The VJC is located in the Western Canadian province of British Columbia, in the city of Vernon at the north end of Okanagan Lake.
The club was formed in 1944 by Mr. Y. Mori, in a time when martial arts were banned in many places and Japanese Canadians even required a special police permit to meet in groups. We’ve been practising at the same location ever since, making the VJC the longest continuously running club in Canada.
The club is run entirely by volunteers. Our parents’ group is a non-profit society dedicated to support our judoka.
We practice Monday and Thursday nights at the Vernon Japanese Cultural Centre, 4895 Bella Vista Road. Class times vary with registration levels (scheduled for 2024/25 season):
- 6:30-7:30 PM Junior/beginners/intermediate (6-12)
- 7:30-9:00 PM Senior (13+)
Our normal season runs from early September to late April (running into may for national competitors). We make up some holiday Mondays on the Tuesday.
Kata sessions are on typically Wednesdays but can run at different times during the summer. Some of the advanced kids have been staying an additional half hour for additional instruction/conditioning.
Normally spectators are welcome at any time but, during the covid pandemic, the stage/viewing area had to be booked/confirmed open.
We offer 2-week free trials if you have not tried judo before in Canada, but you will be required to sign waiver and need to contact us to arrange the timing.