Member News

February 28, 2007

World and Olympic Champion Isao Okano leads an instructional session.

Mike Swain, World Champion and San Jose Assistant Coach, worked one-on-one with camp participants.

Nearly 50 athletes participated in the three-day training camp.

In addition to judo practices, athletes also participated in strength and conditioning sessions.

USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University Hosted Elite High School Players Over the Weekend

The USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University played host to a crew of elite high school judo players at a three-day training camp, Feb. 23-25 in San Jose, Calif.

Isao Okano, one of judo’s living legends, served as a special guest instructor.  Okano, a 1964 Olympic Champion and two-time World Champion, was visiting from Japan.  Considered to be one of judo’s living legends, Okano often spends two months a year working with the San Jose State Judo Team.  

Nearly 50 athletes participated in the camp that was led by the following San Jose State Coaches:

Mike Swain – World Champion and four-time Olympian

Keith Nakasone – 1980 Olympian & Pan American Champion

Chuck Jefferson – Two-time Pan American Champion

Shozo Fukuda – Collegiate National Champion

Tetsu Okano – 2004 Olympic Team Alternate

The camp also included a weight training and conditioning seminar led by San Jose State Judo Strength and Condoning Coach Eitan Gelber, C.S.C.S. 

The training camp ran from Friday evening through Sunday afternoon during which time the high school athletes had the opportunity to train with the National Collegiate Champions. 

The junior attendees included:  

Paula Duarte (57kg) – 2006 High School National Champion

Ross Nakamura (66kg) – 2006 High School National Champion and 2007 Pan American Junior Team Member

Wesley Thomas (81kg) – 2006 USA Judo Junior Olympic National Champion and 2007 Junior Pan American Team Member

Jeff Fujimoto (60kg) – 2006 USA Judo Junior Olympic National Champion

Kyle Taketa (53kg) – 2006 USA Judo Junior Olympic National Champion and 2005 Pan American Infantile Champion

Tony Sangimino (100kg) – 2006 Pan American Juvenile silver medalist in the +90kg division 

For more information on the USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University, visit www.sjsujudo.com.  Scholarships also are available for athletes interested in attending the university.