U.S. JUDO TRAINING CENTER

3/23/11
To: John Holm
From: Bob B.

Hi John,

Just thought I'd drop you a line to say good job.  I saw on-line that you have another national champ on your hands.  Good work.  It seems like you are always producing champions wherever you go.  i remember vividly when I first started taking Judo classes at your club (Central Dojo) in 1964.  I was 9 years old at the time.  Within 2 years I was winning tournaments and our club was taking home most of the trophies every time we went to a meet.

If a person were to add up all the years that you spent producing state, regional, national and Olympic champions in Minnesota to the years you have spent producing state and national champions in Washington, it must be what...50 years?

There aren't many judo coaches in America that can truthfully say that they have done more for competition Judo thn you.  I know that there are coaches that don't like your methods, but these are the same coaches that have NEVER produced a single champion.  That must be frustrating for them with those 6th and 7th degree belt rankings that they seem so willing to tell you about.  Seems like belt ranks are getting easier to get these days, doesn't it?  The ability to train a potential Judo great to championship level is an art.  A gift.  Your innovative training methods like driver leg awareness and full follow through with all practice throws are what made me a local champion and have taken many more people with more talent than me to much higher levels.  The proof is winning in competition.

I remember your willingness to drive us all to the many Judo meets in places like Crookston, Minnesota, Iowa, and even to Canada a couple of times.  We kicked butt and had a great time doing it.

Good memories--Good luck to the fuutre.

Bob B.

P.S.  Just so you know--It is kind of an honor (bragging rights) back here to be able to say that you were coached by John Holm.

The following is taken from bisons.net, Bison Grappling Arts in the Twin Cities, the bio for Michael E. Reilly/Sherkhan, Grappler, Submission Specialist, 18 Years Coaching Experience:

I started grappling as a kid. Inspired by Nick Bockwinkle, Jesse Ventura and Mad Dog Vashon. I would wrestle with anyone who gave me half a chance. I did some formalized wrestling in high school and dabbled in several martial arts. Then I discovered Judo. Actually my first real coach called it Jacket Wrestling rather then Judo. He and the local Judo community did not see eye to eye on most issues; but he was among the best technical teachers I have ever seen. His name was John Holm and I trained with him for several years at the University of Minnesota. Coach Holm was an excellent coach and he taught me a slew of techniques that are unknown to even some of the best Judokians. Along with teaching outstanding competition Judo skills; Coach Holm also taught a lot of pragmatic, street savvy self defense orientated skills...