COACH HONORED FOR 70 YEARS AT SJSU

‘Yosh Uchida is a national treasure,’ says University President Mary Papazian

Even at 98, legendary judo coach Yosh Uchida still has a few surprising moves.

Uchida was honored Thursday for his 70 years of teaching and coaching at San Jose State’s Faculty Service Recognition and Awards Luncheon. San Jose State President Mary Papazian was prepared to present Uchida with his honors at his table, near the stage at the Diaz Compean Student Union Ballroom.

But Uchida surprised everyone, choosing to get up and come to the podium just like the dozens

of other faculty members honored for teaching between 15 and 45 years at the campus.

“Yosh Uchida is a national treasure,” Papazian said. “He’s a remarkable person who is committed to excellence and committed to his students. He really put San Jose State on the map by bringing judo to the Olympics in 1964, and he’s still here doing it.”

When Uchida started at San Jose State in the 1947- 48 academic year, Thomas MacQuarrie was president and there were only 6,750 students (and you can bet that a semester’s tuition back then cost less than what today’s students spend on a night out). Uchida had been a student-coach of the judo program in 1940, before he was drafted into military service for World War II, and he restarted the pro- gram upon his return. He persuaded the Amateur Athletic Union to sanction judo in 1953, and San Jose State went on to win more than 40 national championships under his leadership.

Uchida has garnered many awards in his career, including the Tower Award and an honorary doctorate from SJSU, induction into the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame, and the Order of the Sacred Treasure from the emperor of Japan. Thursday, he added to his bounty with certificates from the Assembly and the San Jose City Council. And for his 70 years at San Jose State, he received a bench dedicated in his name outside Yoshiro Uchida Hall, the athletic complex also named in his honor in 1997.

“I think I like the bench better,” he said. “I can sit there and read.”

LIPO CHING — STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER San Jose State University judo coach Yoshihiro Uchida smiles after receiving a copy of the Senate Resolution to honor him for his 70years of service coaching judo for the University, at the Diaz Compean Student Union at San Jose State University.

COURTESY BRUNO CARMENI’S JUDO BLOG George Harris, from left, James Bregman, coach Yoshihiro Uchida, Paul Maruyama and Ben Nighthorse Campbell, who would go on to become a U.S. Senator, pose for a team photo as members of the United States 1964 Olympics judo team.

PATRICK TEHAN — STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER San Jose State University judo coach Yosh Uchida in 2000.