Brown is making his coach proud
Colton Brown competed in Tokyo while his 101-year old coach watched from San Jose.
TOKYO — The 101yearold legend was wearing a brightblue San Jose State polo shirt and smiling into the screen from his Saratoga home. Judo coach Yosh Uchida was happy to do a Zoom interview to talk about Olympian Colton Brown.
“He did very well,” Uchida said of the 17th Olympic judoka he has coached. He watched on television from home Tuesday night.
Brown, 29, won his first match at the Nippon Budokan, taking out his opponent in two minutes. But he lost his second in golden score — or overtime — finishing in the round of 16.
“I left everything I had on the mat,” Brown said by phone from the Olympic village. “It means everything to me that Mr. Uchida was home watching.”
Uchida had hoped to be watching in person. Five years ago in Rio, Uchida told Brown he would come to the Tokyo Olympics with him if Brown qualified.
The Games would be held the year he turned 100, but age and a 6,000mile flight weren’t going to rob Uchida of his fullcircle moment.
The man most responsible for the growth of judo in the United States, Uchida coached the first U.S. judo team at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics ( judo’s first as an Olympic sport). They also competed in the Budokan. He wanted to make this pilgrimage to his own past.
Uchida has missed just three Olympics in the past 57 years. Five years ago, he got stuck in Miami on his flight to Rio and was lost by his traveling companions, who finally found him in the airport lounge drinking with flight attendants.
Who could pass up another Olympic adventure? Uchida bought tickets for himself and several friends, $15,000 worth. Even when the Olympics were postponed, he still planned to go.
Then Tokyo barred spectators. The trip and the adventure was off.
“These Olympics bring back sort of a sad memory,” Uchida said. “I recall the many that have gone to the Olympics. The success has been tremendous. I miss seeing them all, having them jump up and say, ‘Hey Yosh!’
“I miss talking about how we solved the problems, as we went from Olympics to Olympics.”
Uchida was born and raised in Southern California, the son of Japanese immigrants. His mother got him involved in judo to connect to his heritage. He enrolled at San Jose State but midway through was drafted to serve in World War II, while his parents were sent to internment camps. He returned to finish his degree and began coaching the San Jose State judo team in 1946.
While also running a successful medical laboratory business, he helped organize and spread judo in the United States, coaching 17 Olympians.
The latest, Brown, came to San Jose State from New Jersey in 2009. Despite the 73year age difference, the two bonded. Uchida appreciated Brown’s willingness to learn and his leadership — Brown was team captain.
“He was like a second father to me,” Brown said. “So many life lessons.
“I used to say to him, ‘I want to be an Olympian.’ And he would say, ‘No, you won’t be.’ But as time went on, he said, ‘I think you have a chance.’ I had to prove myself.”
These were Brown’s last Olympics. He plans to open a judo studio next year in New Jersey, hoping to pass along the same lessons he learned through the sport.
“I want to take some of Mr. Uchida’s philosophy,” Brown said. “I want to show people how to succeed in life through judo, how it can change the trajectory of people’s lives.”
But first, in the coming weeks, Brown will visit the Bay Area and take his coach to lunch.
“That would be great,” Uchida beamed. He will work that lunch date into his schedule. He hopes to be back on the mat at San Jose State soon.
“Yes, right after the Olympics,” Uchida said.
Maybe there will be more Olympians. No one would bet against Uchida.