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
The following is an excerpt of an interview conducted for the newly released Takahiko Ishikawa: Judo’s Quiet Master, which recounts the life, times, and impact of Ishikawa on East Coast Judo in the United States. Howard Wray retells some of his memories training with Ishikawa and how he approached instruction. Howard Wray found judo through … Continue reading Howard Wray: Training with Takahiko Ishikawa
Martial Arts of Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow 