Brockport resident receives highest Judo ranking in U.S.

The United States Judo Federation (USJF) promoted Sachio Ashida, PhD, SUNY College at Brockport associate professor of psychology emeritus, to the rank of ninth Dan, the highest Black Belt rating in the U.S. and a level Ashida shares with only two others.

Ashida, a U.S. citizen since 1961 and a member of the SUNY Brockport faculty since 1970, also has served as president of the New York State Judo Inc. from 1984 through 1992. He was the head coach of the U.S. Olympic Judo Team in Montreal and United States' Senior National Team during several World Championships. As a referee, he participated in the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 1984. Ashida was inducted into the Black Belt Hall of Fame in 1973, being recognized as an outstanding coach and instructor whose students have competed at all levels of the sport.

In 1998 he was honored by the government of Japan with the Order of the Sacred Treasure/Gold Rays with Rosette in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the introduction and spread of judo in the United States.

He is teaching beginning judo and intermediate judo for the SUNY Brockport Department of Physical Education and Sport, as well as teaching an adult class in judo through the college's Campus Recreation Office. He is a Brockport resident.

February 18, 2007