Mike Poster
Michael “Sensei Mike” Poster is a 4th degree black belt in judo with over 40 years of judo experience.
Mike started training in judo at Kyushu Dojo in Brooklyn, NY, under the disciplined training of Sensei Ryohei Kanokogi (9th dan and member of the coaching staff for the 1964 Japan Olympic team) and Sensei Rusty Kanokogi (the “Mother of Women’s Judo” and coach of the 1988 US Women’s Olympic team). At Kyushu, Mike learned judo in the classical Japanese style with high-level teammates from around the world. Growing up, Mike competed in the NY metro area and later shifted his focus to training as an instructor, referee, and coach. He is certified as a National Level coach by USA Judo and regularly coaches and helps run judo tournaments in and around New York and New Jersey.
Throughout his judo career, Sensei Mike’s approach to judo has been based firmly in the principles of “maximum efficiency” and “mutual welfare and benefit.” This means focusing on technique over power, and ensuring that every black belt fulfills a duty to give back to the judo community and nurture the next generation of students. It also means being open to new techniques, innovations, approaches, and methods – Mike likes to say that he is “forever a student, never a master.”
In addition to teaching judo, Mike serves as the Chairman of the Ethics and Grievance Committee for Hudson Judo Yudanshakai, as a member of the Judo of NJ Athletic Fund Committee, and as co-administrator of Judo of NJ “judo families fund” (a fund dedicated to supporting grass-roots judo). Starting in 2022, Mike began training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with Professor Jamie Cruz and is happy to say that he is no longer a white belt.
