jff 005

PROFESSOR T. SHOZO KUWASHIMA began the study of Judo at what he called an "advanced" age. He was a student at Tokio Agricultural College when he took up Judo, won his Black Belt and was madę an instructor. After graduation, he turned his fuli attention to Judo and spent the rest of his life, until his death in 1950 as a Judo teacher. In 1916 he came to the United States as an accredited representative of the Kodokan. In 1920, he established the first Black Belt Organization (Yudanshakia) in the U.S. He was for many years the head of the New York Dojo, which still exists as the Center of East Coast Judo sport activity, under the direction of Professor George Yoshida.