Oshimas Introduce Judo to Harvard

The Mannings have football.  The Molinas have baseball.

For the Oshimas, judo is the family business.

Last year, Michael Oshima ’09 won the NCJA Collegiate National Championship in the Senior Men’s 90 kg category. His younger brother, Daniel Oshima, then a junior, took second place in the Senior Men’s 73 kg.

Earlier last month, Daniel earned victory in the same weight division, giving Harvard—and the Oshima family—back-to-back national championships.

“For me, it’s great to be able to repeat from what my brother did last year,” Daniel said.

He also won the Outstanding Male Competitor honor at the tournament, and single-handedly led Harvard to a third-place finish in the Senior Men final team standings.

“The coolest moment was when the Harvard men’s team overall took third place,” Daniel commented. “Harvard is the third best college team in the nation right now, but we only had two competitors … Other colleges will bring as many as 20 or 30 people.”

But the Oshima legacy extends beyond its two consecutive national collegiate titles.

Michael started the mixed martial arts and self-defense clubs here on campus, giving students an opportunity to practice judo. They trained at the same Somerville gym that they have since their childhood.

And their father is their coach.

“I’ve been coaching them since they were eight years old, so I have that role completely separate in my life,” said Harold Oshima, who runs the nearby gym. “I’m just a coach. Sometimes I have to remind myself that I’m a father too.”

Given the closeness in age and clear overlap in athletic interest, Michael and Daniel have trained together for most of their judo careers.

And like any siblings together in sports, they cannot help but compete with one another.

“They’re very competitive,” Harold said. “Fortunately, we were always able to keep them in separate weight groups, and they never had to compete directly against each other, but they are extremely competitive.”

The coach briefly paused.

“I mean, there is no fear of violent death … but they go at each other,” Harold said.

Still, he says that the brothers, who are registered coaches, are willing to help each other out.

“[Daniel is] definitely a motivating force; he’s a great coach, and he’s coached me very well during my fights,” said sophomore Amaury Berzin, who took third place in the Novice Men’s 81 kg at the national collegiate tournament and currently trains with the younger Oshima brother.

Berzin also commented that Daniel coaches by example, particularly in his winning performance at the college championships.

“Dan, [in the championship fight] for the gold medal, fought a very good competitor, one who had been fighting flawlessly and was definitely one of the best competitors there,” Berzin observed. “[Daniel] knew exactly what was happening, and was in full control of the match.”

Harold noted that Daniel was largely motivated by his runner-up finish last year.

“This was his last chance,” the coach said. “He was really upset last year, but everything worked out.”

As with every tournament they compete in, Harold travelled with Daniel and Berzin to last month’s tournament at Texas A&M.

After the two Harvard competitors made weight, the three went out to dinner together.

“[Daniel] ate all but six ounces of a 48 ounce steak,” the coach said chuckling. “Of course, he was in Texas—that was the place to do it.”

The close of the national championships in the Lone Star State marks the end of Oshima representation for Harvard in judo.

Much of the focus for Daniel has turned to his future and the family’s legacy on Harvard judo.

“Our [family’s] goal is really to solidify the club so judo can persist after we leave,” he said. “We tried to just raise awareness that judo is out there, and if you want to be able to compete at a national level … you can do all that by joining the judo club.”

Harold believes that judo, which he refers to as “one of the most widely practiced sports in the world,” will one day gain greater traction at Harvard. Berzin shares his optimism, noting that there are a number of underclassmen and potential future freshman who would be interested.

The Harvard club team will continue training at the same gym, even after the Oshimas are gone.

“At the Oshima dojo, it’s a place where there’s a family atmosphere,” Berzin said. “I can improve every week that I go there.”

As for Daniel’s own future, he plans to continue participating in judo in some capacity after he graduates, though he concedes that the level of involvement will depend on his job and where he his living.

Judo is an Olympic sport, and like any athlete who participates in such a sport, the Games would be the pinnacle of his career and athletic achievement.

“It’s really difficult to train for the Olympics and have a full-time job, but the Olympics would be amazing if I could ever get there,” Daniel said. “There are a few more people I’d have to beat before I’d have a spot on the team.”