For as long as Shudokan Judo Club Head Instructor Michael Hayashi can remember, his club has never produced two state champions in one season.
This spring, two of its judokas brought home gold medals from the 2023 HHSAA State Championships, and one won bronze.
“We’ve always had kids who get on the podium,” Hayashi said, “but we’ve never had two win championships at the same time. This was a great year for us.”
Caden Pasa and Irie Sakai, both high school seniors and Shudokan judokas of more than eight years, placed first in their respective weight classes.
Four other Shudokan judokas notched podium placements at state this year — Elena Shibuya, Amy Gushiken, Kyler Aguiar and Irie’s younger sister, Ihilani.
“It feels wonderful,” Hayashi said. “It feels like all the hard work has paid off.”
Ending their high school careers with gold medals was very satisfying for Pasa and Sakai, who each also placed first in the BIIF individual championships. The class of 2023 didn’t get a shot at state for their first two years of high school, and both Pasa and Sakai fell short of gold at last year’s championship.
Pasa — who attends Kamehameha Schools – Hawai‘i — competed in the 178 lbs class last year and finished in fifth place. This year, he moved up to the 198 lbs class and became KSH’s first state champion.
However, it was not Pasa’s first gold medal. As a child, he placed first in the under-43 kilogram Intermediate A division at the 2014 United States Judo Association Junior National Judo Championships.
“He’s been quite a competitor since a very young age,” Hayashi said. “He’s been competing for us for over ten years now.”
Sakai — of Hilo High School — came within inches of a champion title last year, losing by ippon at 2:15 to Moanalua High School’s Jessica Dixon. She returned to the same class this year and won every state match by ippon, progressively shaving more time off of each match — 3:55 in the first round, 2:03 in the quarterfinal, 1:25 in the semifinal and 1:14 in the final round.
“She has really improved over the last couple of years,” Hayashi said, “and I think it’s because of her good work ethic. She’s very focused and she always gives her 100% best at practices.”
The younger Sakai, who competes in the 129 lbs class and has been training with Shudokan for eight years, also had a succesful season — placing first in her class at BIIF finals and placing fourth at state.
The Sakai sisters’ efforts, combined with the efforts of their teammates, led the Vikings to a No. 6 finish at state — overcoming BIIF Team Champion Waiakea High School by two points.
“She also is a very hard worker,” Hayashi said. “She doesn’t have as much experience as Irie does, but I believe that because of her work ethic and good attitude, she’ll do well next year. Hopefully, she’ll be able to win the championship.”
Shibuya, a decade-long Shudokan judoka, led the Warriors to their BIIF Team Championship victory and placed first in the 108 lbs class at the BIIF Individual Championship. At state, she placed third — falling to runner-up Charlotte Campbell before defeating Kaylie Zeller by ippon at 2 minutes flat during the third-place consolation match.
“Elena has been a great representative of our club for the past ten years,” Hayashi said.
Aguiar, Shibuya’s male teammate who competes in the 108 lbs class, also won gold at the BIIF Individual Championship and placed fifth at state.
“He is very, very consistent at practice,” Hayashi said, “and he is very focused. Unfortunately, he did not do well at state championships last year because of an injury, but I expect him to do a lot better over the next two years.”
Another KSH judoka and BIIF Champion, Gushiken placed fifth at state in the girls 115 lbs class.
“Amy has been with the club eight years,” Hayashi said. “She has worked really hard too, so we were pleased with her results at state.”
Though the high school judo season is over, Shudokan holds multiple practices a week year-round, and will attend a few tournaments before the end of the calendar year.
In October, the club will attend a local tournament hosted by the Hilo Hongwanji Judo Club.
