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Yoshio Senda

Judo Athlete - Inducted 1970

Yoshio Senda represented Western Canada at the North American Amateur Athletic Union Judo Championships in 1957.  In 1960 and 1961, he won the Alberta Black Belt Championship. He retired from active competition in 1962.  From 1952 to 1970, he taught judo at the Lethbridge YMCA Judo Club.  From 1958 to 1959, he was the Secretary of the Alberta Kodokan Black Belt Association and served as President from 1960 until 1977.  Yoshio Senda was also the Alberta representative as a National Councillor to the Canadian Kodokan Black Belt Society.  He received the Centennial Medal from the Canadian government in 1967 for his outstanding service to amateur athletics.

After Induction

Timeline:

• 1965 – Southern Alberta Kinsmen’s Sportsman of the Year

• 1970 – Alberta Amateur Sports Hall of Fame (1980 became Alberta Sports Hall of Fame & Museum)

• 1977 – Canadian Amateur Athlete Hall of Fame

• 1978 – 1988 National Coach of Judo Canada

• 1985 Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame - Builder category

• 1989 – Honorary Doctorate of Law University of Lethbridge

• 1990 - Alberta Coach of the Year Award

• 1996 - 2002 Vice-president Judo Canada

• Served on the National Grading Board

• Judo Canada Registrar General (14 years)

• Judo Canada Referee committee for many years

• Judo Alberta Grading Board member since the beginning

• Head instructor and coach of Lethbridge Judo club – since 1952

• Head instructor and coach of University of Lethbridge Judo Club – since 1967

• 1995 – Inducted – Raymond Sports Hall of Fame

• 1997 – Inducted into Judo Canada Hall of Fame

• 2002 – Marks the 50th Anniversary of the Lethbridge Judo Club, which was founded by Mr. Senda in 1952

• 2002 – Lethbridge Athletic Hall of Fame

• 2002 – Sport Volunteer Recognition Award Winner (Alberta Sport)

• 2005 – Alberta Centennial Salute for Sport and Recreation Award - Outstanding 100

• 2007 – Became first Canadian to earn 9th degree black belt - kudan

• 2007 – Order of Canada Appointment (2008 - Investiture)

• 2009 – Yoshio passed away September 9