Kodokan Judo was established in 1929 in the Gardena Valley by the formation of the Kodokan Cultural Society. This social organization, established so that the growing number of Japanese immigrants could retain cultural ties with the motherland, found Judo an effective way to bind those ties. The first head instructor of Moneta Judo Club, later to become the Gardena Judo Club, was Toshitaka Yamauchi, 8th Dan, whose unique style was described by observers as being as graceful as ballroom dancing.

The Club became a great success, serving as a community focal point and identity. Later, under the tutelage of Sumiyuki Kotani, 9th Dan, and Yamauchi Sensei, Moneta became one of the most highly respected and competitive dojos in Southern California until the outbreak of World War II in 1941.

It wasn't until 1951 that Judo was reestablished in Gardena. Despite a prevailing atmosphere of leery distrust of all things Japanese, a determined group of twelve revived the sport; these men were, alphabetically, Akira Asamoto, Fred Fukuwa, Yaichi Iwamasa, George Kamikawa, Takashi Kato, Harry Kobayashi, Kinji Nishi, Nobouchi Wada, Ototaro Yamamoto, Carl Yamane, Frank Yamane, and Frank Yonemura. The head instructor was T. Hagio, 5th Dan. The Dojo grew rapidly, reaching an enrollment of 130 Judoka by 1966.

From 1951 to 1973, the Dojo for the GJC was housed in a historic pink building. When the people of Japanese ancestry who had been interned in concentration camps at the outbreak of WWII returned to the Gardena Valley, this building had served as their hostel until they could get a new start. Vandals set fire to this building in 1973. The GJC members rallied to this emergency by cleaning up the mess, saving the two Judo mats (each 20'x20', and very heavy) and transporting them to the social hall of the Gardena Buddhist Church, and resuming Judo practice within two weeks (Thanks to the charter members who arranged to make the social hall available to the GJC).

Toshio Tosaya

The Club was reorganized in 1969 with Dr. George Mikasa, 5th Dan, as head instructor. A popular leader, the doctor nonetheless later chose to return to Japan to pursue his medical practice, leaving a void in leadership of the Dojo; it was at this point that Toshio Tosaya entered the picture.

Toshio Tosaya was born in Seattle, WA and moved to California at the age of 9. He started his distinguished and lengthy Judo career in Glendale in 1931, training under Yokoyama Sensei and later Hagio Sensei. He achieved Shodan rank in 1936 at age 17.

In the summer of 1937 he enrolled at Waseda University in Tokyo, the Judo equivalent of Notre Dame football.  He continued as an instructor at both Waseda and the Kodokan, reaching the rank of Nidan (1938) and Sandan (1940).  Graduating in the spring of 1941, Tosaya decided to return to the United States. His return voyage turned out to be the next to last ship debarking at San Pedro before the start of WWII.

Evacuated to Gila River, Camp II, Tosaya was able to continue his love of Judo under Takido Sensei.  Even after relocation to Cleveland, Ohio, he was able to continue his association with the sport, teaching at Western Reserve University by day and holding classes in the evenings at boys clubs.

Returning to Los Angeles in 1955, Tosaya made his initial contact with Gardena as a teaching assistant under Nozaki Sensei. The calls on an in-demand instructor then took him to Sanger and Clovis in Northern California under Yamanouchi Sensei. He returned again to Los Angeles' Renmei group under Yamada and Hagio Senseis.  He was promoted to Godan at this time.

Upon accepting the leadership of the Gardena Judo Dojo, Tosaya Sensei immersed himself in an effort to achieve success and recognition for the club. This dedication was also apparent in his four term presidency of the Southern California Yudanshakai (NANKA) devoting time and effort to insure the stability and unity of the sport in all areas.

Tosaya Sensei's more than 20 year reign as head instructor culminated with the club being crowned the Junior National Champions of 1992, a feat the club repeated in 1993 and again in 1995 (in 1994 the Gardena squad took fourth place). Sadly, Tosaya Sensei passed away in 1997 at the mellow age of 78.

In 1994, Isao Wada took over the reins of the Gardena club; for a profile, please see Wada Sensei's page...