MUTSUHIRO
KANASHIRO
Founder
of Hiro’s Judo Club
Mutsuhiro
(Hiro) Kanashiro was born in Hardyville, a small Town just outside
Lethbridge, Alberta, in 1921. In
1932, at the age of eleven, his family moved to Okinawa, Japan.
It was there that Hiro began his study of Judo.
Six years later, in 1938, the Kanashiro family returned to Canada
and took up residence in Ocean Falls, British Columbia.
He continued his study of Judo in Ocean Falls under the direction
of Yoshio Katsuta.
Because
of the wartime internship, Hiro was moved to Taber, Alberta.
In
1954, Hiro moved to Calgary, Alberta, and in 1957, started his own Judo
Club on 8th Avenue where the Glenbow Museum now stands.
Hiro’s Judo Club was the first Judo club in Calgary to be
registered with the Alberta Kodokan Black Belt Association (Judo
Alberta). In addition to
his own club, he provided the leadership and technical expertise
required to establish a Judo club at the Southern Alberta Institute of
Technology.
In
the early 1960's, Mr. Kanashiro suffered a physical injury which forced
him to retire from active participation in Judo and from his position
with Bridge Brand Food Services. For
a brief period of time, he operated his own grocery store until he was
sufficiently recovered from his injury to return to Bridge Brand.
Mutsuhiro
Kanashiro, as a sensei, was a person who upheld his own ideals and
beliefs; yet, was sensitive enough to recognise the requirements of each
of his students. His
efforts and dedication to Judo have resulted in many respected yudansha,
who are actively carrying on the tradition of Judo, Hiro Kanashiro
style.
Kanashiro sensei passed away in 1986. Today, the Club remains as the oldest continuously operating martial arts club in Calgary. This distinction is a great tribute to the interest Kanashiro sensei had in the young judoka of the day, and will pave the way for the champions of tomorrow.
