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Summer 2001 Newsletter
Page 1

Annual Golf Tournament

Monday, September 24, 2001
Cinnabar Hills, San Jose

First Annual SJSU Judo Team Reunion

October 11-14, 2001
Las Vegas, NV

US Open Judo Championships
October 11-14, 2001
Las Vegas, NV

Collegiate & High School Championships at SJSU
March 2002

Welcome Sensei Okano

Scholar Athletes

Endowment News

2001 Endowment Dinner

SJSU Judo Jr. Camp

SJSU Team Reunion

A Personal Note From Yosh Uchida


With the arrival of summer, things here in the world of SJSU Judo have heated up and we have been busier than ever. There have been several new endeavors and I would like to update you on some of the highlights.

We have hired Dick Norona as Executive Director for the Yoshihiro Uchida Endowment Fund. Dick has been doing a great job in his fundraising efforts to ensure the success of the future of Judo. If youCinnabar Hills have any ideas to help with our efforts, please contact Dick at 408-271-1099.

Mike Swain, Keith Nakasone, Dan Hatano, Yuzo Koga and Chuck Jefferson are doing an exceptional job personally coaching our athetes. These coaches have been volunteering their time to bring out the best qualities in our future stars and we thank them for all of their hard work.

The Pacific Rim Judo Championships were held in Los Angeles on June 22-23, 2001. Although my term as United States Judo President ended in December 2000, I am continuing as President of the Pacific Rim Judo Organization. SJSU Athletes Amy Tong and Taylor Takata competed at the World Championships.

We have been fortunate enough to receive a recent visit by Dick Gibson, a longtime friend to SJSU Judo. Dick was a member of the very first team to tour and compete in Japan in 1963. He is retired from the U.S. Diplomatic Corps and is former Consulate General.

The 11th Annual Yosh Uchida Golf Classic is on its way. Mark your calendars for September 24, 2001 at Cinnabar Hills Golf and Country Club. Steve Bonier and Mike Swain are the tournament directors and already have many new and fresh ideas that will make this year tournament unforgettable.

Many thanks for all of your support for the San Jose State Judo program. We thank you for all of your generosity in ensuring the future success of the Judo program.


Congratulations on Another Winning Year SJSU Judo 37th Collegiate Championship

SJSU Judo took the National Collegiate Championships Team title for the 37th time in 40 Collegiate Championships. Jose Bencosme (73kg Gold) was named Collegiate Male Player of the Year. SJSU Judo players weighed heavy in the medal count; Rosi Bartkowski (52kg Gold), Cindy Kono (70kg Silver, Open Bronze), Amy Tong (78kg Gold), Taylor Takata (60kg Gold), Brian Nitta (60kg Silver), Shozo Fukuda (66kg Gold), Casey Gambrel (66kg Silver), Eitan Gelber (90kg Gold) and Christian 'A' Arona (100kg Silver, Open Silver).

SJSU Wins Six Medals at Senior Nationals Competition


SJSU Judo team players came home from the 2001 Senior Nationals Competition in Orlando, Florida with five medal winners. Sandra Bacher led the way bringing home two golds.

Sandra Bacher - 70kg Gold & Open Gold
Amy Tong - 78kg Gold
Taylor Takata - 60kg Bronze
Chuck Jefferson - 73kg Silver
Tim Wilson - 100kg Bronze


Alumni Welcome Sensei Isao Okano


SJSU Judo Alumni welcome Sensei Isao Okano and his wife Robin Okano. Sensei Okano, 1964 Olympic Gold Medalist, two time all Japan Champion and two time World Champion is spending August and September in San Jose. While in San Jose he held coaching clinics which SJSU Judo coaches attended.

Sensei Okano is looking forward to bringing a team from Japan to work out at San Jose State University for several weeks in February of 2002.

Sensei Okano is a Professor at Ryutsu Kaesai University, outside of Tokyo, Japan. A special welcome and thank you to Sensei Okano and his wife Robin for their visit this summer.


Judo Scholar Athletes for 2000-2001 School Year


Eleven Judo players, both undergraduates and graduate school students, held a 3.0 or higher grade point average coming out of the fall 2000 semester at SJSU and were recognized at the May 5th, 2001 Judo Awards Banquet.

Rosi Bartkowski Fall '00 3.80 Overall 3.63 Undergraduate
Cindy Kono Fall '00 3.53 Undergraduate
Eitan Gelber Fall '00 3.80 Overall 3.72 Undergraduate
Jordan Hambleton Fall '003.37 Undergraduate
Januz Labedz Fall '00 3.58 Undergraduate
Marlon Lopez Overall 3.23 Undergraduate
Brian Nitta Fall '00 3.32 Undergraduate
Tetsu Okano Fall '00 3.3.4 Overall 3.27 Undergraduate
Taylor Takata Fall '00 3.76 First Semester Undergraduate
Ilya Ronin Fall '00 4.00 Overall 3.62 Graduate School
David Williams Fall '00 3.30 Overall 3.46 Graduate School


Judo News & Notes


Robert Berland, SJSU Judo Alumnus, was appointed National Team Coach at the U.S. Senior Nationals in Orlando, Florida this past spring. Bob is currently slated to be working very closely with the men's senior national team in their preparations towards the 2004 Olympic Games. USA Judo has a nice mix of seasoned veterans blended with some young up and coming players with great potential. Bob hopes to help expose their strengths and eliminate their weaknesses and in the process bring back some medals to the American Judo community.

Judo Endowment News - 2001 Endowment Dinner


At the first annual meeting of the SJSU Judo Team, Dick Norona reported on the effort to revitalize the Yoshihiro Uchida Judo Endowment. Since that first reporting, a lot has happened.

As of May, 2001,33individuals have volunteered to raise $10,000 each overthe next five years. While contributions to date are most encouraging, additional volunteer fundraisers are needed to reach our first tier goal of 50 fundraisers.

The Endowment is an investment in perpetuity. The base contributions are held in the SJSU Foundation. Only a portion of the earnings are annually available to support Judo Team operations. Over time the endowment base grows as do funds available forthe teams expenses. This is essential to guarantee the future of the SJSU Judo Team.


Endowment Contributors, Fundraisers, and Volunteers Play Vital Role


Endowment contributors and volunteers play a vital role in the success of our program. We would like to thank and recognize you for your valuable contributions of time and financial support to ensure the ongoing winning tradition and spirit of SJSU Judo.

Endowment contributions as of May 2001 include:

Awards, Interest, Other - $15,248
Ishimatsu Family Trust - $10,000
Mr. & Mrs. George Uchida - $10,000
Mr. & Mrs. Gary Newquist - $10,000
Mr. & Mrs. Phillip Uyesato - $10,000
Mr. & Mrs. Dick Norona - $2,080
Mr. & Mrs. Walt Dabel - $2,000
Mr. & Mrs. Eduardo Cerna - $2,000
Mr. & Mrs. Mike Swain - $2,000
Japan Chamber of Commerce - $1,000
NancyTuthill - $1,000

Total as of May 2001: $65,328

The following generous indivisuals have pledged to support the SJSU Judo Endowment by raising $2000 per year for the next five years:

Mr. & Mrs. Katsuhide Ando Mr. Stephen Lee
Ms. Sandy Bacher Mr. Gary Martin
Mr. Robert Berland Mr. Gary Matteoni
Mr. Steve Bonior Mr. Keith Nakasone
Mr. Dave Culler Mr. Jim Pennington
Mr. Dan Hatano Mr. Ilya Ronin
Mr. Steve Hoyt Mr. Lee Sands
Mr. John Kawamoto Mr. Michiyasu Sengoku
Mr. Dan Kikuchi Mr. Eiji Watanabe
Dr. Glenn Kitasoe Mr. David Williams
Mr. vEugene Kushnir Mr. Juanita Zuniga
Mr. Mack Kusumoto Mr. Kazuo Shinohara

Photos


Left to Right: Yosh Uchida, Dr. Michael Ego, John Kawamoto, Katsudhide Ando, Ed Cerna, Mike Swain, Bob Zambetti

Left to Right: Gary Matteoni, Gary Newquist, Steve Bonior, Howard Fish, Nozomu Iwasaki, Carol Stroud

Left to Right: Keith Nakasone, Sandy Bacher, Dick Norona.
Bottom Row: Walt Dabel, Jeff Reed, Danny Kikuchi, Chuck Jefferson.

Left to Right: Jim Pennington, Dave Williams, Gary Newquist, Sam Piearcy, Juanita Zuniga, Tom Myers

SJSU Judo Junior Camp - July 2001


A Total of 49 young Judokas attended the camp at San Jose State University. John Serbin and Cindy Kono, under the direction of Mike Swain and Dan Hatano, lead all of the sessions. In addition, many SJSU Alumni and varsity team players assisted to make the camp an overall success.

A special thank you to Ronand Tillie Mayeda along with Gen Tanaka for heading up the dinners which hosted 50 to 60 people every night during the camp. San Jose Buddhist Judo Club families also supported this event and helped make it a financial success.


First Annual SJSU Judo Team Reunion At the U.S. Open Judo Championships


"Come one, Come all... We're gonna have a ball!"

SJSU Judo has booked 20 rooms in Las Vegas at the U.S. Open Judo Championships, October 11-14, 2001.

Our idea is that this is a great opportunity to see some world class Judo players, take a break from the daily routine, & meet some old friends all in a "playgrounf" setting.

Hope to see you there!

For more information and to RSVP, contact: Dick Norona at 408-271-1099.