THe
golden year
In 1962, Texas A&M University got its first taste of Judo, and in August of that year, the official Texas A&M Judo Club was established. Fifty years later, the club is stronger than ever, having gained national and international recognition. These accomplishments prove that the club has left its mark on the Judo circuit, but it was not always this way; every legacy has a beginning and an evolution. In 1988, a new addition to the Judo Club took it from good to great. Dr. Gary Berliner, who, at the time, was a medical student at Texas A&M University, was looking for something to balance his heavy academic load. Berliner had participated in Judo for many years prior to his time at Texas A&M University. Having previously competed on national and international levels, Berliner saw potential in the Texas A&M Judo Club, which at the time was “organized but not strong.” Berliner integrated a teaching style that turned the de nova athletes into national competitors. “We went very rapidly from novice players to national competitors in two years,” Berliner said. Along with his teaching program, Berliner established a perpetual memorial trophy to give players something to work toward. “I wanted to honor the antecedent as well as the current folks.” The first winner of the Wiley Cunnigan/Gary Berliner Award was current Judo Club coach Bob Perez. Perez, or “sensei” as he is sometimes referred to by the club members, is the longest standing coach the Texas A&M Judo Club has had, and by the look in his eyes while being interviewed, it’s easy to see why. Perez is a composed and humble man; one who invites you in with his eyes and keeps you involved with his stories. Everyone that has had the opportunity to meet Perez has had nothing but the best to say about him. Perez has seen great success with the Judo Club and has earned several coaching titles for the USA National Collegiate and National teams. In 1984, Perez became a member of the club. Eight years later, in 1992, Perez advanced to the role of head coach, stating, “It fell into my hands.” Perez retained Berlinger’s basic teaching methods but incorporated his own adjustments to fit his style. Perez has helped the club grow not only in size, but in diversity as well. While being interviewed, Perez looked around the room with pride
as he named the countries represented by club members, including Canada, Iran and Brazil. It seems that the Texas A&M Judo Club has captured the diversity that this university promotes daily. Over the last ten years, the Judo Club has achieved great things, including top-three placement at national competitions, several individual national champions, and even two former members advancing to the Olympic trials in 2008. The club has become more stable, according to Perez. “When I started, there were maybe three or four people that would come out, and that was a good night. Now we have twelve to fifteen each night, and those are different people.” Currently, the club practices four nights per week, with various weekend competitions throughout each semester. None of these accomplishments would have been possible without the support of the alumni, who came together in 2006 to establish an endowment fund. The endowment has helped secure the financial future of the club and created scholarship opportunities for its members. Nathan Westbrook, current Judo Club president and team captain, has personally reaped the benefits of the endowment, having been awarded one of the 2012 Judo Club scholarships. Earning the scholarship has afforded Westbrook the opportunity to study and commit [to the club] without having to worry as much about finances. The 2012 club was able to award four scholarships, and looking into the future, the coaching staff and members hope to hand out even more. Dan Gomez, assistant coach, hopes to add scholarships for all the men’s spots and add women’s spots as well. With all the accomplishments this club and the alumni have achieved over the past fifty years, this goal seems attainable. Each year, the coaches plan for changes to help the Judo Club reach their goal of becoming National Champions. In order to do this, they will need the continued support of alumni and the community. “We want to be able to have our own dedicated practice space. We want to be able to send our members to the camps necessary for them to build their skills,” says Perez. Continued interest in the sport of Judo and the club are also highly necessary for the club’s future success, and as Berliner says, “If you just learn to fall, you might get bit by the bug.” With a few parting words from Dr. Gary Berliner, we look at what Judo has done not only for Rec Sports but for all organized sports. “This kind of recreational club gives you a chance to remember yourself, to find friends with common interests, and to develop those relationships.” While the future for anything is not guaranteed, one thing is for sure: the Judo Club will continue to grow and flourish at Texas A&M University.