sensei, they moved judo clubs as they moved cities within Northern Ontario. Eventually she took a break from judo training in Sudbury Ontario in 1990.

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In 2008 Sensei Jennifer began training again with Kawasaki Rendokan Judo Academy under Sensei Mitchell Kawasaki, returning as a green belt, along with her son Connor who also began, with his brother Brody soon to follow. Sensei Jennifer completed her Shodan in 2012. From 2008 - 2016 Sensei Jennifer has been an instructor with the club teaching the children and youth. In 2016 Sensei Jennifer began to train full-time in preparation for Nidan grading. Also, from 2009 - present she has focused on competitions for Goshin-Jutsu Kata and Juno Kata for many years competing in various competitions within the region.

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Sensei Jennifer is a Child / Youth Counsellor - Case Manager in the social services sector and resides in Hamilton, Ontario.

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Sensei Michael Morgenroth, Ni Dan

 

Sensei Michael Morgenroth started Judo in 1975, Sho Dan 1983; accomplishments

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  • 1983/84 member of German U21 National Team, 3rd Alternate for 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles

  • 1984 - 1991 on Bundesliga Teams (Heilbronn, Duesseldorf & Karlsruhe)

  • 1990 (last ever) West German University Champion

  • 1999 Welland, 2000 Sydney, 2005 Mississauga & 2010 Montreal: World Masters Champion, 2002 Derry: Vice Champion; also read athlete's oath in 2005

  • 5th at 2014 IJF World Veterans in Malaga, registered for 2016 Fort Lauderdale

  • German Non-Professional coaching license and Coach Canada Dojo Instructor

  • Cross training in multiple sports including handball (2016 on Ontario Team at Nationals), cycling, soccer, volleyball and badminton

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Sensei Michael Morgenroth, Ni Dan

 

Sensei Michael Morgenroth started Judo in 1975, Sho Dan 1983; accomplishments

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  • 1983/84 member of German U21 National Team, 3rd Alternate for 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles

  • 1984 - 1991 on Bundesliga Teams (Heilbronn, Duesseldorf & Karlsruhe)

  • 1990 (last ever) West German University Champion

  • 1999 Welland, 2000 Sydney, 2005 Mississauga & 2010 Montreal: World Masters Champion, 2002 Derry: Vice Champion; also read athlete's oath in 2005

  • 5th at 2014 IJF World Veterans in Malaga, registered for 2016 Fort Lauderdale

  • German Non-Professional coaching license and Coach Canada Dojo Instructor

  • Cross training in multiple sports including handball (2016 on Ontario Team at Nationals), cycling, soccer, volleyball and badminton

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Sensei Michael Morgenroth, Ni Dan

 

Sensei Michael Morgenroth started Judo in 1975, Sho Dan 1983; accomplishments

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  • 1983/84 member of German U21 National Team, 3rd Alternate for 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles

  • 1984 - 1991 on Bundesliga Teams (Heilbronn, Duesseldorf & Karlsruhe)

  • 1990 (last ever) West German University Champion

  • 1999 Welland, 2000 Sydney, 2005 Mississauga & 2010 Montreal: World Masters Champion, 2002 Derry: Vice Champion; also read athlete's oath in 2005

  • 5th at 2014 IJF World Veterans in Malaga, registered for 2016 Fort Lauderdale

  • German Non-Professional coaching license and Coach Canada Dojo Instructor

  • Cross training in multiple sports including handball (2016 on Ontario Team at Nationals), cycling, soccer, volleyball and badminton

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Sensei Dimitri Kim

 

Sensei Dimitri Kim started Judo when he was 16 years old and got his black belt in 2009. Sensei Dimitri placed 2nd in the 2010 Junior National Championship for -60kg and placed 1st in 2013 Senior National Championships for -60kg.

 

Sensei Dimitri trained in Japan in 2010 at Tenri University for 2 months with a team of Olympic and World Champions and Medalist competitors and coaches. In 2011 he trained in Kazakhstan with their National team at their pre World Champions training camp. He came back to Japan in 2012 and stayed their for one and a half years working and training judo.

 

Sensei Dimitri also competed all around the world in places such as Jeju (Korea), Lisbon (Portugal), Miami (USA) and St. Petersburg (Russia).

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Sensei Diego Sanchez

 

Full Bio Coming Soon...

Nakano Sensei and his family from Japan who was visiting Hamilton for several years as an exchange McMaster University Professor. We learned a lot from Nakano Sensei during his stay in Hamilton.
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Paul Kereliuk was one of the original students under founder Sensei Harry Masao Kawasaki along with current instructors Al Warburton, and Ron Hampson. Paul went on to become Canadian Champion and represent Canada at several World Championships and he was Sensei Mitchell Kawasaki's uke for Kata demonstrations.
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Sensei Doug Binkley was an original student of Sensei and founder Harry Masao Kawasaki and he instructed during the 60's and 70's. 
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Other notable former Sensei are David Ide, Mitch Hilton, and Natalia An.
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