Kenji Osugi, a judo instructor for UCLA recreation and the advisor for the club sports team, is a 7th degree Judo Black Belt. Osugi began his very successful career in Judo back in 1960 at Sawtelle Judo Dojo in West Los Angeles. Now, Osugi, a credentialed Class "A" Master Instructor, National Master Coach and International Judge, sits as the Vice President on the Board of Governors for the Southern California chapter of the United States Judo Federation.
In a Facebook post by @sawtellejudodojo, Osugi is described as being "hard as nails" as he "instills 'old school' discipline in his students" where "there is no playground chatter during our Juniors' class". His expertise comes as a result of the fact that "if you think that he's not looking, he'll find the smallest details missing in your technique from clear across the other side of the mat and tell you loudly". Simply put, Osugi "really wants his students to develop as excellent practitioners of Judo" and "knows his Judo like the Encyclopedia Britannica, an old school Google".
This past November 2019, the United States Judo Federation based out of Ontario, Oregon, included Osuji's LA based Sawtelle Dojo as one of 6 Judo schools recognized for their high levels of judo education involvement.Â
Along with Sawtelle Dojo, the other five Judo schools honored are split between two states: Maryland (College Park, Beltsville) and California (Sacramento, Clovis and San Jose).Â
Congratulations Kenji! Thank you for all that you do for UCLA Judo!
