David Miller Head Instructor and founder of the Annex Judo Academy Born & reside Toronto, Canada Physical Education/Judo Teacher Study and teaching experience Kodokan Judo 6th degree black belt Over 40years judo experience Over 35years judo teaching experience 9years of judo study at Tokai University Japan (Under World renowned instructors Nobuyuki Sato & Yasuhiro Yamashita) 9years of intermittent training at Kodokan Judo Institute (Tokyo, Japan) 5years as an apprentice judo instructor at the Matsumae Judo Juku (Tokyo, Japan) 1997 to present – Chief instructor - Annex Judo Academy (Also known as the Canadian Judo Academy 2000 to 2004 - Head of Phys.Ed Judo – Crescent School (Toronto, Canada) 1999 to present – Judo / Physical Education - Royal St. George’s College (Toronto, Canada) NCCP Level 2 coach Competitions and awards 10 years Canadian National Team Member 14 years Judo Ontario Team Member 1985 US Open Bronze Medal 1986 Canada Cup Silver Medal 1988 to 1997 Over 120 victories at kodokan grading tournaments 1989 Kodokan Judo Institute Batsugun (Award of excellence) First westerner in history to achieve this award by the Kodokan 1991 Pacific Rim International Judo Championships (Honolulu, Hawaii) Bronze Medal 1991 Kano Cup International – Canadian National Team Member (Tokyo, Japan) 1992 to 1997 Corporate judo team member for “Fuji & Tri Ocean” Tokyo, Japan 1993 Represented the Kodokan Judo Institute in the Osaka Bone Setters Association International Tournament Osaka, Japan - Bronze medal 1995 Canadian Heavy Weight Judo Championships - Gold medal 1995 IJF Senior World Championships Makuhari Japan Open Weight representative for Team Canada 1997 All Japan Corporate Team Championships Top 8 1999 World Masters Judo Championships - Gold Medal 2003 Pan-American Masters Championships - Gold Medal 2003 World Masters Championships Kodokan Japan - Bronze Medal 2004 Pan-American Masters Championships - Gold Medal ============================================= 
Sensei - Tami Dacks Assistant Judo Instructor A student of Sensei Miller’s, Tami is a passionate judoka and competitor with the awards to prove it. Tami is a Certified Shodan – first degree judo black belt - and NCCP level 2 certified coach and has often competed at high level international tournaments where her titles have included a silver medal at the 2009 Pan Am Masters open weight competitions. She is a 2010 Canadian Masters National champion and won two silver and one bronze medal at the World Judo Masters in 2010. Tami focuses her practice on traditional techniques and the basics, taking a ‘from the ground up’ approach to firmly establish a student’s understanding of this venerable martial art. From her own experience as well as her teaching practice, she understands how to hone those basic techniques for competition. Tami is an inspiring role model for us at every level of judo development. Tami is a specialist in youth judo development. |
For those who know me: "Yes I do own some clothes that are not judo gis" I began judo in 1972 just before my 11th birthday, in a introductory program hosted in a public school gymnasium in North York. It was not as much by choice as it was necessity that drew me to judo or at least that's what I thought at the time. The oldest of four boys, I was the first to play organized ice hockey in our family. Our family couldn't afford for all of us to join hockey teams that year, so my father instructed my brothers research judo programs in the area. As luck would have it there was a very affordable introductory judo program hosted in a public school 5min walk from our home. Two of my younger brothers (youngest was too young at 2years old) began immediately. Hockey season ended for me 6months later and by that time my brothers were doing incredible in judo, already ready winning awards at competitions. This is when I felt a necessity to join. Why a necessity? In my mind my brothers proficiency in judo threatened my status as oldest brother and all that comes with it. So off to judo I went. And the rest you might say is history. Judo has been an integral part of my life ever since. I have dedicated most of my adult life to training and teaching judo. Judo has taken me around the world. Judo is where I have met most of my life long friends, where I continue to meet new friends. My own sons all do judo now. 100's of my students have visited Japan, four of which stayed for at least a year on scholarships. Judo is a lot of different things to the diverse people who embrace it, from self defense, personal fitness, or social gathering to exciting and dynamic Olympic Sport. Judo is all that to me and much much more. Much of the man I am today can be attributed to judo and the people who lives intersected with mine on and off the mats in judo. At the Annex Judo Academy you can expect to meet very good people who love to work hard, strive to hone their skills, are very supportive of each other. Yup we will toss you on the mats and then pin you down, in some cases even twist your arm. However we will show you how to do the same and even let you get us when you don't really yet have the skill to do. Whether you are a complete beginner, a returning judoka or an active participating judo, we would love to have you join the us on the mats! David Miller 
Sensei - Ray Goerke Associate Judo Instructor Ray has been practicing Judo for over 15 years. Starting out as a teenage in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Ray was a regular competitor as a junior, was provincial champion for three years in a row and competed at the Junior National Championships. Ray received his first degree black belt (Shodan) in 2007. In 2011, Ray moved to Toronto and quickly joined the Annex Judo family. Ray really appreciates the way the Annex Judo Academy encourages senior students to teach junior students through one-on-one mentoring, and especially enjoys teaching his specialties, included foot-techniques (ashi-waza) and groundwork (newaza). Ray has been assisting at the Annex Judo Academy for 5years and although Ray will be returning to B.C. in Jan 2017, he will continue to be an associate instructor AJA. 
Sarah McDaid Associate Judo Instructor Sarah recently relocated to Great Britain where she completed a PGDE (Post Graduate Diploma in Education) in Mathematics at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. Sarah remains on our team of instructors, assisting in various future camps and clinics. Hailing from Derry Northern Ireland, Sarah is very well established as both a seasoned competitor and insightful teacher of her craft. Sarah inspires her students while training along side them. As part of her return to the UK Sarah is re-committing to her competitive training, with her sights set on international competition! |