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Dojo Rules

His first judo club was formed in a gravel pit in the heart of Paris in 1950.

Over the next 57 years, Dr. Yves LeGal has sprouted up dozens of dojos across Canada, with his newest, the Vancouver Island Judo Academy, opening in Nanaimo on Monday.

The master coach, who has been instructing the sport at the Nanaimo Judo Club for the past 14 year, said Nanaimo has room for at least two more clubs and he has the energy to make it happen.

"I'll probably die on a mat," joked 77-year-old sensei LeGal.

LeGal isn't leaving the Nanaimo Judo Club, but is instead going to split his time between both, "unless they kick me out," he said with a laugh.

Currently, there are only five judo clubs on Vancouver Island, three of which are non-profit, which make it impossible to have an island competition.

"Right now we have to go to the mainland for good competition," said LeGal, who was inducted into the Judo Canada Hall of Fame in 2004.

His hope isn't to create competition between clubs, but rather enlarge the pool of athletes so they can challenge themselves.

"It's about individual competition, not corporate," he said.

LeGal admits the VIJA will be a fresh start because he'll be able to run it the way he wants to.

"I want to be my own boss," he said in a thick French accent.

He said it's important to have both recreational and competitive judo and is convinced the main reason why more people aren't involved in the sport is because of the pressure to compete too soon.

"It's very important to learn technique and the game of judo. The approach should be to teach the child and let them enjoy themselves before letting them compete. Otherwise they'll fight a couple times, get thrown down, lose and quit," said LeGal.

"Starting to fight at eight-years-old is early enough."

A retired surgeon and professor of surgical research, LeGal said judo has always been a part of his life because it helps him relax.

"It's my hobby," Legal said, who spends at least half an hour every day working out to stay fit for his sport.

Some of LeGal's past judo students in Saskatchewan and Newfoundland have started up judo clubs and with perseverance to promote the sport and organization, LeGal hopes to have more follow in his footsteps.

"I just have to plant the seed."

- The Vancouver Island Judo Academy, located at 6553 Portsmouth Road (rear gymnasium door of the Maranatha Church Centre), is having an open house from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday.

KCharke@nanaimodailynews.com

© The Daily News (Nanaimo) 2007