Honoring Dr. Lloyd Migita
Shobukan’s Head Instructor
2008 marks the 60th year Dr. Migita has devoted to judo. “Sensei Migita” as he is affectionately called by his students, has been an assistant instructor since 1957 at the age of 17. Born and educated in Hawaii, Dr. Migita began judo in 1946 at the age of 7. By the age of 16, he won first place in the territorial –wide senior judo tournament in the 150lb. division. Over a ten year period from 1956 to 1965, Dr. Migita attained a remarkable tournament record. He was undefeated in 18 territorial-wide and state-wide championship tournaments in his division winning most of his opponents by ippon. In addition, he earned his first degree black belt at age 17 through his 4th degree black belt by the age of 24. Of the numerous tournaments he participated in, his most prestigious accomplishments were winning a silver medal in the 1963 Senior National AAU Judo Tournament held at Fresno State University and placing second at the United States Judo Olympic Trials at the New York World’s Fair in 1964, making him an alternate for the 1964 Olympic Games held in Tokyo, Japan. However, being in graduate school working for his PhD in Biochemistry at the time, Dr. Migita chose to pursue his studies rather than train with the U.S. Olympic Team.
Dr. Migita’s forte in judo has always been his continuous study and development of innovative judo techniques and training systems. It was during the early 1960’s while he was intensely pursuing his graduate studies and training for the Olympic Trials that Dr. Migita developed his system, of Kagekeiko (shadow practice) and mental imagery/ visualization techniques in preparing for competition. After being named head instructor in 1979, he further refined the visualization techniques by incorporating the unique learning system developed by Dr. George Lozanov of the Institute of Suggestology, Sofia, Bulgaria. This formed the cornerstone of Shobukan’s mental development program for preparing judokas for national and international competition. In the early 1980’s Dr. Migita restructured and streamlined the judo training program, incorporating the “moving drill and line concept” which forms the basis of the current training program at Shobukan. With the assistance from his talented and capable instructors, Shobukan has amassed a phenomenal state, national and international tournament record.
Dr. Migita has taught judo on the mainland as a guest instructor at various dojos including at the Air Force Base for 3 months in 1967 near Madison, Wisconsin; the University of California at Davis Judo Club (1967-1969); and the Woodland YMCA Judo Club in Woodland, California (1967-1969).
Dr. Migita’s interest and devotion to judo has led him to hold various official positions with the Judo Black Belt Association of Hawaii including membership on the Board of Directors, the Review Committee and Insurance Committee. He has also been the JBBAH coach for several Hawaii teams participating in national competition, and a JBBAH trainer for the special senior training program, and a special lecturer at a workshop for judo instructors, officials and black belt holders at the University of Hawaii in 1983.
Over the years Dr. Migita has contributed his energies and talent to the study and development of judo. Hundreds of students have benefited from his unselfish instructions. 2008, the 100th Anniversary of the Shobukan Judo Club, we honor Migita Sensei for his contribution and dedication to judo.
