On September  17, 2011 Sensei John Paccione,  the owner of Kodokan Judo of Cape Coral, came out of competitive retirement and entered the 45^th and final East Coast Championship Juyukai held at the Institute of Technology in Newark New Jersey.

This tournament is one of the highest level competitions held by the United States Judo Federation on the East Coast. Sensei John, who is 46 years old, was the oldest person in his division which consisted of 7 competitors including the Australian National Champion.

Sensei John threw his first opponent twice scoring a half point which is called a wazari.  His opponent followed up with a turning throw to which Sensei John countered and scored an ippon, which is a full point, to win the match.  Sensei John won his second match which set the stage for him to fight the Australian who was 6’6”.  Sensei  John lost to the Australian eventually taking the bronze to be designated the third place East Coast Champion in his division.

On August 27 over 50 Judoka came to Cape Coral's Kodokan Judo dojo to attend a competitive techniques clinic instructed by 3x Japan Champion, Shinjiro Sasaki.  Sasaki gave instruction on establishing grip and breaking away from a competitor's hold  He also gave instruction on different points of attack.  The students who attended the clinic were amazed at the "lighting-fast" ability of Sasaki when he executed throwing technique. 

Many of the Judoka who attended the clinic have witnessed Sasak's ability first hand.  Sasaki competes in tournament all over Florida and it's normally 5-10 seconds when he achieves victory.  In the last tournament, to much amazement, one of Sasaki's competitors made it into newaza (ground technique) where we were able to see another aspect of Sasaki's great ability on the ground where he choked his opponent out within seconds.

This is Kodokan Judo's continual effort of bringing the highest level of competitors and instructors to it's dojo.

On August 20, 2011 Kodokan Judo of Cape Coral sent 21 competitors to Del Ray Beach, Florida to compete in the Dragon’s Challenge Judo tournament. Kodokan achieved 11 first place victories, 7 second place victories and 4 third place which gave Kodokan Judo 74 points and the 1st Place Team trophy.

Kodokan Judo is now looking forward to Shinjiro Sasaki Judo clinic being heldin their dojo on August 27, 2011.

The hard training paid off giving kodokan Judo 18 State Champions, 3 Jr National Champions, 1 Senior National champion, 5 Jr US Open Champions, 1 Senior US Open Champion and 1 Jr. Olympic Champion.

In the Jr.Open Mckenzie More beat here opponent from Brazil while her brothers Jacob beat his from Peru and Dylan fought one from Austrailia and the Netherlands. Christina Paccione defeated hers from the Netherlands as well. All together there were 20 countries that competed in the event.

USA Judo the governing body for Judo appointed by the Olympic Committee has ranked Erica Paccione and Rian Russo # 1 in the Nation. Christina Paccione is ranked 3rd in the Nation. Kodokan Judo of cape Coral is proud to have some of the top competitors in the Country training at their dojo.