by Stilman Davis | Feb 26, 2018 | Class of 2010, Hall of Fame Class
Rena “Rusty” Kanokogi Inducted 2010 Rusty is often called “the Mother of Women’s Judo”. She lived for judo. She was passionate about judo as a participant. Her entry into Judo was in 1959 when she disguised herself as a man to compete in the YMCA Judo Championships....
by Stilman Davis | Feb 26, 2018 | Class of 2010, Hall of Fame Class
Ronda Rousey Inducted 2010 Born February 1, 1987 in Riverside County, California, Rousey qualified for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, becoming the youngest competitor in those entire Games, at just 17. In that year she won a gold medal at the 2004 World Junior Judo...
by Stilman Davis | Feb 26, 2018 | Class of 1993, Hall of Fame Class
Sachio Ashida Inducted 1993 Dr. Sachio Ashida (Brockport, N.Y.) was an Olympic Coach at the 1976 Games in Montreal. Dr. Ashida served as a referee at the 1984 Olympic Games and was an A-Level kata judge. Born in Japan, Dr. Ashida began studying judo at the age of 12...
by Stilman Davis | Feb 26, 2018 | Class of 1993, Hall of Fame Class
Ryozo Nakamura Inducted 1993 Ryozo Nakamura immigrated to the United States as an adult from Japan, in order to share his knowledge with the U.S. National Judo Team. It was in the States that he married and began his family. Ohio Judo’s Hall of Fame has a...
by Stilman Davis | Feb 26, 2018 | Class of 1993, Hall of Fame Class
photo of Toshitaka Yamauchi from the West Clovis Dojo site Toshitaka Yamauchi Inducted 1993 Clovis Judo Club was started in the spring of 1956 by Professor Toshitaka Yamauchi, 7th Degree Black Belt from Japan (Later promoted to 8th Degree Black Belt). He started the...
by Stilman Davis | Feb 26, 2018 | Class of 1993, Hall of Fame Class
Seigo Murakami Inducted 1993 Seigoro Murakami established the first dojo in the San Fernando Valley of Southern Calfornia in 1921. source: Wikipedia In 2002 the fiftieth anniversary was celebrated with a book of USJF history. In it were a number of biographies....
by Stilman Davis | Feb 26, 2018 | Class of 1993, Hall of Fame Class
photo source: http://wwmaa.org/phil-porter/ Phil Porter Inducted 1993 Philip S. Porter began his Martial Arts career as a boxer in 1943 at age 18. He was later a member of the West Point Boxing Team; and in 1950, Light Heavyweight Boxing Champion of the Western Area...
by Stilman Davis | Feb 26, 2018 | Class of 1994, Hall of Fame Class
Toshiaki Inouye Inducted 1994 Inouye Sensei was born on March 9, 1925, in Hilo, Hawaii. His lifelong pursuit of Judo began at the age of 9 in 1934. He received the rank of Shodan on November 10, 1941 at the age 16. On April 5, 1994, he was inducted into the US Judo...
by Stilman Davis | Feb 26, 2018 | Class of 1993, Hall of Fame Class
Yasuyuki Sakabe Inducted 1993 from the archive – a program from 1978 PROFESSOR YASUYUKI SAKABE The Judo Black Belt Association of Hawaii dedicates the 1978 National Championships to PROFESSOR YASUYUKI SAKABE. A distinguished international judoka, Professor Yasuyuki...
by Stilman Davis | Feb 26, 2018 | Class of 1994, Hall of Fame Class
Sam Hamai Inducted 1994 On January 27, 1994, the Judo community lost one of its leaders when Isamu (Sam) Hamai passed away at the age of 72 at his home in Palo Alto, California. Hamai Sensei was survived his wife Emiko, son Harold and wife Laura, and his two...
