SENSEI BRIAN KALSEN
Technical Director/Founder
Judo Experience: 60 Years
- Began practicing Judo in 1966
- Sensei Brian founded the Ottawa Judo Club in 1988
- The founder of the Ottawa Judo Club, Chief Instructor for the past 37 years
- President of Judo Ontario (9 Years to present)
- National Coaching Certified as Competition Development Coach
- Black Belt – 4th Degree (Yondan)
- Judo Canada Presidents Recognition Award 2019
- Government of Canada Award for Outstanding service contribution as a volunteer with Judo Canada in 2011
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Notable Achievements:
- Awarded the Syl Apps Special Achievement Award by the Minister of Health Promotion for distinguished contribution in Sport in 2006
- Award Recipient of the Joseph Lestrange Award given for Outstanding Contribution to Judo in Ontario in 2005 and 2007
- Judo Canada Board of Director (Director for Ontario) 2006 to Present
- Member of the Ontario High Performance Sport Initiative Committee (OHPSI) 2012 to 2018
- Chair of the Judo Canada Awards and Recognition Committee 2014 to present
- First Vice-President of Judo Ontario 2014 – 2016
- President of Judo Ontario 2010 – 2014
- Vice President of Judo Ontario September 2008 to 2010
- Quest for Gold Chairman for Judo Ontario 2006 to 2012. Awards athletes financial assistance to enhance their training development
- Coaching Coordinator of Judo Ontario 2004 to 2008
- Provincial Coach for the Ontario Provincial Team from 2000 to 2007
- Member of the High Performance Committee of Judo Ontario from 2002 to 2008
- Represented Judo Ontario Internationally as Provincial Coach at the U.S. Open 2004 to 2007
- Board of Director for Judo Ontario for 2004 to present
- Judo Ontario Junior Development Chair 2006
- Certified Personal Trainer through the Sport Performance Institute
- Tournament/Technical Director of Ontario Open/Hatashita International 2006, 2007, 2008
- Tournament Chairman/Director of the 2008 Juvenile/Junior Canadian Nationals 2008
- Team Manager of Canada Winter Games in Whitehorse Yukon 2007
- Produced multiple provincial and National medalists over the past 2 decades.
Favourite Technique: Okuri Ashi Harai
Thoughts on Judo: Judo is a vehicle to help people reach their potential both physically and mentally.
Favourite Quote: “We do not cease to play because we grow old, we grow old because we cease to play” ~ George Bernard Shaw
SENSEI HOWARD DUBOIS
Adult Judo Head Instructor
Judo Experience: 23 Years
After 15 years in Aikido, Sensei Howard started with the Ottawa Judo Club in 1994. He has been the OJC Gokyo and kata instructor for 15 years.
- National C Kata Judge – Nage No Kata
- Regional Director – Judo Ontario East Region 2007 to 2010
- Teaching Judo for 23 Years
- Member of Team Ontario at the Senior Canadian Judo Kata Championships in the Nage No Kata division 2006
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Favourite Technique: Any Sutemi
Notable Achievements:
- Board of Directors – Judo Ontario East Region 1996 to 2006
- National Coaching Certified Level 2
- Black Belt 3rd Degree (Sandan)
Thoughts on Judo: Judo is for life – learn to learn with your eyes, ears and body.
Favourite Quote: “A journey of a thousand mile starts with a single step.”
~ Lao Tzu
SENSEI MICHELLE BUCKINGHAM
Competition Team Judo Instructor
Judo Experience: 45 Years
- Michelle is a 3 time olympian
- Inducted in to the Judo Canada Hall of Fame
- Competed in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona
- Competed in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta
- Competed in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney
- World Championships Paris 1997 – 5th Place
- World Championship Chiba 1995 – 5th Place
- Nation Coaching Program Certification – NCCP DA & NCCP DI (NCCP 2)
- Black Belt 4th Degree (Yondan)
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Favourite Technique: Seoi-nage and Te-guruma
Notable Achievements: 3 Time Olympian
Thoughts on Judo:
Favourite Quote: :”Its not the will to win that matters-everyone has that. It’s the will to prepare to win that matters.
~ “Bear” Bryant
SENSEI MICHEL CHEVRIER
Youth Judo Instructor
Judo Experience:
- Sensei Michel started judo at the age of nine in his hometown of Sault Ste. Marie. He practiced until the age of 16 and then went on to pursue his education and achieved his PhD in comparative literature
- After having 3 children Michel enrolled his whole family into judo where they climbed up the belt rankings together
- Dr. Chevrier brings with him 40 years of professional experience teaching adults in various settings including universities, colleges and currently the Government of Canada House of Commons
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Favourite Technique: Harai Goshi and Yama Arashi
Notable Achievements:
- PhD Comparative Literature 2004
- Various Publications
- 40 years Teaching Experience
- Black Belt 1st Degree (Shodan)
Thoughts on Judo: Sensei Michel believes that judo fits perfectly with his belief in goal-oriented lifelong learning, a concept he applies to his students. Dr. Chevrier believes that reaching the rank of Black Belt is not when the your judo journey ends it’s when the learning starts.
Favourite Quote: “Movement is Bliss” ~ Professor Jigoro Kano
SENSEI ALEC BRILLION
Youth Judo Instructor
Judo Experience: 12 Years
- Began practicing Judo In 2013 in Nunavut
- Joined the Ottawa Judo Club in 2016 as a Green Belt
- Coaches both swimming and gymnastics
- Judo Instructor at the Ottawa Judo Club for 3 years
- National Coaching Certified (NCCP 2) Dojo Instructor for Judo
- Live Saving Society Swimming Instructor
- Gymnastic Coach in Nunavut
- Black Belt – 1st Degree (Shodan)
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Favourite Technique: Hani Goshi & Uchi Mata:
Notable Achievements:
- Member of the Judo Ontario High Performance Team and Provincial Team Member
- Hiked the Arctic Circle (3 days)
Thoughts on Judo: Judo teaches me discipline, respect, and how to stay calm under pressure. I like that it focuses on technique, not just strength.
Favourite Quote:
“It’s not about how good or bad you are, it’s about how good you you want to be” ~ Paul Arden
SENSEI NARYAN SHUKLE
Youth Judo Instructor
Judo Experience: 16 Years
- Began practicing Judo in 2000
- Black Belt – 1st Degree (Shodan)
- Bronze Medalist at Nationals in U16
- Competition Team Instructor in 2021
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Coming soon
SENSEI MATS KRAFT
Kids Judo Instructor
Judo Experience: 15 Year
- NCCP trained Instructor
- Former Collegiate Football Defensive Captain
- Former Semi-Pro Football 1st string Linebacker
- Competitive amateur RallyCross racecar driver
- Avid Mountain Biker
- Black belt 1st Degree (Shodan)
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Mats began his martial arts journey in 1996 at the Highland Budokan Judo Club in Scotland, training under Sensei Robert Inglis. As a teenager, he progressed to the rank of blue belt before shifting his focus to competitive football.
Mats played linebacker for the University of Stirling Clansmen at the collegiate level in Scotland. After relocating to Canada, he continued playing semi-professionally for the Ottawa Invaders.
At age 30, Mats was reintroduced to martial arts through Japanese Jujutsu, earning an orange belt in Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu. That experience eventually led him back to his roots—returning to Judo, this time at the Ottawa Judo Club under the guidance of Sensei Brian Kalsen and Sensei Howard Dubois.
Nearly 30 years after first stepping onto the tatami, Mats earned his 1st Dan Black Belt in Judo—an achievement shaped by years of cross-disciplinary athleticism, perseverance, and a deep respect for the martial arts.
Thoughts on Judo:
“Judo is founded on the principle of maximum efficiency, minimum effort—a discipline where leverage and timing triumph over raw strength. While Judoka train to be strong and fast, true mastery lies in applying technique with precision and control. Beyond the physical, Judo is a vehicle for character development.
Favourite Technique:
Yoko Wakare
Favourite Quote:
“Wins and losses come a dime a dozen. But effort? Nobody can judge that. Because effort is between you and you.”
~ Ray Lewis