Masutaro Otani Society of Judo

Masutaro Otani Society of Judo

Sport	Judo
Abbreviation	MOSJ
Founded	1954
President	Masutaro Otani

The Masutaro Otani Society of Judo was a precursor organisation of the British Judo Council.

History

The Masutaro Otani Society of Judo was founded in 1954^[1][2][3] by students of Masutaro Otani who preferred to learn the more traditional Japanese style of judo that Otani was teaching. The MOSJ was one of the three primary judo society's in 1960s Britain^[4]

Prior to forming the MOSJ, Otani ran a club known as the Jubilee Judo Club in Harlesden which was inducted into the British Judo Association. However he and his students were unhappy with the direction of judo in Britain. Otani left the British Judo Association^[5][6][7] and, with his students founded an organisation with the goal of preserving and protecting the traditional form of judo established by Professor Jigoro Kano. They named this organisation the Masutaro Otani Society of Judo and Otani was appointed as the master.^[8][4] The MOSJ would oversee a variety of judo clubs^[9][10][11] and occasionally took part in Acton Carnival's parade.^[12][13][14] They also held an annual tournament in London.^[15][16][17]

In 1955 Kenshiro Abbe arrived in Britain and reached out to Otani to assist him in creating his own organisation, which he named the 'British Judo Council'. Once it was formed, Abbe became the president and Otani became the master of the new organisation. Students would practise both with the society and with Abbe's British Judo Council and gradually the two organisations worked parallel and held grading tournaments together.^[18] They awarded the Otani shield prize.^[19] The MOSJ had over 8000 members^[20] and in 1969, when Abbe returned to Japan, Otani became president of both organisations, before amalgamating them in 1970^[3] - creating the modern day British Judo Council, which he ran as president. Masutaro Otani served as president until his death in 1977. After his death, the presidency was taken over by his son, Robin Otani, who continues to serve as president. The British Judo Council was affiliated to the British Judo Association in 1994.^[21]

References

1. Rashid, Abdul; Ellis, Henry (2020-08-25). The founding of Jujutsu, Judo & Aikido in the United Kingdom. Abdul Rashid. ISBN 979-8-6752-3321-2.
2. "Recreation Information". www.superseventies.com. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
3. Judo Handbook. Brian Caffary. 1989. p. 12. ISBN 9780831752743.
4. "MOSJ 'one of the three principal judo society's in Britiain'". 18 November 1966. p. 7.
5. "Kenshiro Abbe Sensei". www.ellisaikido.org. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
6. "History". yamabushiyodokan. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
7. Budo Masters: Paths to a Far Mountain. Michael Clarke. 2000. p. 38. ISBN 9781874250265.
8. "Splinters and Rice Pudding". The St Ives Judo Club Easter Course. 2013-05-28. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
9. "MOSJ verified Sheppey Judo Club". p. 2.
10. "St Ives MOSJ". 18 April 1963. p. 9.
11. "MOSJ Affiliation". 1 May 1964. p. 6.
12. "Acton parade". p. 3.
13. "Acton carnival". p. 7.
14. "Reference of MOSJ". 1 June 1967. p. 8.
15. "MOSJ Annual Tournament". 20 November 1969. p. 15.
16. "MOSJ Annual Tournament". 17 November 1966. p. 22.
17. "MOSJ annual tournament 1963". 1 November 1963. p. 4.
18. "MOSJ newspaper". 29 November 1968. p. 23.
19. "MOSJ Shield". p. 3.
20. "8000 MOSJ Members". 27 November 1967. p. 2.
21. "Shaolingsrilanka". shaolinsrilanka.com. Retrieved 2024-09-01.