Kevin Yoshimi Asano (born April 20, 1963) is a retired

judoka is an unarmed modern Japanese martial art, Olympic sport (since 1964), and the most prominent form of jacket wrestling competed internationally.『日本大百科全書』電子版【柔道】(CD-ROM version of Encyclopedia Nipponica, "Judo"). ...

from the United States, who won the silver medal in the men's extra-lightweight competition at the

1988 Summer Olympics The 1988 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad () and commonly known as Seoul 1988 ( ko, 서울 1988, Seoul Cheon gubaek palsip-pal), was an international multi-sport event held from 17 September to 2 October ...

. On his way to capturing the medal he beat

Shinji Hosokawa is a retired Japanese judoka who won two Olympic medals during the 1980s. Biography Hosokawa began judo in junior-high school, and won the Japanese inter-high school judo competition in 1977. He entered Tenri University in 1978, and co ...

, who was the reigning world champion and 1984 Gold Medalist. Asano came close to winning the gold medal, but lost it on a one-point penalty to Kim Jae-Yup of South Korea.

Personal life

Asano was born in Hawaii. He graduated from Pearl City High School in Hawaii in 1981, studied Japanese and trained in judo at

Tokai University is a private non-sectarian higher education institution located in Tokyo, Japan. It was founded by Dr. Shigeyoshi Matsumae. It was accredited under Japan's old educational system in 1946 and under the new system in 1950. In 2008, Tokai Un ...

for two years, then went on to study at

San José State University San José State University (San Jose State or SJSU) is a public university in San Jose, California. Established in 1857, SJSU is the oldest public university on the West Coast and the founding campus of the California State University (CSU) sys ...

where he graduated in 1989 in

accounting Accounting, also known as accountancy, is the measurement, processing, and communication of financial and non financial information about economic entities such as businesses and corporations. Accounting, which has been called the "languag ...

. In 2008, Kevin Asano's autobiography, ''Step Onto the Mat: Journey to True Success'', was published by

White Mountain Castle Publishing White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...

. He co-founded Pacific Rim Legacy Group, a financial planning organization an
Personal Transformation International
a 501(c)3 organization. He has served as President of Hawaii Judo, Inc., the state judo governing body of USA Judo and President of the

United States Judo Federation The United States Judo Federation is a non-profit corporation dedicated to promoting judo in the United States. Its national office is in Ontario, Oregon. History The United States Judo Federation was originally known as the Amateur Judo Associa ...

, a grassroots national judo organization. He is also the head instructor o
Leeward Judo Club
in Hawaii.

Awards and honors

USA Judo announced Kevin Asano among its inaugural Hall of Fame inductees in 2008 along with

Edward Liddie Edward J. "Ed" Liddie (born 21 July 1959 in Union City, Georgia) is an American former judoka. He represented his native country at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California and was a bronze medalist in the men's extra-lightweight div ...

Mike Swain Michael Lee Swain (born December 21, 1960 in Elizabeth, New Jersey) is one of the most successful American judokas. He competed in countless international competitions. He is now the VP of Martial Arts at Dollamur, Sports LP wher ...

and

Jimmy Pedro James A. Pedro (born October 30, 1970) is an American retired World Championship and Olympic judoka and current judo coach. Pedro currently holds a 7th degree black belt in judo. He is the coach of Kayla Harrison, the first American ever to w ...

. He is also a member of the Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame 2000 inductees is also a member of the San Jose State University Sports Hall of Fame. In 1988, Asano was named the US Olympic Committee's US Judo Athlete of the Year.

Books authored

Asano has authored the following book: * ''Step Onto the Mat'' (White Mountain Castle Publishing, LLC, 2008)

References

Profile

External links

Kevin Asano's Website

Pacific Rim Legacy Group LLC

Leeward Judo Club

Personal Transformation International
{{DEFAULTSORT:Asano, Kevin 1963 births Living people Tokai University alumni American male judoka Judoka at the 1988 Summer Olympics Olympic judoka of the United States Olympic silver medalists for the United States in judo San Jose State University alumni American autobiographers American motivational speakers American sportspeople of Japanese descent Medalists at the 1988 Summer Olympics Pan American Games silver medalists for the United States Pan American Games medalists in judo Judoka at the 1987 Pan American Games Medalists at the 1987 Pan American Games