Member News

February 17, 2007

USA Judo Announces Three New Training Sites

USA Judo is pleased to announce that three sites been named as USA Judo National Training Sites – Jason Morris Judo Center in Glenville, N.Y.; Pedro’s Judo Center in Wakefield, Mass.; and San Jose State University in San Jose, Calif.

“USA Judo has been presented a great opportunity to bring judo to new levels of competitive success by the funding the USOC has given us to continue the growth of USA Judo National Training Sites,” said USA Judo CEO Jose H. Rodriguez (Colorado Springs, Colo.)  “These USA Judo National Training sites are offering athletes not only opportunities to train with the best, but they also are offering opportunities to attend school, and have housing as well as medical care.”

The new training sites join the existing three USA Judo National Training Sites in Harlingen, Texas; North Miami, Fla.; and the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

“Think about it.  Would anyone of us have thought two years ago that we would have the likes of Mike Swain, Eddie Liddie, Jimmy Pedro, Jason Morris, Israel Hernandez, German Velazco and Jhonny Prado training close to 80% of our best athletes in the nation under the banner of USA Judo?” Rodriguez pondered. “Now add to that Pat Burris, now directing our Coaching Education and Certification program, coordinating that what is been taught to our top senior and junior athletes is also been taught to our grassroots coaches and Jim Hrbek as our Junior Athlete Performance Director? Indeed, I believe that this is a way that USA will find its way to the top of the podium.  We are very thankful to the USOC for providing us with the funding to make this happen".

 The USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center is located in Glenville, N.Y., just outside of Albany, and is run by 1992 Olympic silver medalist Jason Morris who was recently nominated to the 2008 Olympic Team Head Coach position. 

Among Morris’ athletes are 2005 World Team members Carrie Chandler (NYAC / 52kg), Katie Mocco (NYAC / 70kg) and Justin Flores (66kg) as well as 2006 Junior World Team members Nick Delpopolo (NYAC / 73kg), AJ Silverman (66kg), Yuko Sin (81kg), Marina Shafir (78kg), Hannah Martin (57kg) and Jeremy Liggett (NYAC) who moved up to 66kg after competing at the Junior Worlds at 60kg.  One of the most recent additions to Morris’ crew is Travis Stevens (81kg) who upset the reigning National Champion to win the 2006 U.S. Open.

A coach of the 2006 Pan Am Team, Morris guided the Americans to six medals at the first regional qualifier for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games – including Liggett who won a silver medal as a 17-year-old in the 60kg division and Mocco who won bronze as a member of her second Pan Am Team.

"We are extremely pleased and honored that USA Judo has included us in the training center project,” Morris said. “USA Judo has done a wonderful job putting so many good programs forward in the last two years and we intend to work hard, along with USA Judo to further build their faith in us for the future."

As the head coach of the USA Judo National Training Site at Pedro’s Judo Center in suburban Boston, Jimmy Pedro was the most decorated player in USA Judo history.  One of only three Americans to win a World title, Pedro is the only U.S. athlete to win two judo medals at the Olympic Games, taking bronze in both 1996 and 2004. 

"I am extremely excited that Pedro's Judo Center has been recognized by USA Judo as a National Training Site," Pedro said.  "This status will not only bring additional recognition to our judo center in our area to help grow our recreational programs, but also help attract some of the most talented young athletes in the United States to grow our full-time resident program." 

After retiring from competition in 2004, Pedro focused on coaching and building a program that now includes Athens Olympians Ronda Rousey (NYAC), the #4-ranked player in the world at 63kg, and Rick Hawn (81kg) as well as Daniel McCormick (+100kg), 2006 Senior Nationals and British Open bronze medalist), and Asma Sharif (78kg), a fifth-place finisher at the 2006 U.S. Open. 

"I believe that by investing in already established full-time professional judo programs, USA Judo is ensuring success for years to come,” Pedro said. “With this new funding, these new centers will be able to further subsidize the training of their elite athletes as well as help develop the next generation of athletes."

San Jose State University has the top collegiate program in the country.  One of the most pedigreed judo programs in the United States, SJSU is led by Yosh Uchida.  Head coach of the 1964 Olympic Team, Uchida is considered to be the father of modern American judo. 

A former SJSU athlete, World Champion and four-time Olympian Mike Swain is an assistant coach for the program that now includes two-time Pan American Champion Chuck Jefferson (73kg), 2006 U.S. Open and Senior Nationals silver medalist Marti Malloy (57kg) and 2006 Pan Am Team member Jonathan Leonhardt (Open). 

“San Jose State University has a long-standing tradition of producing scholar athletes, including 16 Olympians with 10 World and Olympic medals,” Swain said. “We are excited to work with USA Judo as an official Training Site and offer judo athletes a place to learn and train all in one.”

Coaches, athletes and parents interested in having their athletes be a part of any one of these six USA Judo National Training Sites may find out more on each individual site by contacting USA Judo Director of High Performance Eddie Liddie Eddie.Liddie@usajudo.us or may contact each individual coach at the training site of their choice.