Kenneth Oda of the Aiea Taiheiji Judo Club has announced his retirement. He wrote to the USJF National Office
This announcement comes with mixed emotions of sadness and happiness. I will be retiring as Head Sensai for Aiea Taiheiji Judo Club on June 30, 2020 Judo has been a part of the majority of my life. When I was 7 years old I would walk to take classes, even if I skipped school classes. Just kidding, but this is how much I wanted to learn Judo. Life becomes busy and even if there were no classes to attend, Judo was always in my soul. Time passed and when my family was all grown and time became available for me again, I found the opportunity to come back to it in 1973. It is something I have always enjoyed and it has given me back so much in return. Teaching and practicing Judo has kept me healthy and strong and even saved my life by instinctively falling correctly from a height of over 22 feet with no broken bones and finishing up the job for the day. Thank you USJF and JBBAH and officials for your aid and information that was given throughout these years. I am proud to have represented Aiea Taiheiji Judo Club and honored to climb in rank to Godan. It has been a great 59 years of service. My successor will be Curtis Sano. HE has been my student for many years, an excellent competitot throughout the years and recently my assistant in training. He is now ready to handed the torch. Please welcome him the support and patience everyone has given me in the past. Sincerely yours,Sensei Oda
This announcement comes with mixed emotions of sadness and happiness. I will be retiring as Head Sensai for Aiea Taiheiji Judo Club on June 30, 2020
Judo has been a part of the majority of my life. When I was 7 years old I would walk to take classes, even if I skipped school classes. Just kidding, but this is how much I wanted to learn Judo. Life becomes busy and even if there were no classes to attend, Judo was always in my soul. Time passed and when my family was all grown and time became available for me again, I found the opportunity to come back to it in 1973. It is something I have always enjoyed and it has given me back so much in return. Teaching and practicing Judo has kept me healthy and strong and even saved my life by instinctively falling correctly from a height of over 22 feet with no broken bones and finishing up the job for the day.
Thank you USJF and JBBAH and officials for your aid and information that was given throughout these years. I am proud to have represented Aiea Taiheiji Judo Club and honored to climb in rank to Godan. It has been a great 59 years of service.
My successor will be Curtis Sano. HE has been my student for many years, an excellent competitot throughout the years and recently my assistant in training. He is now ready to handed the torch. Please welcome him the support and patience everyone has given me in the past.
Sincerely yours,Sensei Oda
on left, white judogi: retiring instructor Kenneth Oda, on right, blue judogi: new head instructor, Curtis Sano
