My love for sports goes back to my grade school years in Charlotte, North Carolina during the 1940’s.  One of my fondest memories of those years was when taking my younger brother to the swimming pool at the local YMCA and also being a Cub Scout.  While at the YMCA pool during a late spring weekend I had to stop swimming and find a rest room in the main building. I found myself lost and then accidentally wondered into a room and watched a small oriental man demonstrate what seemed to me then as some kind of magic. He would throw others down and disarm them -- with little or no apparent effort. There were a few other kids my age there, so the man asked if I would like to join them. It was my first knowledge of the little known and unappreciated art of Jujitsu and/or Judo; rarely seen in many regions of these United States.

My first lessons in the Martial Arts began at 11 years of age.  So, my grade school years consisted of afternoon swims, Jujitsu or Judo, movies on Saturdays (9 cents to get in), school and laying out in the yard gazing up at the stars.  A full life of a boy!  This was a time never to forget – May 1952 through April 1953 -- my life in the Martial Arts began.

Before finishing sixth grade we moved to Greensboro, NC where I finished grade school and moved on up to Jr. High. There was a wrestling class available after school hours so I joined in and found that one of the coaches was a Judo player as well.  I continued with sports in Jr. High and played a little league baseball, a little league football, school wrestling team, did a lot of yard work for people for money ($2 to cut a yard) -- and Martial Arts at the Methodist Church we attended. It was Judo this time, but, not as it is seen today. The Judo instructor was also the Boy Scout master at the church.  Judo practice was only two or three times a month during that period; however, that ended when we moved to Tennessee where I began high school. While I was far from mastering Judo in those first years I did learn some fundamentals that lasted over my career.

In 1955 we moved to Knoxville, Tennessee. Because a few of us rowdy school guys got into some trouble we were required to join the Boy's Club and take part in the activities.  One of the trainers there was a black belt in Judo and took me under his wings. He was one of the Air Force people who had been sent to Japan for training at the Kodokan in the early 1950’s and after he was discharged came home to find no jobs available, so he took over activities at the Boy’s Club.  Judo practice was in those days when ever we showed up or a couple times per week.  In between football, wrestling, girls, hot rod cars and everything else I managed to be promoted to Yonkyu (4th class white belt). I used an oversized Levi blue-jean jacket without buttons as my Judo uniform.

After graduating from high school I worked at various jobs and began the process of joining the U.S. Air Force in late 1959.  During the late 1950’s a deep recession was going on and jobs were hard to find, especially for a high school graduate without fulfilling his draft obligation (military duty).  So, I opted to join the U.S. Air Force (My Career) and while boot camp early in 1960 I met a Nisei (second generation Japanese-American) Judo competitor by the name of Masato J. Yamashita. Masato and I practiced together for over two years at Lackland AFB, Texas, Chanute AFB, Illinois, and finally Naha AB, Okinawa.  His abilities in Judo were very well known both in the U.S. and the Far East. He later became one of the youngest men in the USA to obtain Godan (5th degree).  

One of our drill instructors at Lackland AFB, Texas was SSGT Linan, was one of the black belt Judo instructors who had obtained his rank at the Kodokan in the early 1950's.  After the few weeks of basic training (boot camp) we could begin to talk to the drill instructor (TI) without shaking in our boots and he would let us workout with the Judo club he ran. We still had to be military! Mas bought me my first Judogi! They were like $2 back then.  After several weeks of training we were transferred to attend technical school at Chanute AFB, Illinois.

The Chanute Judo Club was great; with 20 or 30 students there and we had plenty of Judo activity for off duty times. Mas promoted me to Sankyu (3rd brown belt) there.  Once a short, wide Judoka came to visit our Judo class and was introduced as SSgt. Rick Mertens (deceased, 03/1999).  Rick was active in the Air Force Judo Association so he recruited club members in the organization.   Rick was active in the Air Force Judo Association so recruited club members in the organization. We joined the Air Force Judo Association (AFJA) then I would remain a regular member until 1969 when I became a life member.  The early membership fee was only $2 and year and the first life membership was only $100.

Simulator Maintenance School Chanute AFB, IL. Yamashita standing second from left, me kneeling third from left.

After more than six months of school we were called upon for overseas duty on Naha Air Base, Okinawa; a small island 600 miles south of Tokyo, Japan. Mas and I first had to help move some equipment from Ashiya AB, Japan to Okinawa, so we stayed there for a couple months and then flew to Naha AB, Okinawa.  After returning Okinawa we were accidentally bused to the Kadena AFB transient barracks.  We spent several hours downtown in Koza drinking and having fun, but upon returning to the barracks a red-faced Master Sergeant was waiting of us, not happy either, to take us to Naha Air Base.  We made friends on the way down and found out he was leaving for the States soon, so was not too mad at us.

Right after we arrived at Naha AB we began practicing Judo at the base gym where they had a stack of tatami in a corner, but no Judo people to be found.  Masato and I would workout every afternoon after work and as time passed airmen would drop in and join the Judo activities.  After a while we established the Naha AB Judo Club with around 20 members and had a patch made featured in the image above.  Some members had Judo experience and led us down to Naha where we began to workout at several Judo dojos, including the Naha Police Dojo that had some high ranking Judo sensei to help us out.  In those days we considered the Okinawa Judo as very good and wondered why they did not participate in tournaments in Japan or other countries in the Far East.  The only answer we got was that they were not interested in sport Judo as they practiced Judo as more of a Martial Art.

LEFT:  Naha AB Gym in 1961.  RIGHT:  Me in standing outside the Gym back door in Judogi.

Since we would drop in to work out at the Naha Police Dojo occasionally I continued to go there to practice and learn from the black belts.  Of course, we met and practiced with many other American GI’s from different military services and some would become life long friends.  Also, this was one of the dojos that sponsored a variety of different types of shiai (contests); from regular championships, rank promotion batsugan and kohaku shiai.  There were no regular Judo classes, per say, but one could just drop in any time and receive training and instruction.

Photo of the Naha Police Dojo or Ryukyu Police Academy in the late 1950’s or early 1960’s.  Not sure when this photo was taken; Police Headquarters was in a nearby modern office building in the late 1950’s.

1961 National Judo Team Champions - Eleven man U.S. Air Force team wins team championship for the first time at the 9th National A.A.U. Judo Championships. TOP: Yamashita is kneeling at third from right. BOTTOM: Sitting, L2R: Jim Jarvis, Mas Yamashita, Sam Boone.

1961 National Judo Team Champions (March 1961) - Eleven man U.S. Air Force team wins team championship for the first time at the 9th National A.A.U. Judo Championships: Standing (left to right) Major Swift, U.S. Air Force Special Services Officer, A1C Ronald Hubbard of MacDill A.F.B., Florida, A1C Ronald Hudson of Yokota Air Base, Japan, SSgt Rudolph Fuller of Lockborne A.F.B., Ohio, TSgt Nelson Cross of Fuchu Air Station, Japan (2nd Place Heavyweight Div.), SSgt George Harris of Travis A.F.B., California (1st Place Heavyweight Div & 1961 Grand Champion), Mr. Mel Bruno of Offutt A.F.B., Nevada - Civilian head of Air Force Judo Program, 5th Degree Black Belt and President of the Air Force Judo Association.  Second Row (left to right), SSgt Charles Brown of MacDill A.F.B. - Team coach, SSgt Robey Reed of Stead A.F.B., Nevada, SSgt James Lord of Stead A.F.B., Nevada, A2C Toshio Seino of Davis-Monthan A.F.B., Arizona (160 lb. Champion), Lt. James Tanaka of the Air Force Academy, Colorado - Project officer, Mr. Joseph Knight, National A.A.U. Judo Chairman. Front Row (left to right) (kneeling) Mr. Yosh Uchida, 1961 tournament director, A3C James Jarvis of Dow A.F.B, Maine, A2C Masato Yamashita of Naha Air Base, Okinawa, missing – injured, A2C Jeff Beish of Naha Air Base, Okinawa.

Also, we Naha members would work out at the Kadena Judo Club with Ronald Johnson (Shodan), Richard Whitcher (Sandan), Bob Coffey (Nidan), Preston Pugh (Nidan), Edward Kirby (Ikkyu), Leroy Hutchenson Jr. (Shodan), Vetus McCray (Ikkyu) and Stanley Arakawa (Sankyu). Also, we would work out with other military Judo clubs on the island and became friends with the Kadena Judo Club.  Robey Reed, well known Air Force Judo competitor, was at Kadena at the time, but was leaving for an assignment in Japan.

In 1962, while in training for the 5th Air Force Championships, I spent several days studying at the Kodokan and then the next week attended the Championships.  We used the 5-bad point system then and even though winning my first three matches, two were decisions to pickup two bad points.  Then I lost for 3 bad points and as eliminated.

Photo, workout at Naha Police Dojo , Okinawa: L2R:  Miyazato sensei, me, Jose Vasquez, Edward Kirby, Preston Pugh, Rich Whitcher.

The 1962 Okinawa Air Force Judo Team heading for Japan for the 5th Air Force Championships. Front row (L.R.) Bernard ("Butsy") Wrye, Ronald Johnson, Richard Whitcher, Bob Coffey, Preston Pugh, and James Hatch. Back row (L.R.) Jeffrey Beish, Edward Kirby, Leroy Hutchenson Jr., Jose Vasquez, Vetus McCray and Stanley Arakawa.

1962 - 5^th Air Force Championships.  LEFT: "Butsy" Wrye and Jim Hatch after workout and RIGHT: where I scored Ippon on an opponent with my tokui waza, hidari seiootoshi

Okinawa is the birthplace of Okinawa-te ("Okinawa Ti"), or Okinawa-hands, eventually called, Karate -- the Art of Empty Hand Combat.  Not wishing to lose the opportunity, I then sought out a teacher of this art and found Okinawa's premier Karate Teacher, Shoshin Nagamine, whose school in Naha was very well known.  I would spend many hours at practice there until attaining the rank of Shodan in the school of Okinawan Matsubayashi-ryu Karate-do. Also, Nagamine issued us a wooden placard with our name and rank on it so we would hang it up on that dojo wall to signify that we were in attendance.  Some months before that, late 1961, his son was awarded Shodan and is now the head of the dojo and ranked Kudan (9th dan).  Since we did not compete in shiai or kumite events the wooded placard was for the dojo use only.  When I was awarded Shodan in May 1962 and the certificate was in the form of a scroll and when I left Okinawa Nagamine sensei used my name placard to cover a small wooden box with the scroll in it for a keepsake.  Unfortunately the box and scroll were lost in 1971 and never returned to me.   Nagamine sensei passed away in 1997 at the age of 90.  Much information about this school can be found at:

Nagamine Matsubayashi-ryu karate dojo. TOP: as it looked in the 1960’s. CENTER  Modern photo of dojo and BOTTOM: modern appearance of inside of dojo.

Michael Cox (http://www.okinawan-shorinryu.com/) sent me a neat photo of Nagamine sensei in his early Judo days, shown in this image:

 
Shoshin Nagamine sensei, receiving Judo shodan in 1946. 
  
 

Miyazato Ei'ichi O'Sensei; Judo and Goju-ryu Master

Since Miyazato sensei was President of the Okinawan Judo federation the U.S. Air Force would invite him to accompany the Air Force Judo Team from Okinawa to Japan when we needed a coach.  He liked that because it was a free trip to Japan to see relatives and catch up on politics.   He as a very good Judoka as well as Goju-ryu karate master.  I remember once he drove me to his new dojo in north side of Naha and allowed me to train there for an hour or so.  After that I would go up once a week to train and learn from him.  Goju is a very different type of karate that I was used to and I was usually drained of energy after practice. At any rate I would never practice Matsubayashi-ryu  or Goju-ryu karate formerly at a dojo again.  Miyazato sensei passed away in 1999.

Miyazato Ei'ichi O'Sensei - Goju Ryu Karate-Do Okinawa and President of the Okinawan Judo Federation.  Photo of Miyazato at barracks window on Johnson Air Base, Japan.

While stationed at Westover AFB, Massachusetts (Strategic Air Command) my time was limited so I didn't practice but a few times there. Other Judo people at Westover were Sam Williams, Ronald Hubbard (see placard below; Judo Olympic Tryout), Jerry Cassell, Guy Coachman, Paul Shaffer and Ed Meade, and more. The Judo club at Westover was a very active club and was visited by many of the great American Judo players of that time. I worked out whenever I was at the base but that was not frequent due to the TDY trips.  One of the Curtis-Wright Tech reps for the B52 Simulator section was Judo player, Nidan, and we would practice together after work during those brief periods that I was at the home base. He broke my little toe on the mat!  Cannot remember his name.  Ronald Hubbard was in the 1964 Olympic tryouts, but according to some people his wife put a stop to that.

It must have been bad luck to return to the USA then because only a couple of months later, in October 1962, the Cuban Missile Crisis erupted and the wing commander told us that "we were target number one for the USSR, so think in terms of being expendable!"  That was a scary time, especially for a military person on a SAC base.  Then and only one other time did I watch every B-52, KC-97 and KC-135 take off, with all bombers taking off within fifteen minutes.  We were sure theend of days were at hand.  Things calmed down and we more or less forget about it. It did delay deployment of the B-52 mobile simulator until January 1963 Also, the Air Force extended our enlistments and after that I decided to stay in for another enlistment.

In January 1963 I went on the B52 mobile simulator to Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio where my old friend Preston Pugh was an instructor at the club that was housed in the old Civilian Club that had been built before the Second World War!  He and I were at the Kodokan and tournaments together in Okinawa and Japan. The mats were on the stage of the big club and eventually the Judo club bought the place and made a 100x30-foot Judo mat on the main dance floor of the club. Bill Powell was the head instructor.

The mobile simulator would be located for a month at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio; and then a month at Turner AFB, Georgia and a month at McCoy AFB, Florida.  In late July and early August 1963 I attended the Armed Forces Judo Training Camp at the Denver School of Judo and we all stayed at Lowey AFB, Colorado (see the photo below).  Many of the participants in the photo are still friends and we correspond regularly. Some of the Judoka in the photo above are:  George Harris (Back row, 3rd from left), Jerry Hays (back row, 11th from left), me (back row, 4th from right), Tosh Seino (kneeling, 8th from left).  I remember that someone there gave me a head butt and broke my nose.

The First Armed Forces Judo Training Camp at the Denver School of Judo for the 1963 Armed Forces Team in late July and early August 1963. We stayed at Lowry Air Force Base.  I am standing 4th from right.

Our mobile simulator was also located at Turner AFB, Georgia and I practiced at their club and have forgotten all the names, except for sensei John Sinclair (Nidan).  Judo activity was only once or twice a week. John also had Judo club at YMCA in Albany.  It was a good club and I learned well.

The next location was at McCoy AFB, Florida and it was not a great place for Judo, I think a guy named Charles Brown was the instructor there and my time was limited so I didn't practice but once there.

Much of my time from mid-1962 until leaving the U.S. Air Force in early 1968 I traveled extensively and missed training or tournaments, so my record is incomplete to say the least.  In early 1964 I rushed to base operations to catch a flight out to the mobile simulator at McCoy AFB in Orlando, Florida and had arranged with one of our simulator instructors to swear me in for re-enlistment.  He was a fine officer and was kind enough to drop of my papers to headquarters.  Off I flew into the blue yonder as a career Air Force NCO.  While I missed the necessary training the various air bases I traveled to offered me the opportunity to meet Judoka all over the USA and that was more important in my training that going to tournaments.

In February 1965 I was transferred to Bergstrom AFB, (Austin) Texas.  Finding the base gym was next door to the simulator department I met Harold " Robby " Robinson (Nidan) who was the head Judo instructor and settled in with his club. From that day on I practiced regularly many times per week and attended many other Judo activities in the area. We attended the 2nd Air Force Judo Championships at Barksdale AFB, LA soon after I arrived there; however; since I had little or no time for training my successes were limited and I was eliminated for competition after two decision wins and a loss. 

It was nice to finally meet the sensei of my former Naha AB Judo friends, Robby Robinson, who had attended the SAC-ARDC  Self-Defense Training program (Combative Measures Training)  in 1964.  It seems like many of the Judoka of the 1950's and 1960's followed similar paths.

1964 - Camp Drake, Tokyo Japan. SAC Class training at Self-Defense Force Training Facility. Professor Kotani is behind class to extreme right. Mel Bruno is 3rd from the left. Robinson, the SAC Kodokan Training Course Senior NCO is seated at the extreme left.  Majority of students are SAC Air Policemen

One of our members of the Bergstrom Judo Club was Wayne Atkins; three time Texas State Judo Champion. He was a civil servant working on Bergstrom AFB and also one of the local stock car drivers. Wayne was a great friend and is standing second from left in the back row of the photo below.  Also, pictured in the image below are Rick Mertens and Gerry Reid.

Roy "Pop" Moore, Sr., foster father to Mel Bruno - the father of Air Force Judo, had a dojo in Austin where we would work out occasionally. Roy was a student of the founder of Judo, J. Kano. He was around 75 years old at the time but as strong as a bull and a master Judo teacher. The Bergstrom club had a going away party for "Pop" when he retired and moved away.

Robby recommended me for Shodan in May of 1965, so I relented and accepted the promotion and was certified in September 1965.  Maybe promotions were low on my priority list.

Many of our club members were B52 and KC135 crew members who joined in the activities after having combative measures training by Robby. In addition, several of Austin's policemen were members of the club. Our club was very large and work out was nearly every evening and during the daytime on weekends. A booster club had formed to sponsor many of our activities. Our club participated with area Judo clubs and several of Austin's community activities.

Our club participated in many of the local activities around Austin and nearby towns. Such activities included teaching or demonstrating Judo and Karate in nearby schools and community centers, as well as during Armed Forces Day at Bergstrom. Our club was awarded "Largest Judo Club in the AFJA" during 1965 and 1966. We had class every week day evening and on Saturday, or a tournament on many weekends.

Austin Police Judo class while at Bergstrom AFB, Texas in 1965. The guy standing to the left was a detective with the Austin Vice and Narcotics and I am standing close to center under the basketball net. The guy on the left and on the mat just in front the standing cop was Billy Speed -- who was shot to death by Charles Whitman on the Texas Tower.

This was at the beginning of the class and by the next year we had many more students from the Police department. The Police also had special tournaments and would train at our club. Our club was awarded to largest Judo club in the world for 1965 and 1966. Much of our success in building it was the cops and SAC bomber crew members. We had many of them in Judo class and they were required to take out combative measures classes (hand-to-hand combat).

One evening after we had been at a Judo and karate demonstration with KNOW Spinners basketball team my wife, June, and I returned to our apartment at 22nd St, Austin, Texas and were jumped by two teenagers. I fought them off and they ran. I also was the assistant Karate instructor for Bergstrom AFB's Tony Lasit (Yodan) who represented the Kajukenbo Karate Association. I was awarded honorary Black Belt in Kajukenbo. Tony had studied under the originator of Kajukenbo, Emperiado and Kenpo with a man named Professor Chow in Hawaii. Tony is the Godfather of our son, Donny, who is a U.S. Naval Officer.  Both Tony sifu, Robby sensei and this author are still in contact with each other after more than four decades.

My wife, June, was a student at the Bergstrom Judo Club and learned the fundamentals of Kodokan Judo as well as officiating and club management.  She always was there to help me run the clubs over the years and actually was in charge of the administration of all my Judo club activates for the next four decades.  While our son was only a year or two old during 1966 he was too young to participate in Judo activities we never the less started him off with some basic activities.

LEFT: Me standing on flight line during 1966 Armed Forces Day.  RIGHT: The kajukenbo kenpo class at Bergstrom led by Tony Lasit. A few of Tony’s first students to be promoted where John Bowen, Ed Burns, James Calvo, Joe Cappell, Dennis Kijanski, John Mitvalsky, and Don Postell.

I was assigned to the B52 Mobile Simulator and was required to be TDY every few months. I would work out at the base clubs wherever we traveled. Once, while TDY to Columbus AFB, Mississippi I was invited to join in workouts at a small Judo club that had just started. They were interested in joining the AFJA so I registered the whole club. Several bases have small clubs and workouts were scarce.  The only tournament I could participate in was a total loss for me so I decided to quit competing and just help Robby teach the classes.  During my entire Judo career training for competition was never available to me because of the extensive traveling from air base to base.  Maybe competition for me was never meant to be. While on the road trips I would drop in on Jerry Reid’s Carswell AFB Judo club and work out with his students. Jay Cooper was one of the instructors at Carswell and I became friends.

Strategic Air Command (SAC) was moving their operations from Bergstrom and most of us were transferred to other SAC bases during the latter part of 1966. In September 1966 I was transferred to Carswell AFB, Texas and took over the Judo club from Jerry Reid. Jerry was the head Judo Instructor at Carswell, assisted by Jay Cooper. Also, one of the Physical Conditioning specialists, Ray Nadeau, who was a Judo Shodan would help out a little when I would be on travel time, but was not really too reliable.  Jerry retired from the Air Force shortly after I joined his club and Jay went to another base assignment, so I took control of the club. This club only had a few members and I started a club at the Carswell Youth club. Since I was TDY much of the time and did not have an assistant the club did not grow. I did have good contact with Ace Sukigara, who lived in Fort Worth after discharge from the Air Force. Ace and I were competitors before but very good friends. I assisted him with his club and we had limited combined club activities.

The KC-135 simulator arrived and I was assigned back to the simulator shop. We began TDY trips again to the KC-135 Mobile Simulator to Barksdale AFB, LA and other bases. Rick Mertens and George Emert were the instructors at the Judo club there. I worked out whenever possible and would help George down at LSU occasionally with his Judo clubs.  Several TDY trips to Clinton-Sherman AFB, Oklahoma was nice when I found a former Judo friend and tournament opponent (cannot remember his name).  Also, I worked out at the Little Rock AFB Judo Club with J.D. Jones and others that I had met at Barksdale AFB in early 1965 at the 2nd. Air Force Championships.

During On the Job Training (OJT) for the 7-level testing the Air Force offered trainees the Capital Radio Engineering Institute (CREI) Electronic Engineering Technology. Since I had nearly completed my associates degree this set me up to finished the credit hours needed. My college hours were piling up.  Received an Associates Degree in Electronics Engineering with the University of Maryland, the U.S. Air Force Institute (USAFI), and the Capital Radio Engineering Institute (CREI) during first four years in U.S. Air Force. Received the Bachelors of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering with Capital Radio Engineering Institute (CREI) /New York Institute of Technology (NYIT). This university is currently the Capital University in Washington, DC.  Majoring in Electronics Engineering Science for Industrial Automatic Control and Computer Control Systems (Computer Science).

In February 1968 I left the U.S. Air Force and moved to New York as an engineer for Link Aviation.  I worked out at the Binghamton YMCA with my son and at Hidi Otoshi Judo/Karate club. After several field assignments I was reassigned as a Project Engineer for Air Force Flight Dynamics Laboratory, the Air Force Research and Development Command, Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio where I returned to the Kittyhawk Judo Club that had grown to the largest club in the United States and was assigned a junior instructor.

The Kittyhawk junior class had over a hundred members that practiced three times per week.  John Powell (Sandan), Johnny Barton (Nidan), Ernie Curry (Shodan), Joan Millay (Shodan), Bonny Corte (Shodan), Dave Thorne (Shodan), Dana Rogers (Shodan) and others.  After Judo was not scheduled in the 1968 Olympics the Judo team dropped by Kittyhawk on tour and worked out with the seniors at the club.  There at least a dozen Judoka on the team but all I remember was Rene Zeelenberg, Rene Pomerelle, and Paul Maruyama. We would also meet with the Lockbourne AFB, Judo Club in Columbus Ohio where Dean Tower had moved to and would have small tournaments with his team. I met Dean at Kadena AFB before I left for the States and we became friends.

My wife, June, returned to Judo practice at the Kittyhawk Judo Club under the instruction of Joan Millay, Judy Baker,  Bonny Corte and Sue McConnell, some of the top USA female Judoka.  June would assist me at times with the junior class and took care of the class administration work.  Our son, Donny (USJA LM-1009), actually began formal Judo class during 1969 in my Kittyhawk classes and would continue to practice after that.

LEFT: Fukuda sensei (now kudan) teaches a ju-no-kata class at Kittyhawk Judo Club at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. A few of the senior members were John Powell, Johnny Barton, Ernie Curry, Joan Millay, Bonny Corte, Sue McConnell, Dave Thorne.  CENTER:  Kittyhawk Judo Club Membership card. RIGHT: News Clip of Kotani sensei visit.

In January 1971 I was assigned to Bremgarten AB, Germany as Field Engineer for RF4E Flight Simulator for the German Air Force.  Bremgarten is south west of Freiburg in a small town of Eshbach.  German airman worked out in Judo at their gym and also in Freiburg where we visited two Judo clubs, one at the University of Freiburg.  While my practice sessions were not frequent they never the less welcomed me several times a month while living there.

Returning to New York I went back to Hidi Otoshi’s club and would work out occasionally there until January 1973 we moved to Miami, Florida and during a period from March 1973 through January 1978 I was head instructor in several Judo clubs and trained thousands of students, assisted several other instructors in the area as well. I established several Judo clubs in the Dade Country Community School system and helped to found several other clubs here in the area. During the mid-1970's I became cofounder of the first all black Judo Club in Miami, the Carver Judo Club, and signed the instructor's recommendation to Shodan. The club is still operating.

From early in 1973 I began to assist teaching in local Judo clubs beginning with the Kolligian Judo Clubs, Miami, Florida (February 1973 - March 1975, Assistant Instructor). I created several Judo clubs after that and founded the Sylvania JudoClub, Miami, Florida (February 1974 - March 1975), the Silver Bluff Judo Club, Miami, Florida (March 1974 – February 1977, and replaced Len Vieira at the Homestead AFB Judo Club, Florida (January 1976 - January 1978), and was affiliated with the Pensacola Area Judo Clubs, Florida as Assistant Coach/Instructor under the care of Harold G. ("Robby") Robinson (Godan).

During one of Rick Merten's visits with us in Miami he signed papers for my promotion to Sandan, but I forgot to send in the recommendation and with the fee.  Later on Robby signed my papers for sandan and he reminded to be sure and pay the fee.  Promotions to me have always been like vapor-paper and meant little for my enjoyment of Judo.

With my all night working schedule my time was limited during the day light time so my wife, June, took care of many of the club activities and at times would fill in for me as sensei.  She was often called “Mrs. Sensei” by the younger students and she recalls those days as fond memories.  During the 1975 USJA Junior National Championships she replaced me as team coach and chaperon and then accompanied the team to Decatur, Illinois.  Our son, Donny (USJA LM-1009), would continue Judo during 1973 until 1979 and would become a noted Judo competitor who would attend the 1975 USJA Nationals.

In all the years of assisting and teaching Judo only one Judo student was injured at a club I was involved in and that happened one evening when I was late arriving at Sylvania Judo Club and found one of the teenage Judoka lying on the mat.  One of he adults had a fan blowing on her and the girl, who was normally must darker complexion, appeared white as a sheet.  She had rolled out and hit her shoulder hard, and broken her collarbone!  I immediately turned off the fan, found a blanket and applied CPR – she as in shock!   The EMT came and off she went to the hospital.

That very day I ran into one of the soccer and tennis coaches, Tim Foley – who was a Cornerback for the Miami Dolphins football team – who volunteered to help me out with some adult CPR classes.  He was a qualified CPR instructor and arranged for a class where my assistant Judo instructors and some school officials and parents attended.  I had no idea that many of these people knew next to nothing about CPR or how to handle someone in shock.  After that I would train the Judo instructors in kappo (Japanese), the old Judo art of Resuscitation.  Black belts were required to understand a certain amount of kappo; at least to aid those who had been choked or kicked in the family jewels.

During those years from early 1973 until mid-1978 I supervised many of the area Judo activities such as arranging and hosting Judo clinics by some of the USJA officials and directed many Judo tournaments.

Several of the Dade County Judo black belts with Phil Porter during 1976. Standing L to R: Harold Forshey, Gus Hernandez, Humberto Beserria, Phil Porter, Leroenzo Mesa, Alberto Sanchez and Frank Payne. Kneeling: L to R: Len Vieira, Jeff Beish, and Ike Mont-ros

While attending the USJA Board meeting in Bossier City, Louisiana in January 1976 I decided to quit Judo because of the growing power of politicians and opportunists within the organization. It took me another couple of years to finally realize that Judo was not the same as I had learned it and that certain powers were about the crush the USJA and take over control. While the USJA experienced bad financial times during the mid-1990’s the organization is still very much alive and well.  Also, with my working schedule (midnight to eight a.m.) my health was taking a beating and finally my doctor suggested that I take up something less time consuming and less stressful or find a new job in the day time.  Working all night, then trying to officiate in a tournament was just too much for me because once while refereeing I actually fell asleep standing up.  A corner judge noticed I was not moving and the contestants were waiting to return fighting, I just stood there like a straw man.  It was time to give up that part of Judo.

Judo politics in Dade County Florida had always been raging and it seemed to get worse as the years went by.  Much of the friction that germinated in the Judo community was misunderstanding between the USJF and USJA and also between the Cuban-Americans and the non-Hispanic Judo instructors.  For several years some of the clubs in the county north of Dade would not invite clubs from Dade County because of ill will and friction that had been building up for years.  Since most of my students were of Cuba-American decent this became a source of irritation and grief for me as their sensei and coach.  Also, my working all night caused me to be less alert and at times I would be just too tired to officiate in tournaments and other activities.

As time passed it became unbearable to continue with running the Judo clubs and trying to keep peace within the Judo community in south Florida, so I gave up. The Judo politics that nearly ruined it all for us became so bad by 1980 that I walked away from the Judo organizations and formal teaching.

After leaving Bergstrom AFB, Texas in late 1966 I would occasionally drop in on the Judo club and visit with my old friend Robby Robinson.  He was transferred to Offutt AFB Nebraska later in 1967 and then returned to Bergstrom later on for a brief period before being transferred to an Air Force base in Thailand, then to Vietnam and to Hawaii and places unknown to me.  I lost contact with him after that and it would take 22 years before we were reunited.  He had moved to Pensacola, Florida sometime in the 1980’s and while reading a Florida Judo newsletter saw my name listed as Judo club contact in Miami and called me.  Just by coincidence it was a few days before our 23rd wedding anniversary and that Robby had been our best man back in 1965, so we flew up to meet him and reestablished our friendship.

After that Robby moved to Korea and stayed in contact with us.  He then moved to California for a few years and then to Germany where he continued establishing Judo clubs.  A few years later he returned to Thailand for several years then returned to Pensacola, Florida where he lives today with his family.

The last time I practiced Judo in a formal setting was during October 1988 at a clinic held in Stuart, Florida with Phil Porter, Harold Forshey, Robby Robinson and others.  I continued to practice Judo at a few clubs around the county until sometimes in 1989 when I just gave up due to health problems and lost interest.

After several years of strife between Eastern AL and the Unions a strike was called during February 1989 and the company declared chapter 13 a few days later, so the Eastern airlines came to an end in early March 1989. I had already prepared for that end and had interviewed for a job with the United States Naval Observatory (USNO) a few months earlier.  After waiting several months I was then employed by the USNO Time Service Station (NOTAS) after working for Eastern Airlines for 16 years.  After 7 years the Miami Time Service Station was closed and in September 1996 we moved to Dale City, Virginia where I worked at the USNO in Washington, D.C. until retiring in May 2001 and we moved back to Florida, only this time is was in central Florida.

Our son had been in the U.S. Navy for 12 years when he applied and was accepted to Officers Candidate School in Pensacola NAF, Florida and graduated as a Ensign in May 2000 and has now served for more than twenty years. Recently he was promoted LCDR (O-4).  In 2002 he was stationed at Atsugi NAF, Japan at the time so we traveled to visit with them in March 2002 to visit him and his family, and to meet with a group of astronomers that I know.  We toured an observatory in Yokohama and finished the day at a Chinese restaurant in China Town. Our son took us to visit theKodokan in Tokyo.  We also visited a nearby Judo club where my son worked out occasionally.

While visiting the Kodokan Museum and Library I talked with Naoki Murata (Curator of the Kodokan Judo Museum and Library) for at least an hour.  I mentioned attending the SAC/ARDC Combative Measures course and other events at the Kodokan in the early 1960’s; whereby he remembered being there at the time and had assisted Kotani and other sensei occasionally with the classes.  We had a great time reminiscing about the “old days” in Judo and shook hands, and bowed, to our new or renewed friendship.

Trip to Japan and visit to Kodokan.  LEFT: me beside statue of Jigoro Kano during March 18, 2002. RIGHT: main dojo floor as seen from balcony seating section.

After a three year tour of duty in Japan he was transferred to San Diego, California where he was assigned to the aircraft carrier Nimitz.  During July 2005 we flew to San Diego, CA to see our son and his family and were invited to visit with the North Island Judo Club. An old Judo friend from the 1960’s, Jerry Hays, sent instructions to find the dojo.  We arrived to meet new Judo friends and from the past;  Chuck Neuendorf, Dr. AnnMaria (Rousey) De Mars, Joe Ciokon, Jerry Hays, Bruce Knight and Gene Reid,  Jim Parker, Matt Ozaki, Roy Moore, Jr. and Bob Spreter.  Dr. AnnMaria De Mars won a gold medal at 1984 World Judo Championships. Roy Moore, seen in the photo below, is Roy “Pop” Moore’s son (see the above photo:” Retirement event at Bergstrom AFB, TX for Roy "Pop" Moore).

Two of the Judoka shown in this photo, Jerry Hays and me, also appear in the 1963 Armed Forces Judo Training Camp at the Denver School of Judo.  My son, seen in the above image on the right, continued Judo on and off since the 1970's.   Our son, Lieutenant Don Beish, served on board the Nimitz and in 2006 then made a journey to Army Camp Eggers near Kabul, Afghanistan to serve a six month tour there.  He returned to San Diego in the last week of September 2006. So far he has had five tours in and around the war zones of the Middle East.

All the years of Judo practice, sometimes intermittent, the most important aspect of it all was having fun and meeting with friends.  While I never reached any milestones in competition I did try occasionally to participate in tournaments, both as a competitor and as an official. After the last tournament in 1966 my forte was teaching Judo at the many clubs that I visited or created over the years.  From the early Air Force days to the present I still maintain contact with many of my old Judo friends and participate on Internet discussions about Judo and the other Martial Arts I participated in, usually in the history departments, but try to keep up with current events.   Judo runs deep into our blood and it is hard to forget even after years of being away from it.   In “feeling sorry for myself” periods my wife reminds me of the thousands of Judoka I taught over the years and then it all is better.  The one thing in life that will never let you down is having friends and hopefully students that still remember old sensei.

Many of my friends and associates in Judo are gone now and many have retired, never to be heard from again.   Their memories will forever be burned into my mind.  They helped to shape the character of thousands of people and in a way they fulfilled the dreams of the founder of Judo, Jigoro Kano, who created a Way for people to use their human strengths and knowledge to benefit mankind.

Miscellaneous tie/lapel pins and belt buckle gifts from past. Top-left: Given to me by Mas Yamashita at Kodokan in 1960.  Top-center: given to me by Kotani sensei at Kodokan in 1961. Belt buckle given to me by Mas Yamashita. Bottom left to right: AFJA pin (1969), next AFJA 5-year pin (1965), USJA pins and NJI pin.

The Time Service Station was closed in August 1996 and the U.S. Naval Observatory transferred me to their Washington stations in September. We then moved to Dale City, Virginia. While at the USNO in DC is would visit the weight training room in the Secret Service office, close to the U.S. Vice President's home, and worked out with a couple of Judoka that were interested in some of my old jujitsu and karate ideas. I had to curtail that activity due to my bad knees that were deteriorating as a fast pace. In May 2001 I retired from Federal Service and we moved to Lake Placid, Florida. My formal Martial Arts activities came to an end, except that I now participate on several Internet Martial Arts discussion forums and frequent conversations with my old friend, Robby Robinson, who is still active in the Armed Forces Judo-Jujitsu Academy (ASJJA) in Pensacola, Florida.

Series of random photographs of me in Judogi over the past 49 years 

A photo and announcement from Gail Stolzenburg (USAJudo) concerning Jerry Reid: Wayne Martins, Jim Martins, St Clair Newbern, Dale Lehman, Pete Turchiano, Nolan Fry, Ted Henderson, Gail Stolzenburg, Jerry Reid, and Ace Sukigara. Bill Johnson and Mel Slate arrived later. Missing were John Randall, John Rowlett, Joe Rude, Frank Rude, Skip Weigand, and Bud Morgan. We celebrated Jerry Reid's 75th birthday on October 2, 2009 and paid tribute to leaders who had passed away: Pop Moore, Mel Bruno, Sukiyuki Kotani, Bill Bardsley, Rick Mertens, Nelson Cross, Sam Numajiri, and Frank Fullerton.