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After ten years in judo, Adam applied his skills to the wrestling mat. His senior year at Vashon HS, while a Running Start student at Tacoma Community College, in his first year of wrestling, Adam won the 2008 Mat Classic XX at the Tacoma Dome in 1A at 152 pounds. In this montage of his final match for first place, you can see how Adam's judo throwing techniques won him the championship.
In these pictures from the Vashon Rock Tournament earlier in the season, which Adam also won, you can see some more judo in wrestling action.
 
Adam won his 8th consecutive Washington State judo tournament with this pin.
December 17th, 2007, after ten years in judo, almost eight of those at the U.S. Judo Training Center, Adam received his black belt from Coach John Holm. But first, he and the other three black-belt recipients, his brothers Josiah and Nathanael, and William Nitta, all got Tazed--something they had all wanted to do for a year! As Deputy Don Scherck explained, the Taser starts out at 50,000 volts. But by the time it goes through the body, it drops down to just 1200... Coach Holm said they had to hold onto their black belt through the Taser application if they wanted to get promoted.
 
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Adam made the Varsity team in his first year of football, his senior year at Vashon HS. Because of his judo skill and his long blond hair, he earned the nickname "Sunshine" from the character in Remember the Titans. |
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At the Pacific International Senior Invitational in Steveston, BC, on February 24th, 2007, 16-year-old Adam first tried an interesting choke, then won with a throw.
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Adam won his 7th consecutive Washington State Championship January 27th, 2007, with these two throws, then was congratulated by his brother Josiah.
 
 
Adam won this match 11-11-06 at the Continental Crown with an explosive Fireman's Carry. Pedaling up those mountains on his bike a few months earlier probably helped.
 
Ride Across America, Spring 2006
Adam Thalhofer and his brother Josiah started in Anacortes, Washington, on Mother's Day, May 14th, and arrived in Bar Harbor, Maine, six weeks later, June 24th: 3,877 miles total. Friends and church family donated toward expenses. At left, Adam paused on the North Cascades Pass in Washington, Hwy 20, which just opened a week earlier. At right, Adam and Josiah are photographed by two other long-distance cyclists in Michigan. The worst weather was headwinds in North Dakota--they had to pedal downhill and still could only go 9 MPH! The trip was an experience neither will ever forget.
 
Washington State Championship, January 28th, 2006
Adam Thalhofer, 15 years old, won his sixth consecutive Washington State Judo Championship, this time in the 145-pound 15- and 16-year-old division. Then he defeated University of Washington student and 2005 National College Champion Grant Nakashima in the senior men's 145-pound brown and black belt division to earn second place. Here Adam is pictured with his two brothers, Josiah and Nathanael, who earned 2nd and 3rd, respectively, in the senior men's brown and black belt 161-pound division, and Coach John Holm of the U.S. Judo Training Center. Then he is shown receiving his brown belt from Coach John Holm later in the week.
Before his fight with Grant Nakashima, Adam says he was encouraged by his previous wins and trusted God completely for the strength to win.
  
This is the wazari that Adam used to beat Grant Nakashima at the State Tournament. There was a loud THUMP! accompanying this forceful throw. Grant followed up with an arm bar, which Adam escaped.
 
Adam and his brothers pulled the van for training and weight loss on their way down to Irvine, CA, for the 2005 Judo Nationals. After that tournament, they hiked the Grand Canyon together. Here they are pictured hiking up Bright Angel Trail after spending the night at Phantom Ranch on the Colorado River.
In this first match at the Budokan Tournament in Seattle, May 28th, 2005, Adam, 15 years old, won with this choke.
 
 
Adam won his last match at the Budokon Tournament for gold with this throw.
Adam with his family after winning the 2004 Junior U.S. Open in Fort Lauderdale, FL, a week after winning silver in the U.S. Judo Junior Olympics, also in Fort Lauderdale. His family includes his sister, Hosanna, in front, Dad Peter in back, and from left to right, brothers Josiah and Nathanael, and Mom Susan.
Note that Adam, who was ranked #1 in the U.S. in his category after this win, is a blue belt. This is a reflection of Coach John Holm's conservative belt-promotion philosophy. Because of this win, in which most of his opponents were brown or black belts, Adam was promoted to purple belt.
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