Martial Arts and The American Spirit:
The 1964 Judo Team
Damian Ross and William Pehush of
The Self Defense Company
In United States during the 1960’s the civil rights debate raged on around the country, but a handful of men put aside their petty differences and banned together to chase a dream. Under Olympic rules, the host country can add a sport to the games so in 1964 when Japan was selected to host the games, Judo was added to the events. Though this was the first year Judo was an Olympic event the United States still fielded an experienced team made up of Americans from a variety of ethnic, religious and economical backgrounds.
From the beginning, Dr. Jigoro Kano Judo’s founder taught anyone who wanted to learn. It was the first time this type of training, normally reserved for nobility, was made available to the masses. Kano sent instructors all over the world to teach people the martial art and expose them to Japanese culture. Unlike before, students of any nationality were welcomed and encouraged to train at the Kodokan Judo Institute in Tokyo. A special section was eventually set up to help teach foreigners this amazing martial art. Among these foreigners was British police officer William Fairbairn. He would go on earn his black belt in Judo (2nd degree) and would go to teach other police officers and soldiers practical close combat and self defense techniques based of what he learned. Kano would travel the world teaching and lecturing and in 1938 he even sat on the Olympic committee in an effort to bring the Olympics to Tokyo.
The American team embodied the true spirit of Judo and as well served as a snapshot of American society of the day. The team to head to Tokyo in 1964 included African American George Harris, an Air Force veteran who had won a number of important tournaments around the world. In addition to military competitions and he trained at the Kodokan in Japan several times. Another Air Force veteran to join the team was Native American Ben Nighthorse Campbell, who was first introduced to Judo by Japanese friends growing up in California. Like Harris, he continued to practice Judo in the military and trained bomber pilots in combat martial arts as part of their survival training. Also on the team was James Bergman, a Jew who’s Asthma forced him to stay inside so he trained in Judo to keep fit and be able to fight off bullies (an added benefit of this martial art). His dedication would bring him to the Olympics. He would even train with martial arts legend and author Donn Draeger. Finally, veteran Judo instructor Yosh Uchida a Japanese American would coach the team.
The competition was fierce at the Olympics in 1964, but the Japanese would still dominate three of the four weight classes. The one exception was the 6'7" 320 pound Anton Geesink of Holland who won a gold medal bye defeating Akio Kaminaga in the open weight division. Though victorious Geesink would behave honorably and prevent Dutch fans from fighting with Japanese fans who were shocked by the defeat. James Bergman would be the only American to medal with a Bronze. Though American didn’t bring home the Gold Meda,l the team made a good showing and earned the respect of other nations. The United States would not win another medal in Judo until 1976 when Allen J. Coage an African American won the Bronze Medal. Though the United States has yet to win a Gold Medal in Judo, American teams remain competitive in the Olympics and other competitions.
The original members of the 1964 team still continued to contribute to the sport today. George Harris continued to compete though he would not compete in the Olympics again. He also helped found the United States Judo Association and remains active as a board member. Though he has been ill in the last few years he continues to train which he credits with keeping him strong. Ben Campbell also worked to promote Judo with Harris in the USJA and is on the board. Campbell would also work as a police officer, teacher, and be elected as Senator for Colorado from 1993 until 2005. Bergman also teaches, writes, and continues to promote Judo. He remains proud to be a member of America’s first Olympic Judo team.
In a time when society was demanding equality for all and that a man be judged by his ability not his race a group of athletes stood up and became a symbol of America. For many the team meant another step forward for civil rights, but to the team it was just being true sportsmen. Sports don’t build character, they reveal it and in 1964 the United States showed what could be done if everyone worked together.
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The Eight Simple Rules
of Self Defense
Always trust your instinct.
Never trust your assailant.
Assume your assailant will be larger and stronger than you.
Assume your assailant will be armed.
Assume your assailant will have accomplices.
Assume your assailant is determined and campanile
Assume you will be distracted or injured and appear to be a good target of opportunity.
Assume you will be in the worst possible environment.
PLAN FOR THE WORST AND HOPE FOR THE BEST
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A Brief History Of Martial Arts in the Modern Military
Many martial arts are derived from military combatives; the study of hand-to-hand combat and martial arts in warfare. After all, the term "martial art" means "art of warfare." For example, the sport or judo comes from jujutsu, which comes from samurai grappling, which was part of the training Japanese warriors received as preparation for battle.
Many weapon-oriented martial arts, such as iado, kendo, kyudo and naganata-do originated in schools of martial techniques for warriors. These weapons, the sword, bow and arrow, and pole arm, were the assault rifles and machine guns of their time--the default weapons of military fighters--and as such were key components in combat training.
The Western interest in East Asian Martial arts dates back to the late 19th Century AD,
due to the increase in trade between America with China and Japan. Relatively few
Westerners actually practiced the martial arts, considering it to be mere performance.
Edward William Barton-Wright, a railway engineer who had studied the martial art Jujutsu while working in Japan between 1894–97, was the first man known to have taught Asian martial arts in Europe. He also founded an eclectic martial arts style named Bartitsu which combined jujutsu, judo, boxing, savate and stick fighting.
William E. Fairbairn, a Shanghai policeman and at the time a leading Western expert on Asian fighting techniques, was recruited during world War II by the Special Operations Executive (SOE) to teach UK, U.S. and Canadian Commando and Ranger forces Jujutsu.
The seminal self-defense book Kill or Get Killed was written by Colonel Rex Applegate, who worked closely with Fairbairn to train the "First Special Service," a joint U.S. and Canadian army unit; it became a classic military treatise on hand to hand combat and created the reality based martial art "Defendu."
Modern variations that can still trace an authentic lineage to Applegate are very few . The undisputed "father" of Modern close-combat is Carl Cestari who had a direct relationship with both Colonel Applegate and WWII self-defense pioneer Charlie Nelson. In 2006 Carl Cestari was named one of the top 10 "Most Dangerous Men On The Planet" by Black Belt Magazine.
Seeing the need to bring these legitimate and proven techniques and method of close-combat back into the Modern world of "hobby" Martial Arts (Karate, Kung Fu, Capoiera, Aikido, etc.) and "sport" Martial Arts (Judo, Brazilian Jui-jitsu, Wrestling, Kick Boxing, Mixed Martial Arts, Ultimate fighting , etc.), one of Cestari’s top students, Damian Ross and his instructors have dedicated their lives to teaching, instruction, and spreading the "truth" about Martial Arts, street fighting, self defense, and close combat.
This site is the only link to that legacy
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