A Third-Generation Judoka, Jack Yonezuka To Make Family History When He Steps On The Tatami In Paris

Forty-four years ago, Nick Yonezuka qualified for the U.S. Olympic judo team at just 16 years old. He’s believed to still be the youngest American man to qualify for the Games in the sport. Because the United States boycotted those 1980 Games in Moscow, however, he never got to compete at the Olympic level.

This summer, he’ll get a consolation prize of sorts.

In May, his son Jack Yonezuka was named to the 2024 U.S. Olympic team. At 21 years old, the native of West Long Branch, New Jersey, will be Team USA’s youngest judoka in Paris.

“So, (my Olympic debut is) also kind of a first experience for him, as well,” said Jack Yonezuka, who will make his Olympic debut in the men’s 73 kg. class on July 29.

The judo tradition runs deep in the Yonezuka family.

Yoshisada Yonezuka — Jack’s grandpa, Nick’s dad — learned the sport while growing up in Japan, and then brought his passion across the Pacific when he immigrated to the United States in 1959.

In 1962 — two years before judo became an Olympic sport — Yoshisada founded the Cranford Judo Karate Center in New Jersey, an esteemed club that developed nine Olympians from 1980 to 2021. Yoshisada later coached the U.S. judo team himself at the 1988 and 1992 Olympic Games.

Jack was 11 when Yoshisada died in 2014, so his memories of his grandpa are limited.

“But I know he would be proud, of course,” Jack said, “and he would tell me to do my best.”

Both Jack and his older brother Nick, developed into international-level competitors, with Jack’s career taking off especially in the past few years. In 2022, he became the first U.S. man to reach the podium at the junior world championships in 30 years when he took home the bronze medal. A year later, his silver medal made him the first American man to win two medals at the event. He has placed as high as ninth at the senior world championships.

The next step in his journey comes this summer in Paris.

Though Jack Yonezuka will be following a strong family tradition when he competes in judo for Team USA this summer, he said he never really felt any additional pressure to excel while growing up in the sport.

“I guess I really didn’t think about it much as a kid,” Yonezuka recalled. “I feel like I’ve always been pretty self-driven. What I want to accomplish is my only really focus, and I’m going to work for it and do the best I can to achieve it.

“Outside pressure, what other people think about me, or what I think they think about me — things like that don’t really come into play. I kind of ignore all that and just focus on the goal.”

Yonezuka has done just that over the last busy year of competition, which culminated in his first Olympic berth.

“I had pretty good results the whole year,” he said. “There wasn’t one specific qualifying event where I had to perform to secure my qualification, really. I’ve consistently been doing well.”

Obviously, Yonezuka is looking forward to his Olympic debut.

“I’m sure it will be an exciting experience when I’m there,” he said. “And it’s more of a relief because there’s been so many tournaments this year that I’m happy it’s all over.”

Yonezuka continues to train at his family’s Cranford JKC. About two weeks out from the Olympics, he plans to taper down to let his body recover.

“Normally, I do some type of physical training in the morning,” said Yonezuka, “and then … somewhere from like two to three hours of judo at night.”

Yonezuka was taking online college classes in education but had to set academics aside to focus on judo when his schedule got too busy.

“It’s too much traveling and competition to even be home,” he said. “Sometimes I’m away for like a full month, so it’s tough. I plan on going back (to school).”

Yonezuka doesn’t plan to change much heading into the Olympics. He said that he will focus on strategy and staying sharp.

“Always capitalizing on opportunities that arise, things like that,” he said. “I mean, the goal is obviously to win and finish on top, but I know I’ve got to take it one match at a time and just do everything I can in preparation to be ready. And if it doesn’t go my way, well, at least I know I did everything, and I’ll regret nothing. Just enjoy the experience.”

He’d like to be in Los Angeles for the 2028 Games to vie for a medal on home soil. He’s keeping an open mind beyond that and would like to coach one day.

“We’ll see. Just one step at a time,” Yonezuka said. “A lot of people think I’m progressing early, but everyone’s time is different. Who knows?

“Something crazy could happen, and maybe I won’t get this opportunity again. So, I’ve got to take advantage when I can. I just try to take it one day at a time.”