As a young man, Hank spent some time playing semi-pro football for the Seattle Marlins and being actively involved in judo where he followed the teachings of Sensei Kumagai. Hank followed Kumagai to Japan and furthered his skills in judo at the Kodokan School. He was proud to receive his hachidan (eighth degree black belt)

Link to Obituary in the Argus Observer

I have known Jerry Hays for many years (20+). I know he is very dedicated to preserving the history and documents of American Judo’s Past.

Jerry provides me and many others from time to time articles and pictures from the Past. I enjoy very much seeing this valuable information being collected and disseminated . It is important for Judo to have a well documented past.

Recently, Jerry made me aware that he has included much of the information he has on four DVDs which he graciously provided me. It is a wealth of information. I shall cherish it. It will I am sure bring back many memories and shed light on those events that took place before my getting involved.

He has asked myself and many others to provide additional documents, results, program, flyers, pictures from the past for all areas of the Country. He continues to collect and record documents being sent to him.

I just wanted to let you know I appreciate his efforts very much on behalf of myself and the Judo Community.

Sincerely,

Richard “Rick” Celotto
International Judo Federation IJF-A (International) Referee
Shichidan
Connecticut Judo

USJA and USJF have recently undertaken a joint venture regarding the Archivist Committee. Our goal is to preserve judo history in the United States in one location. Each organization will maintain possession of its own assets while sharing them on one website. Our current inventory is approximately 145,000 pages of judo historical documents, but there are many things that are missing. These range from bracket sheets, newspaper articles, programs from various tournaments and various judo publications.

Do you have judo programs, newspaper articles, bracket sheets and/or other artifacts lying around the house or garage? Has someone in your family been after you to get rid of these papers? If so, please contact the Archivist Committee to see if your items are in their inventory. If not, the committee can scan and return the documents to you if desired.

The committee points of contacts are:

• USJF Historian

Help us preserve the history of judo in the United States.

It wasn’t easy putting in all the extra practice for the tournament. We started with weight training every Tuesday Thursday one hour before judo practice. I actually liked it. On Saturday or Sunday my sensei added additional training at Cahokia Mounds. The mound has 154 stairs to reach the top. A total of 308 stairs is 1 set. I had to run 10 sets plus an additional 154 stairs as a warm up. That totals 4234 stairs. The last 3 sets were gruesomely painful, but I never gave up. Which by the way is the English translation of my club name, Kitokan, it means to ‘Never Give Up.’ My family would walk the steps, not run them like I me, to show their support and encouragement. Sensei also added extra judo practices. I began attending judo 3x a week. She made sure that all of my serious training was with judokas of higher belt and weight divisions. She even secretly told them to challenge me extra hard. During the 2 hour practices, I was not allowed to sit down or take breaks. Training was brutal. I also had to compete in what seemed like every local, regional and national tournament. She would enter me in as many matches at the tournament as possible and watch me closely. When we returned back to the dojo, she would make corrections to my technique.

All this extra training made the days fly by. Before I knew it, it was time to leave St. Louis and my family to fly to Japan. At first, I thought being away from my family was one of the best things that could happen. They were driving me nuts worrying about me hurting myself in Japan but later on I did miss them being with me. My Sensei, Eiko Shepherd and I, flew from St. Louis, Missouri, to Newark, New Jersey where we met teammate Cooper and his dad. I wondered if Cooper and I would like each other; and I was glad that he turned out to be a pretty cool guy. From Newark we flew to Tokyo and then on to Fukuoka, Japan. We lost an entire day when we crossed the timeline. It was nighttime there and daytime back home.

Fukuoka was a culture shock. I had never been out of the United States. I was not used to seeing and hearing a different language. I came without my family, but I travelled for so many years with Sensei Shepherd that she is like a mom to me. So I made sure to keep her in my eyesight and not get lost. A car picked us up at the airport and took us to the Global Arena.

The Global Arena was great! It was larger than I thought it would be. I really like to eat so I remember the food was excellent. On the campsite there was also a spa, bakery and library. The dorm room was 8 rows of bunk beds. I was hoping there would be something to do in there but there wasn’t. So you got a good chance to get to know your teammates.

There was not time to get over our jet lag because the next morning we began practice. My sensei told my how tough the training was going to be at the arena so I knew I was mentally prepared and hoped all my training back home would be enough. Daily training was strenuous and felt like it would never end. Each morning we woke for breakfast, which was like most American breakfast foods. Next, was 15 – 3 minute rounds of mat work. Then break for lunch which was mostly seafood, chicken and rice. After lunch, we did 25 minutes of stretching, then rondori. The practices left me with mat burns on my elbows and gi burns across my neck. Sensei Saito said that my bruises meant that I’d actually trained. I think he just wanted to make me feel better. I still have the scars.

Sometimes we were allowed to go to the spa after training. The tub was huge, like the size of a large room and filled with hot water. We don’t have those in St. Louis, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. But part of my experience in Japan was to try as many things as I could. I was so glad I went. The water felt good on my aching muscles.

Most of the competitors didn’t speak English but those who did tried their best. I had already learned a few Japanese phrases from my team back in St. Louis, so I was able to do stuff, like introduce myself, say “Thank You”, “I’m sorry.” and “Where’s the bathroom?” Thank God, Jeff, a translator assigned to Team USA, helped us communicate anything else. But I tried my best and used the language when I could.

The day of the tournament was exciting. All the teams were cheering for their teammates and showing team support. Sometimes I would listen to all the different languages being yelled across the room. When it was my turn to compete, I got my head back in the game. Before I stepped on the mat, I thought about how important it was to do my best. I didn’t want to let Team USA, my family, my dojo and most importantly, my sensei down. My family and sensei made many sacrifices so that I could come to Japan and represent our country. I didn’t want to go home without a win. I didn’t even want to think about a loss….and I didn’t. I won my match! I was so happy!

Although myself and my teammate Cooper won our matches, Team USA was unable to get a third win to move to the next round in the tournament. But that evening, as my reward, I treated myself with another trip to the spa. Ahhhhhhh….. This was one cultural experience I was really going to miss.

The next few days we travelled to different dojos in Fukuoka and competed in mock tournaments. The Japanese kids were very friendly and actually chanted my name, “Jack-son! Jack-son!”, when I won a match against one of their black belts. That was pretty cool.

We were also able do a little sight-seeing. We travelled on a bus with the Dutch and the South American teams. Some parts of Japan reminded me of home, like the way the country side looked. But other parts, like the shrines we visited, were so different. I enjoyed visiting a shrine that displayed weapons that once belonged to an Emperor. We also went to a restaurant and a shopping mall, where I got lost. I thought I would panic, but I had become comfortable in Japan and was very calm and made my way back to the tournament bus. There was lots of teasing and laughter on the bus. We all had a good time.

On the last day of the tournament, we talked about getting a little home sick. For me coming to Japan, meant that I had spent Christmas away from my family; but the sacrifice was worth it. I’m now an international traveler! I speak a little Japanese. I met kids from around the world and realized we’re all the same no matter where we come from. I competed and trained with some of the best kids in judo. I won my judo match; and I made Sensei Shepherd and my family proud. I feel changed. More confident.

When I returned home, my mom was so embarrassing. She was telling everyone and I mean EVERYONE, complete strangers even, about my experience in Japan. Each person she told was so proud of my achievements and how our team represented the United States. I’ll be honest. I knew that we “went” to represent the United States, but I was thinking, would anyone in the United States ever “really” know about it? Well my mom is telling EVERYONE!

The 2011 Sanix Judo Tournament was great! Thank you, USA JUDO, USJF and 2011 Sanix USA Staff for this experience. Thank you Sensei Shepherd for the “brutal” training and weight sessions back home and for everything you’ve done for me.

It was an honor to be part of Team USA. I hope that I can work hard enough to be chosen again in 2012. I want to see us make it to the top! We can do this!

The 2011 Sanix Junior High School World Championship in Fukuoka, Japan was an unforgettable experience. Seven students, Skye Bruce, Andrew Buckley, Gabrielle Gomez-Zubieta, Solomon Jackson, Nicholas Joseph, Ryan Osborne, and Cooper Sciascia represented the United States. We were accompanied by Sensei Saito, VIP, and Mr. Gerald Wee, USA delegate. I served as team coach. Our team looked fabulous, thanks to the uniforms provided by USJF. Special thanks to Sensei Saito for his diligent effort to raise funds.

The Sanix tournament is unique because judoka of junior high age are the focus. Most international tournaments are for high school and adult players. This tournament was only for students who are 13 or 14 years of age in junior high. Our team met other judo students from China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Latvia, The Netherlands, Russia, Japan, and South Africa. During open practice, it was good for our students to see how other judo students train. On and off the mat our students had a priceless international experience through Judo.

judokas at Sanix

The level of instruction was superior. Olympian, Sensei Inoue, gave a 2 day clinic and taught his techniques. It was thrilling and motivating for our young students to be on the mat with Sensei. At one point, Sensei Inoue told me that as a child many people helped him. He now wants to give back that way of kindness to these children. Sensei Koga, was also present. Our students were so happy to have their photographs taken with these famous Judo Champions. These Olympians are champions not only in Judo but as people. I am sending these photos with this report.

Our team members worked well together and supported each other. In the first round we had 2 wins and three losses. Although that eliminated us from the second round, all of our students had opportunity for much more competition. The next day they participated in a practice tournament in which each player had approximately 15 good matches. They gained great experience and represented the USA in the best ways. Sensei Imamura, a VIP from the USA, complimented our students for their manners and thougtfulness.

This was the 9th year that the Chief Director of Sanix Sports Foundation, Mr. Shinichi Munemasa, and his staff including Mr. Stefan Getov and Mr. Isamu Kondo planned this phenomenal event. Everything was so well organized. Interpreters, facilities, schedules and food were perfect. These people were so kind to all of the guests. At the end, Mr. Kondo came to the Fukuoka airport to see the teams off. He thanked me for bringing our USA team.

As a coach, I have never before participated in such a remarkable international program for junior high students. Our students travelled to Japan, the birth place of Judo, were trained by Judo Olympians, and practiced with students from around the world. Where else could young students have such a priceless experience? Let’s support this next year!

In the afternoon session of the clinic, Nakano sensei built on the basic principles of body movement and off balancing to show us specific throwing techniques that work when there is true use of the principles of taisabaki and kuzushi. The young students, some as young as 7 years old, who attended all worked hard and Mr. Nakano had their undivided attention for the full session. At the end they all had displayed great awareness of the basics and principles discussed. They all seemed very proud of what they had learned. Young students as well as older veteran instructors all felt this was a special learning session from a very special person.

Mr. Nakano has agreed to conduct a series of six clinics that started on October 29, 2011 and will conclude in May of 2012 for the Central Coast Judo Association. During this time he will travel to different locations in central and northern California to share his knowledge and skills with others. His style is unique and very special, for he shows through his humble but dynamic demeanor an explosive but gentle, strong but relaxed Judo.

The second clinic in the series will be held at the Uchida Hall at the San Jose State University campus on Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 10:00 AM the day before the 64th Annual San Jose Buddhist Judo Club and 20th “Sensei Memorial” Invitational Judo Tournament.

About Shintaro Nakano and his workshop

Shintaro Nakano, is technical assistant Coach at San Jose State University Judo and a graduate of Chuo University, Japan. He was the 60K and 66K All Japan Industrial Champion and U.S. Open Champion.

Mr. Nakano was introduced in San Jose at the recommendation of Mr. Isao Okano , the 1964 Olympic Light Heavyweight Champion. Mr. Nakano’s dynamic, explosive, gentle, relaxed style of Judo drew much attention at the 2009 U.S Judo Open Training Camp in San Jose.

This Clinic Series will provide an opportunity for the student, competitor, or instructor, to learn a step by step breakdown of Mr. Nakano’s unique, technical application of Judo waza, and his approach to Competitive Judo. Many believe the grass roots development of Judo needs to be reintroduced to this more traditional stand-up style of Judo.

The type of Judo that will be taught at this clinic series will exemplify true Judo technique without the overuse of strength and power. Not a physically intimidating Judoka, Mr. Nakano’s has a soft, but explosive style of tachi-waza techniques and combinations, along with his wide knowledge of newaza techniques. He demonstrates this in randori practices, as he easily throws his opponents twice his size and weight.

A part of the clinic series goal, is to address the issue of an athlete competing against the power and strength style Judoka. We have been seeing this more frequently in young Judo development: the one dimensional competitor.

The trend towards fighting for the Ippon, along with the New Rules, eliminating the “leg grabbing” and power wrestling type of techniques, this style should benefit all to achieve a better understanding of his approach to Judo and Competition.

In this development clinic series, Mr. Nakano will demonstrate exercises and drills, these serve to increase one’s speed, movement, entry, agility, and flexibility as it applies to his wide variety of techniques through his style of Judo.

You as an instructor have been teaching and developing your student with your own training, style and application of Judo. We believe this clinic series will enhance and improve the Judo waza you and/or your students have developed.

Judo in our opinion has become one dimensional. It transitioned to this state we believe, following the rule changes in 1974; the “Koka” Era in U.S. Judo competition. Judo strategies in competition have changed, ie. gaining a minimum score of Koka, and then tactically, stalling out the rest of the match, using methods such as incite penalties (shidos) on an opponent, by playing the 5 second rule in the red, danger zone, or causing an opponent to go out of bounds.

Current changes to the rules have re-opened an offensive, attacking style fight strategies. For now techniques such as leg picks and kataguruma are eliminated and penalized in competition. Since not all Judo programs and classes are directed towards competition, many aspects of his techniques and execution can be applied in this softer, non-power Judo.

This will be a progressive clinic series. Each clinic, at various locations throughout the central and northern California areas, will cover new topics and techniques, with a short review of the previous clinic topics. We encourage everyone to attend all the clinics.

Head Clinician: Shintaro Nakano, Chuo University, 60K and 66K All Japan Industrial Champion and U.S.Open Champion
Special Assistance and Instructional Aid will be given by The San Jose State University Judo Team

Further information will be out in early 2012.

For information regarding Japan’s decorations and medals

Full text of the conferment announcement