Vince Tamura

Yoshito Vince Tamura is a former international competitor in judo.[1]

Judo career

Tamura represented the United States in the first Judo World Championships in 1956 and served as a referee in the 1964 Olympics for judo.[2] Tamura won the 1954, 1956, and 1959 US National Championships in judo placing second and third in 1957 and 1958, respectively.[3] He continued to compete into the 1970s.[4]

Tamura had a brother named Mas Tamura who was promoted by Jigaro Kano to Yondan inspiring Tamura into judo.[1] By the time he died in 2010, Vince Tamura was ranked 9th Dan.[1]

Personal life

Tamura served in the US Army in World War II[1] and was a descendent of the Taira Clan.[2] He co-authored a book Common Sense Self Defense[5] and was also an instructor of Heike-Ryu Jiu Jitsu.[6]

Tamura had a wife Yuri and two sons Bob and David Tamura.[7] Tamura was the youngest of 7 sons and 4 daughters.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Passing of Yoshito Vince Tamura - USJF.COM". usjf.com.
  2. 1 2 http://www.judokai.net/Library/American_Judo_Pioneer_Vince_Tamura_&_Heike-Ryu_Jujutsu.pdf
  3. ↑ "Vincent Tamura, Judoka, JudoInside". judoinside.com.
  4. ↑ "Black Belt August 1973". google.com.
  5. ↑ "Black Belt January 1979". google.com.
  6. ↑ http://judoinfo.com/pdf/USJA/2006-1-AJ.pdf
  7. ↑ "Vince Tamura Passes Away in Dallas- Texas". Team USA.
  8. ↑ "Black Belt November 1972". google.com.
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