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Our Senseis

Chief Instructor / Sensei Mitchell Akira Kawasaki

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Sensei Mitchell, began Judo at the age of five.  He is currently ranked Kodokan Hachidan 8th Dan. Sensei Mitchell has held numerous positions within Judo's governing bodies including Vice-President of Judo Ontario, Technical Director for Judo Ontario, Ontario Provincial Black Belt Grading Board and National Black Belt Grading Board.  Sensei Mitchell has held the position of head coach for the Ontario Judo Team, National Paralympic Judo Coach and he has also been a headline Instructor at Camp Olympia.

 

Sensei Mitchell has held numerous Canadian Championship titles, not only in Judo but also in freestyle wrestling, Greco-Roman wrestling and gymnastics; all talents which he employs while instructing Judo. Sensei Mitchell also competed in the 1976 Montreal Olympics in Greco-Roman Wrestling.  For the year 2000 he was awarded Coach of The Year (he coached both the female and male Athlete of The Year for the same year).

 

Sensei Kawasaki's educational background includes an Honours B.P.H.E. Degree from Lakehead University and N.C.C.P. Level 3 Coaching Certification.

 

Recognized as one of the leading Canadian Training Centres, Kawasaki Rendokan Dojo was also instrumental in bringing the 1993 World Judo Championships to Hamilton's Copps Coliseum.

 

Kawasaki Rendokan has been developing young athletes for over three generations.  While it is a very competitive club, it also caters to the family.  With several families participating together in both Senior and Junior classes.  We offer instruction for both the Olympic hopeful and the recreational player.

 

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 Ron Hampson

 

Sensei Ron Hampson started Judo in 1961 under Sensei Mitch's father Harry Kawasaki. Part of a Judo family with his Mom, sister and two brothers. Ron attained his Shodan in 1973, Nidan in 1978 and Sandan in 2013. During his competing days Sensei Ron was a member of Canada's National team, a local and Ontario Champion many times, National Champion in 1976, 1978 and 1979.

 

Sensei Ron followed Sensei Mitch to Lakehead University in Thunder Bay. During his time at Lakehead University, he was five time GPAC Champion, Male Athlete of the year in 1977 and Honour Athlete in 1979. After the Olympic boycott in 1980 Sensei Ron took time off to build his business and have a family.

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Upon his return to Judo, Sensei Ron felt the need to give back to Kawasaki Rendokan. He enjoys his time instructing and coaching at Kawasaki Rendokan. He spends may weekends refereeing tournaments as a National C referee. Sensei Ron lives in Paris, is a Financial Planner with Freedom 55. Married to Fern and together they have four children and three granddaughters.

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Sensei Kimberly Ribble-Orr

 

Sensei Kimberly Ribble-Orr has been practicing Judo for the past 34 years and currently holds a red and white belt rank of Rokudan (6th Dan). Sensei Kimberly became a member of Kawasaki Rendokan Judo Academy at the age of 17 where she truly began her competitive career.

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Sensei Kimberly was one of Ontario's world class athletes during the 1990's where she earned over 21 top 7 finishes in international competitions during her career and represented Canada with distinction. Her last competition was the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. Sensei Kimberly planned to continue but was in a life changing car accident. The Doctors credit her judo conditioning for saving her live.

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Sensei Kimberly is now competing in Kata as part of her life long therapy but as always the competitor she plans on competing at the worlds.

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Sensei Kimberly is a NCCP Level 3 Coach Certified, motivational speaker and fitness professional and loves to mentor up and coming young athletes in the club.

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Sensei Gosia Lampman (formerly Dzierzgowska Sandan)

 

Sensei Gosia started Judo in the fall of 1995 at the AZS UW Klub Judo (Warsaw, Poland) under Sensei Slawomir Pacholak. She represented the University of Warsaw in the 1999 Polish Universities Championships and the 1999 Polish Academic Championships. She was a member of AZS UW Judo Club until finishing her studies at the Warsaw University in 2001 when she immigrated to Canada.

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In the fall of 2004 Sensei Gosia joined Kawasaki Rendokan Judo Academy where in 2009 she obtained the rank of Shodan and in 2012 the rank of Nidan. Beginning in 2008 she competed in various kata tournaments in Ju No Kata and Kodokan Goshin-Jutsu divisons. Highlights of her kata competitive career include the silver medal in Kodokan Goshin-Jutsu at the 2010 World Masters Competition, a bronze medal at the 2011 Canadian National Kata Championships and participation in the 2011 World Kata Championships in Frankfurt, Germany; all three with partner Sensei Mara Markovic-Siladi. In 2013 Sensei Gosia participated in the Canadian National Kata Championships where with her partner Alana Petszchler she took 5th place in Ju No Kata.

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Since 2012 she has been involved in helping judokas in their preparation for their Mudansha and Yudansha examinations as well as instructing Kata.

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She has NCCP Level 1 and Provincial Referee Level C Certifications. 

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Sensei Gosia lives in Ancaster and works as a Scientist for the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change.

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Sensei Dan Bird

 

Full Bio Coming Soon...

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Karate Belt

Picture Coming Soon....

Sensei Stephen Lampman

 

Full Bio Coming Soon...

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