It seems that Jim has been involved since as far back as most living judoka can remember. First as a competitor and medalist as a heavyweight., as a member of the great Johnny Osako’s Dojo in Chicago. After retiring from competition, he served as leader in the Chicago Yudanshikai, and travelled to the AAU Judo meeting and served on various committees in leadership positions. In 1974, he was the Pan American Games Team Manager and again in 1976 was the Team Manager for the United States Olympic Judo Team. Jim longtime involvement and familiarity with all phases of Judo culminated in his last as Chairperson of the Promotion Committee for USA Judo.

Howard Fish began his judo career at the age of 15 years old and was a competitive athlete on the San Jose University Judo team. While on the team, Fish won gold in the 1965 National Collegiate Championships. He also appeared on the 1968 cover of Black Belt Magazine. In 1968, Fish received a four-month scholarship from Black Belt Magazine in order to train at the Kodokan. He represented San Jose State and the USA in the 1968 World University Judo Games, where he won two bronze medals; where he was the only representative of the United States in this tournament. Howard was competitive on the National stage, where he won bronze in the 1966 US National Championships, and gold in the 1967 US National Championships.

Gene LeBell has been involved in judo over 65 years. He won the nationals several times in the 1950s and was also Grand Champion. In 1954 and 1955, while only 22 years of age, he captured both the heavyweight and overall Amateur Athletic Union National Judo Championships. He also raised the visibility of the sport of judo by winning the first ever mixed martial arts competition and using judo in literally hundreds of movies and TV shows in which he appeared as actor and stunt person.

Paul Maruyama was a member of the first American team to compete in judo in the 1964 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. He was the United States national champion in the 154 pound weight class in 1966, 1970 and 1975, and placed second in the open weight class in 1966. Maruyama also served as the coach of the United States judo team for the 1980 Summer Olympic Games, boycotted by the United States, and the 1984 Summer Olympic Games. Maruyama went on to teach martial arts and Japanese language at the United States Air Force Academy, and served as president of the Japan-America Society of Southern Colorado.

During the 1960’s, Hayward 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 and 1967. The 7^th degree judo black belt has authored several books on the art including, “Foot Throws” and “The Judo Textbook”. Master Hayward Nishioka has also more than 38 instructional tapes on the sport.

Tosh Seino started his judo career in 1957 at the age of 18 years old. In 1959 he competed for the first time in AAU National Judo Championships and won a bronze medal in the 70kg weight class. From there, he became a four U.S. National Champion, two Air Force Grand Champion, a Pan American Champion and took fourth place in the 1965 and 1967 World Championships. Seino is currently teaching judo twice a week at the Gardena Judo Dojo as a technical advisor and holds rank of 7^th degree black belt.

Hal Sharp has been involved in judo for over 70 years and coach of Gardena Judo Club for more than 30 years. With Hal it is difficult to say if judo has influenced him or if he has influenced judo more. He is the first person to put out a real book on judo that an American could read and learn from. One of Sharp’s most significant contribution has been his books, including The Sport of Judo, published in 1956 and Techniques of Judo, published in 1957 and STILL in print.