Allan Few
Judo (1998)

Allan has the longest judo membership in Saskatchewan, with his career dating back to the first Saskatoon club at the YMCA in 1953. He has been an athlete, coach, referee and administrator in the sport.

Allan was born in Saskatoon on March 26, 1933, and started to attend Buena Vista School when he was five years old. He participated in hockey, baseball, soccer and horseback riding and a favorite pastime was the Boy Scout movement where he attained the level of king scout and attended a Canadian jamboree.

Allan's first participation in judo was with the Saskatoon YMCA Club, organized by Gene Traynor in 1953 and later assisted by Mose Naka. Participation was very limited and Allan paid his way to all the meets in the province and fought for Saskatchewan once at the national level.

As an instructor, Allan ran various clubs, including the YMCA from 1967 to 1976, University of Saskatchewan Club from 1976 to 1988, Earl's Club from 1988 to 1991, the YMCA Seniors Club from 1991 to 1993 and the Genki Club since 1993.

Allan earned his black belt in 1966 and then was on the provincial grading board from 1970 to 1993. He was graded to fourth degree belt in 1989.  He has also served as a referee since 1966, has worked interprovincial matches since 1970 and received his National A card as a referee in 1986. He remains active today as a referee.

He has been an administrator of many clubs, was on the board of directors of the YMCA when the board decided to include a judo room, was in charge of judo competition in the 1971 Canada Winter games and organized the nationals in Saskatoon in 1978.

Allan has always promoted judo for the children, through the YMCA, Saskatoon parks and recreation and at St. Thomas-Wesley United church. He also teaches small Ichi Ban classes in his rumpus room.

Nancy Jewitt, a Saskatoon Hall of Fame inductee, was Allan's pupil in the first years she competed in Saskatoon and she has become an international star.

His lifelong commitment to the sport is best exemplified by this October 1984 reunion shot of Saskatchewan's first judo club and among them were four of the originals.