光義道場: Kōgi Dōjō

Mission

We teach judo.

Our mission is to serve the community by offering structured training programs rooted in the principles of judo, aimed at promoting personal development. Additionally, we seek to establish a pathway for advancement into elite-level judo programs.

What is judo?

The primary goal of judo is to cultivate individuals of strong moral character, following the ethical principles set by judo’s founder, Professor Jigoro Kano, and now advanced globally by the International Judo Federation (IJF). A secondary objective is to instill a strong work ethic in students through rigorous training, enabling active participation in judo as a sport. Judo techniques predominantly involve takedowns initiated from a standing position, followed by ground techniques, including hold-downs, chokes, and armlocks.

IJF Academy

Who is teaching?

Director: Quang (Arik) Dao, Ph.D.

Dr. Arik Dao is the director of the Kōgi Dōjō judo program, with over 15 years of experience teaching both recreational and competitive judo to teens and seniors. He integrates traditional Japanese techniques with modern European judo practices, continuously enhancing his expertise through clinics and elite training programs both domestically and internationally. A 4th-degree black belt, Dr. Dao is certified by the International Judo Federation (IJF) as a judo instructor and also holds accreditation as a national coach and referee from USA Judo.

In his professional career, Dr. Dao earned a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from Purdue University. He currently leads a research lab at NASA’s Ames Research Center, where he mentors undergraduate and graduate students, guiding them toward their academic and career goals.

We are committed to the psychological and physical safety of everyone in the community. All program instructors have cleared background checks as well as the following updated certifications: