Sensei David Miller Founder & Head Instructor | Kodokan 6th Degree Black Belt As the founder and Head Instructor of the Annex and Bosei Judo Academies, Sensei David Miller is one of Canada's most distinguished and experienced judo instructors. A Kodokan-certified 6th Degree Black Belt with over 50 years in the sport, he offers his students an authentic and profound connection to the heart of judo, forged through a lifetime of dedication as a competitor, scholar, and teacher. A Historic Journey in the Home of Judo Sensei Miller’s expertise is rooted in an almost unprecedented period of immersion in Japan. For nine years, he studied at the world-renowned Tokai University, training directly under legendary instructors like World and Olympic Champions Nobuyuki Sato and Yasuhiro Yamashita. This intensive period was supplemented with consistent training at the Kodokan Judo Institute, the world headquarters of judo. In 1989, he achieved a historic milestone, becoming the first Westerner in the history of the Kodokan Judo Institute to receive the Batsugun (Award of Excellence), a prestigious honour earned through exceptional performance and over 120 victories in grading tournaments. His immersion was completed by serving a 5-year apprenticeship at the Matsumae Judo Juku and competing as a member of a Japanese corporate judo team, providing him with a complete understanding of judo culture, technique, and philosophy at its most elite level. A Legacy of Competitive and Coaching Excellence As an athlete, Sensei Miller was a dominant force on both the national and international stage. He was a member of the Canadian National Team for 10 years and the Judo Ontario Team for 14 years. After winning the Canadian Senior National Championships, he represented Canada at the IJF Senior World Championships in Japan. Since founding his own academies, Sensei Miller has dedicated over 46 years to coaching. He has developed programs and served as the Head of Physical Education and Judo at some of Toronto’s most respected institutions, including Crescent School and Royal St. George’s College, where he continues to teach. Key Credentials & Achievements:
Sensei Tami Dacks Assistant Head Judo Instructor & Chief Administrator As both the Assistant Head Judo Instructor and Chief Administrator, Sensei Tami Dacks is a foundational pillar of our dojo community. A dedicated student of Sensei Miller, she combines her deep passion for Judo with a proven record of competitive success on the world stage. Sensei Tami's coaching philosophy is centred on building a powerful foundation from the ground up. She focuses on traditional techniques and the mastery of basics, believing that a deep understanding of core principles is essential for any judoka. Drawing from her own extensive competition experience, she has a unique ability to show students how to hone these fundamental techniques for success at all levels. This focus on fundamentals makes her an exceptional specialist in youth judo development, where she excels at instilling proper technique and a love for the art in our youngest members. Sensei Tami is an inspiring role model for judoka at every stage, embodying the skill, passion, and dedication we strive for. Credentials & Competitive Highlights:
Meet Sensei Shujon
With a journey in Judo spanning several decades, Sensei Shujon brings a wealth of experience from the highest levels of national and international competition to our dojo. His dedication to the sport is matched only by his passion for coaching and developing the next generation of judoka. A Foundation of Excellence Sensei's path in Judo began at the age of 10 at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre (JCCC), where he built his foundation under the guidance of esteemed instructors like Sensei Glenn Kawano, Sensei Ken Ikeda, and Sensei Russ Takashima. His early development was further enriched by training with Sensei David Miller. This strong foundation in grappling was complemented by a successful high school wrestling career, competing at both the provincial and national levels. This dual-sport expertise continued at the university level, where he trained in Judo with legends such as Sensei Wayne Erdman at the University of Waterloo, and wrestled for the University of Toronto Varsity Blues while completing his studies. This unique background provides him with a deep and versatile understanding of grappling arts. A Champion's Résumé As an athlete, Sensei Shujon has consistently proven himself to be one of Canada's elite. His competitive career is highlighted by an extraordinary five Senior Canadian National Judo Championship titles and a bronze medal at the prestigious Senior Pan American Judo Championships. His success wasn't limited to Canada; he has claimed championship titles at the US Open, Quebec Open, and international tournaments in the Philippines and Vietnam. His dominance in grappling was further solidified on the wrestling mat, where he became a CIS (Canadian Inter-University Sports) Wrestling Champion and MVP and was recognized as a CIS Top 8 Academic All-Canadian for his excellence in both sport and academics. Coaching Credentials & Philosophy Sensei Shujon is a certified NCCP Level 2 Judo Coach and a Level 3 Wrestling Coach, bringing a structured, high-performance approach to his teaching. He has served as a U16 Judo Ontario Provincial Coach and an Assistant Wrestling Coach for the University of Toronto Varsity Blues, demonstrating his ability to mentor athletes at all stages of their development. He is dedicated to sharing the discipline, resilience, and technical skill that he has cultivated over a lifetime in martial arts. Key Qualifications & Achievements:
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My judo journey began in 1972, just before my 11th birthday, in an introductory program at a public school gym in North York. It wasn't so much choice as it was necessity that drew me to the mat—or at least, that's what I thought at the time. As the oldest of four boys, I was the first to play organized ice hockey. That year, our family couldn't afford for all of us to be on a team, so my father instructed my brothers to research local judo programs. As luck would have it, a very affordable class was running in a school just a five-minute walk from our home. Two of my younger brothers started immediately. Six months later, when my hockey season ended, they were already winning awards at competitions. That’s when I felt the necessity to join. Why a necessity? In my mind, their sudden prowess in judo threatened my status as the oldest brother and everything that came with it. So, off to judo I went. The rest, as they say, is history. Judo has been an integral part of my life ever since. It has been the vehicle that has taken me around the world, the community where I’ve met my lifelong friends, and the art that I am now passing down to my own sons. It has also been a gateway for my students, with hundreds visiting Japan and four of them earning year-long scholarships to study there. To the diverse people who embrace it, judo can be many things: self-defence, personal fitness, a social hub, or a dynamic Olympic sport. To me, it is all of that and so much more. Much of the person I am today can be attributed to the lessons I've learned and the people whose lives have intersected with mine, both on and off the mat. At the Bosei Judo Academy, you can expect to meet good people who love to work hard, strive to hone their skills, and are incredibly supportive of each other. Yes, we will toss you on the mats, pin you down, and sometimes even twist your arm. But we will also show you how to do the same to us—and we’ll even let you catch us before you truly have the skill to do so. Whether you are a complete beginner, a judoka returning after a break, or an active competitor, we would love to have you join us. See you on the mat, David Miller =============================================== 
Sensei Matt Collins - Bosei Judo Academy Assistant instructor. Personal Philosophy - I am passionate about the Kodokan art of Judo and aim to embody the values of Seiryoku-Zenyo maximum efficiency (精力善用) and Jita-Kyoei mutual welfare (自他共栄). I advocate for a safety first, hard and mindful training approach. Tokui-Waza (Specialty) Osoto Gari and Katame-waza, specifically transitioning into Osaekomi-waza. Belt rank Shodan. Awarded at a Kodokan grading and Batsugun in Sendai, Japan (2008). Club affiliation history 2022–Present Bosei Judo Academy (Canada). 2015–2016 Pennsylvania State University J.C. (USA). 2007–2008 Tohoku University Judo Team member 東北大学柔道部 (Japan). 2006–2018 Sydney University Judo Club (Australia). 2000–2005 Wollongong Judo Club (Australia). 1996–1998 Bulli Kids Judo Club (Australia). Judo competition experience 2009 Australian University Championships, 3rd place U/90kg, 1st place in team event (Captain). 2007–2008 Tohoku University Judo Team member. 1st place team champions at the Nanadai Sen (Technical University Team Championships, Kossen rule set). First foreign student to compete at the Nanadai Sen. 2007 Australian team member, Osaka International Judo Goodwill games. 2006 Australian University Judo Championships, 1st place U/90kg. 2005 Member of Junior Men’s Australian Team to the 2005 Youth Olympics Festival. 2004 Australian Kodokan National Championships, 1st place, U/20years U/90kg. 2003 Australian Judo National Championships, 3rd place, U/20years U/81kg. Other competition experience 2017 Oceania Sumo Championship, 2nd place U/85kg. 2015 Oceania Sumo Championship, 2nd place U/85kg. 2012 Australian Ssireum (Korean folk wrestling) Championship, 1st place U/100kg. Australian team member, World Ssireum Championships, Busan Korea. Coaching and club management Summer 2014 Volunteer coach in remote indigenous Community, Mornington Island. 2009 Sydney University Judo Team Captain. Sydney University Judo Club President. 2009-2010 University of Sydney Seniors competition class coach (Wednesdays). 2007 Sydney University Judo Club Secretary. |
