Sensei Jacques Legrand circa 1956
Sensei Legrand brought Judo to New Orleans in the form of the Louisiana Judo Club.
The dojo was located at 230 Burgundy St. in the French
Quarter just behind the New Orleans Athletic Club.
Jacques study the Kawaishi judo
system in Paris France. ( Mikonosuke Kawaishi was born in
Kyoto in 1899. He studied Judo - Jiu-jitsu at the Dai Nippon Butokukai
(Greater Japan Association of Martial Virtue in Kyoto) Kawaishi came to believe
that merely transplanting the teaching methods of Japan to the West was
inappropriate. He developed an intuitive style of instruction and a numerical
ordering of the techniques that he felt was more suitable for the occidental.
This seemed to catch on in France and there was a rapid growth of interest in
Judo. Jacques Legrand is a product of that very system
and subsequently all of his students.
Jacques start Judo at the age of 23. Jacques
attended the Oda Judo Club in Paris France. His instructor was Raymond Sasia a 4th
Dan and also the Chief of the National Police in Pairs.
Jacques was awarded his 1st Dan in one and half years of Judo
study. To pass the test for Black Belt in France in 1953 one had to perform the
Nage no Kata, pass an oral and written test and also beat 5 black belts
consecutively within a specified time.
Jacques in France 1948 at age 17
Top (R to L) Fred Gregory, Troy Hysmith, Dr. Macalusa, C. Smith, J. Smith
Bottom (L to R) Paul Legrand, Jacques Legrand, Vaules, Leon Szilers
L-R standing : Bruce Toups, Arthur Boe, Jacques, Bruce Volker, George Flannigan, Fred Colley, Tommy Hysmith
L-R kneeling: Billy Lanius, Joe the Grinder, his son, and Perrier Legrand
Jacques demonstrating Hane goshi circa 1958
Jacques Legrand Judan (10th Dan)