Hector "Shango" Lombard (born February 2, 1978 in Cuba) is a Cuban mixed martial arts fighter. Lombard was a Judo Olympian competing at the Sydney 2000 Olympic games, and is a multiple time national champion and world finalist. After 2000, Lombard began pursuing a career in mixed martial arts. Lombard is currently the Middleweight champion of the Australian-based Cage Fighting Championship and also the current Middleweight champion for the Bellator Fighting Championships.



Hector is a… Continue

During the 1960’s, Nishioka was United States Division judo Champion three times, in 1965, 1966 and 1970. In 1965 he retired as the National AAU Grand Champion. A member of four United States international teams, he won a gold medal in the Pan-American Games in 1967. Nishioka was also the British-Colombian Champion in 1966, and placed 5th in the World Judo Championships in 1965 & 1967.

A complete martial artist, Nishioka is also a black belt in Shotokan karate under pioneer…

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Another Shiai Sunday and the gymnasium is buzzing with born again judoka everywhere, ready for another fight. A young childs voice calls out and three or four people turn around and are about to answer the call. The voice is young but it is laden with a mixture of awe, respect, and love, calls out, “ SENSEI !?”. Upon turning and recognizing the student only the right sensei answers.



So what is a sensei anyway? The word comes from two Chinese characters, which when pronounced in… Continue

Judo Master Quietly Continues the Legacy

Roy Murakami walks around with a kind of a smirk on his face. He cracks a joke at a young kid, reaching down to help him with a leg lift. He tells another kid to "loosen up,…

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Ryan was introduced to judo at the age of five by parents who were looking to keep Ryan and his siblings out of trouble. By age 7 Ryan was competing in national events and ultimately chose to narrow his sports away from other sports and toward judo with the ultimate goal of competing in the Olympic Games. "My experiences have given me the goal of being America 's first Olympic gold medalist in judo. This is what has driven me to the place that I am today," Ryan says. "I love judo and even… Continue

Sayaka Sensei began studying judo at the age of 5, under the instruction of her father, David Matsumoto, and grew to become a talented judo player in her own right. She currently has the most impressive list of competitive accomplishments at EBJI: She is a 7 time Senior National Champion, has been on 3 World Championship teams, and was a member of the 2008 Olympic Team. In December 2006, she graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a B.A. in Mass Communications

and…

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Orlando "Orly" Fuentes was an American powerhouse in the 90's. Visibly the most powerful judoka of the 65kg weight division. Orly had several great techniques. His tai otoshi and uchi mata were always visible, but he's devastating body lifts/slams were definitely memorable.



Orly is the head instructor of Pinecrest Judo Club in Florida.



Here's a snap shot of Orly's accomplishments:



• 1996 Olympic Team Member

• 2x World Team Member

• Jr. World Team Member

•… Continue

Chuck Jefferson began his Judo training at 5 years old under coach Ernie Smith at the Barstow Judo Club. Chuck had an instant love for the sport and earned his first junior national gold medal at 7 years old. He continued his training with Coach Smith compiling close to twenty junior national medals. At age 18 Chuck graduated from Barstow High School and moved on to train with the legendary judo program at San Jose State University under head coach Yoshihiro Uchida. It was now time to make the… Continue

World War II was a watershed for Kodokan Judo. Kano's death before the war, wartime demands and the Japanese surrender, and postwar occupation and the martial arts ban all contributed to a time of uncertainty in Judo, as in Japan. Kodokan's resurgence after the War was due primarily to two individuals: Kyuzo Mifune and US Air Force General Curtis LeMay.

Mifune was born a year after the Kodokan was founded, April 21, 1883 in Kuji City, Iwate Prefecture on Honshu Island. He…

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Mike Swain

Born: 12/21/60 (Elizabeth, NJ), Height 5' 9", Weight 71 kg
Address: 138 West Campbell Ave, Campbell, CA 95008


Sport: JUDO - Fifth Degree Black Belt (Godan)


Business: Swain Sports International 408-286-5836


Wife: Chie Swain (1992 - 61kg Olympian - Brazil)


Father-in-law: Chiaki Ishii (1972 - 95kg Olympic Bronze Medalist - Brazil)


Publications: The Clinch (book), Ashiwaza II (book), Mike Swain's Judo (video), Championship Grappling (video)



U.S.… Continue

James Steven ("Jim") Bregman (born November 17, 1941 in Arlington, Virginia) was a member of the first American team to compete in judo in the Olympics"…

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Masao Fukuma

Born: 1943 in Okayama, Japan

Trained: Okayama, Tokyo and Kanagawa

Record:

• 1965 All Japan National Team Tournament (Represented Kanagawa)

• 1968 US Senior Nationals 176 lbs - 2nd

• 1970 SPAAV - Open Class - 1st place

• Grand Champion - 1st place

Taught:

• Daijuken 1967-1969 • Venice 1967-1974 • Gardena YMCA 1967-1978

• Norwalk 1975-Present…

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