In 1927 Mikinosuke Kawaishi, the father of French Judo, came to New York and formed the New York Judo Club. When Sensei Kawaishi left for Europe in 1935 the two clubs merged and formally took the name, "The New York Dojo". George Yoshida moved the New York Dojo to its new quarters in 1944, the basement of Sokol Hall at 421 East 71st Street, in a residential section of Manhattan.
In 1961 the Judo Black Belt Federation of America— official U.S. representative of the Kodokan—recognized the organization of New York Black Belts as an independent yudanshakai, or Black Belt association. The Yudanshakai has the responsibility for giving Judo promotions in New York, with George Yoshida as Honorary President, and chairman of the Examining Board. To a great extent the Yudanshakai owes its existence to Mr. Yoshida. On his recommendation, in the eight years before the association was formed, the Kodokan sent diplomas to New York for thirty-five First Degree Black Belts, fifteen Second Degrees, seven Third Degrees and two Fourth Degrees. When the Honorable Risei Kano, President of the Kodokan Institute, visited the New York Dojo in 1952 he personally promoted Mr. Yoshida to Fourth Degree, and on his return in 1961 promoted him to Fifth Degree.
George Yoshida died in the 80's and the dojo was kept alive by many of his students until they asked John Bassano, then a 5th Degree Black Belt, to take over. John had visited New York Dojo on Friday night workouts for many years and knew the dojo well. Not wanting New York Dojo to close, he agreed to take it over and try to keep it going although at the time he was also instructing in his own dojo - Hunterdon Judo - in Clinton Township, New Jersey. John moved the New York Dojo from Sokol Hall to Staten Island in the late 90's and it is presently housed in the Drumgoole Gymnasium at Mount Loretto where John was raised.
New York Dojo Institute, Ltd. is now in its 88th year of continuous instructions giving it the longest operation on record of any Judo club in the eastern United States.
New York Dojo is committed to training students in the Japanese art of Kodokan Judo with the goals of creating champions with the potential of becoming Olympians.
To that end, we will establish a players fund through donations and grants and assist all of our competitors financially. The New York Dojo Institute, Ltd., is a non-profit organization established in 1927 and then in 1969 granted tax-exempt status (501)(c)(3).