On a whim, Susan Oles decided to try judo after trying to enroll in a jazz class at night school. She studied under Rudy Kizitaff, who would take her to see Takahiko Ishikawa. It was with Ishikawa that she would gain a better appreciation for the art and for his dedication to judo. Today, she … Continue reading Interview with Judo Referee Susan Oles: Getting Judo in Your Blood
Howard Wray found judo through a night school where Al Wallace was teaching. Wallace would take his students down to Philadelphia and introduce them to his instructor, Takahiko Ishikawa. From then on, Wray began to learn from both judo men. In this conversation in the summer of 2023, Wray recalls how Ishikawa structured his classes … Continue reading Howard Wray on Judo and Training with Takahiko Ishikawa, Part I
Bob Karr began learning judo at the age of thirteen in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. There, he met Thomas Blair, Joe Condello, Howie Wray, and many others. Within a year, Karr began to train with Takahiko Ishikawa in Philadelphia. As he trained under Ishikawa, Karr got to meet and practice with many strong and soon to be … Continue reading Interview with Longtime Takahiko Ishikawa Student Bob Karr: The Impact of a Legend, Part II
Martial Arts of Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow 