Phil Takahashi

Judoka Phil Takahashi represented Canada at two Olympic Games (1984, 1988) and missed competing in 1980 due to the United States led boycott of the Games in Moscow. His greatest achievement was winning the bronze medal at the 1981 World Championships. A two-time bronze medalist at the Pan American Games in the bantamweight division (-60 kg) in 1979 and 1983, Takahashi also captured bronze medals at the 1982 World University Games and 1986 Commonwealth Games.

A 10-time Canadian champion, Takahashi captured gold medals at the Canada Cup (1979, 1984), Pan American Championships (1980, 1982), North American Open (1980), Dutch Open (1981) and German International (1981).

Takahashi was not only an exceptional athlete, he was a teacher, coach and sensei. Retiring from competition after the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, Takahashi became Saskatchewan’s High Performance judo coach, was a member of the Provincial Grading Board, and taught school at the Chamakese Education Centre. Returning to Ottawa, Ontario, he coached judo and martial arts at the family operated Takahashi Dojo, and taught high school at Confederation and J.S. Woodsworth. He graduated with a diploma in Recreation and Leisure Studies from Algonquin College, a Bachelor of Physical Education from the University of Ottawa, and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Saskatchewan.

The Takahashi’s were Canada’s legendary martial arts family. He was the son of Masao (8th degree Black Belt and former NATO combat instructor) and June (one of the first Canadian women to earn a Black Belt in judo and one of the highest-ranked women in the country with a 6th degree black belt). In 2005, Takahashi co-authored the family’s book, “Mastering Judo”, along with his siblings Allyn, Ray (1976 and 1984 wrestling Olympian) and Tina (Canada’s first ever judo gold medalist at the World University Games in 1984, and 1988 Olympic coach).

Takahashi held the rank of 7th degree Black Belt, and was inducted into the Nepean Wall of Fame, Judo Ontario Hall of Fame and Judo Canada Hall of Fame in 1996. A father of three girls, after a short battle with cancer, Takahashi passed away in Ottawa at the age of 63.