Watanabe Judo & Aikido

Six decades of traditional martial arts excellence in Valhalla, NY

Discover Our Legacy

About Our Dojo

Founded by Sensei Katsuo Watanabe, 8th Degree Black Belt in both Judo and Aikido, our dojo represents over six decades of martial arts excellence. Sensei Watanabe is truly one of the founding pioneers of judo in the United States, having moved here in the early 1960s with a mission to build and develop the sport.

Over his remarkable career, Sensei Watanabe has trained more than 50 students to the level of Shodan or higher, including notable champions such as Allen Coage (1976 Olympic Bronze medalist) and Eve Aranoff (U.S. Olympian and World Medalist).

Our dojo continues his legacy of excellence, combining traditional Japanese martial arts principles with modern training methods. We welcome students of all ages and skill levels, from complete beginners to advanced practitioners.

Sensei Katsuo Watanabe

Our Instructors

Sensei Katsuo Watanabe

Sensei Katsuo Watanabe

8th Degree Black Belt - Judo & Aikido

Founder and Head Instructor with over 60 years of dedication to martial arts. A true pioneer of American Judo and co-founder of the East Coast Judo Championships.

Sensei Larry Zaslow

Sensei Larry Zaslow

3rd Degree Black Belt - Judo

A devoted student of Sensei Watanabe for 50 years. Larry leads our Saturday and Sunday Judo classes at Westchester Community College with passion and expertise.

Sensei Koji Sugihara

Sensei Koji Sugihara

2nd Degree Black Belt - Judo, Black Belt - Aikido

Long-time student of Sensei Watanabe who helps run our Saturday Judo class and leads our Tuesday and Saturday Aikido classes.

Schedule and Location

Judo Classes

Adults Only Judo
Saturday: 9:00 - 10:30 AM
Parents and Children Judo
Sunday: 9:00 - 10:30 AM

Aikido Classes

Aikido
Tuesday: 7:30 - 9:00 PM
Aikido
Saturday: 12:30 - 2:00 PM
All classes held at:
Physical Education Building
Westchester Community College
Valhalla, NY

Interactive map with directions will load here

Join Our Dojo

Registration: You must register through Westchester Community College's registrar office.

For more information: info@watanabejudo.com

Whether you're interested in the dynamic throws of Judo or the flowing techniques of Aikido, we welcome you to join our martial arts family and continue the legacy that Sensei Watanabe began over 60 years ago.