View source for Jimmy Pedro

{{short description|American judoka}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{BLP sources|date=April 2015}}
{{More footnotes needed|date=April 2015}}}}
{{Infobox judoka
| image       = <!-- name.jpg -->
| image_size  = <!-- only when absolutely necessary -->
| alt         = 
| caption     = 
| birth_name  = James A. Pedro
| nickname    = Peanuts
| nationality = {{flagicon|USA}} American
| birth_date  = {{Birth date and age|1970|10|30|mf=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Danvers, Massachusetts]], U.S.
| hometown    = [[Methuen, Massachusetts]], U.S.
| alma_mater  = [[Brown University]]
| occupation  = Judo Instructor
| height      = {{height|ft=5|in=9}}
| spouse      = Marie Pedro
| website     = {{URL|https://www.jimmypedrojudo.com/}}
<!-- | children        = 4 -->
<!-- Sport -->
| country      = [[United States]]
| weight_class = 
| rank         = <!-- Belt color ONLY. Automated when "dan" is used. -->
| rank_ref     = 
| dan          = 7
| club         = [[New York Athletic Club|NYAC]]
| coach        = Jim Pedro
| coaching     = Pedro’s Judo Center in [[Wakefield, Massachusetts]]
<!-- Achievements and titles -->
| worlds_rank       = 1
| worlds_year       = 1999
| worlds_weight     = Men's 73 kg
| regionals_type    = AM
| regionals_rank    = 1
| regionals_year    = 1992
| regionals_weight  = <!-- Optional – To link to specific weightclass competition article (when one exists) -->
| regionals_year2   = 1997
| regionals_weight2 = <!-- Optional – To link to specific weightclass competition article (when one exists) -->
| regionals_year3   = 1998
| regionals_weight3 = <!-- Optional – To link to specific weightclass competition article (when one exists) -->
| regionals_year4   = 2004
| regionals_weight4 = <!-- Optional – To link to specific weightclass competition article (when one exists) -->
| nationals         = 
| olympics_rank     = 3
| olympics_year     = 1996
| olympics_weight   = Men's 71 kg
| olympics_year2    = 2004
| olympics_weight2  = Men's 73 kg
<!-- Medal record -->
| show-medals    = 
| medaltemplates =
{{Medal|Sport| Men's [[judo]] }}
{{Medal|Country| {{USA}} }}
{{Medal|Competition| [[Judo at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]] }}
{{Medal|B| [[Judo at the 1996 Summer Olympics|1996&nbsp;Atlanta]] | [[Judo at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Men's 71 kg|{{nbnd}}71&nbsp;kg]] }}
{{Medal|B| [[Judo at the 2004 Summer Olympics|2004&nbsp;Athens]] | [[Judo at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Men's 73 kg|{{nbnd}}73&nbsp;kg]] }}
{{Medal|Competition| [[World Judo Championships|World Championships]] }}
{{Medal|G| [[1999 World Judo Championships|1999&nbsp;Birmingham]] | [[1999 World Judo Championships – Men's 73 kg|{{nbnd}}73&nbsp;kg]] }}
{{Medal|B| [[1991 World Judo Championships|1991&nbsp;Barcelona]] | [[1991 World Judo Championships – Men's 65 kg|{{nbnd}}65&nbsp;kg]] }}
{{Medal|B| [[1995 World Judo Championships|1995&nbsp;Chiba]] | [[1995 World Judo Championships – Men's 71 kg|{{nbnd}}71&nbsp;kg]] }}
{{Medal|Competition| [[Judo at the Pan American Games|Pan American Games]] }}
{{Medal|G| [[Judo at the 1995 Pan American Games|1995&nbsp;Mara&nbsp;del&nbsp;Plata]] | [[Judo at the 1995 Pan American Games – Men's 71 kg|{{nbnd}}71&nbsp;kg]] }}
{{Medal|G| [[Judo at the 1999 Pan American Games|1999&nbsp;Winnipeg]] | [[Judo at the 1999 Pan American Games – Men's 73 kg|{{nbnd}}73&nbsp;kg]] }}
{{Medal|B| [[Judo at the 1991 Pan American Games|1991&nbsp;Havana]] | [[Judo at the 1991 Pan American Games – Men's 65 kg|{{nbnd}}65&nbsp;kg]] }}
{{Medal|Competition| [[Pan American Judo Championships|Pan American Championships]] }}
{{Medal|G| [[1992 Pan American Judo Championships|1992&nbsp;Ontario]] | {{nbnd}}65&nbsp;kg }}
{{Medal|G| [[1997 Pan American Judo Championships|1997&nbsp;Guadalajara]] | {{nbnd}}71&nbsp;kg }}
{{Medal|G| [[1998 Pan American Judo Championships|1998&nbsp;Santo&nbsp;Domingo]] | {{nbnd}}73&nbsp;kg }}
{{Medal|G| [[2004 Pan American Judo Championships|2004&nbsp;Isla&nbsp;Margarita]] | {{nbnd}}73&nbsp;kg }}
{{Medal|S| [[1988 Pan American Judo Championships|1988&nbsp;Buenos&nbsp;Aires]] | {{nbnd}}60&nbsp;kg }}
{{Medal|B| [[1990 Pan American Judo Championships|1990&nbsp;Caracas]] | {{nbnd}}65&nbsp;kg }}
{{Medal|Competition| [[World Judo Juniors Championships|World Juniors Championships]] }}
{{Medal|B| [[1990 World Judo Juniors Championships|1990&nbsp;Dijon]] | {{nbnd}}65&nbsp;kg }}
{{Medal|Competition| [[Pan American Junior Judo Championships|Pan American Junior Championships]] }}
{{Medal|G| [[1989 Pan American Junior Judo Championships|1989&nbsp;Quito]] | {{nbnd}}65&nbsp;kg }}
| updated = 30 May 2023
}}

'''James A. Pedro''' (born October 30, 1970) is an American retired World Champion and Olympic [[judoka]], as well as a current judo coach.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eagletribune.com/sports/local_sports/building-champions-going-into-second-olympics-as-u-s-judo/article_b4ee7241-1d25-5fb6-8d1f-d4b2a692daf8.html|title=BUILDING CHAMPIONS: Going into second Olympics as U.S. Judo's head coach, Methuen's Jimmy Pedro has high hopes for Rio|first=Mac|last=Cerullo|date=31 July 2016 |access-date=26 May 2018}}</ref> 
Pedro  currently holds a 7th degree [[Rank in Judo|black belt]] in judo. He is the coach of [[Kayla Harrison]], the first and currently only American to win an [[Judo at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's 78 kg|Olympic gold medal]] in judo.<ref name="auto"/>

==Early life and education==
Pedro was born on October 30, 1970, in [[Danvers, Massachusetts]]. He was trained by his father [[James Pedro Sr.]], a 1976 Olympic Alternate.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.newburyportnews.com/sports/jimmy-pedro-and-his-dad-guardians-at-usa-judo-gate/article_0098ce2e-eb59-5f2e-9fed-12a56fa68c5e.html|title=Jimmy Pedro and his dad: Guardians at USA Judo gate|author=Bill Burt|website=Newburyportnews.com|date=14 August 2016 |access-date=2016-08-18}}</ref> Pedro is currently a 7th degree Black Belt in judo, and also has a [[Bachelor of Arts]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]]) in Business Economics and Organizational Behavior & Management from [[Brown University]], whom he also wrestled for. His favorite judo technique is [[Sode tsurikomi goshi|Sode Tsuri Komi Goshi]], and his most effective is [[Ude hishigi juji gatame|Juji Gatame]].<ref name=usadojo1>{{cite web|url=http://www.usadojo.com/biographies/jimmy-pedro.htm |website=Usadojo.com |title=Jimmy Pedro page |access-date=14 May 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150506074420/http://www.usadojo.com/biographies/jimmy-pedro.htm |archive-date= 6 May 2015 }}</ref>

==Achievements==
Pedro was the World Champion at 73&nbsp;kg in 1999 after defeating [[Vitaly Makarov]] of Russia in the final, and also won bronze medals in the 1991 and 1995 World Championships. Pedro represented the United States in the 1992, 1996, 2000, and 2004 [[Olympic Games]], winning bronze in 1996 and 2004. His entry in the "Legends" section of a major judo magazine's web site lists 29 gold medals in international competition.<ref name="usadojo1"/>

===National honors===
* 04, 03, 00 & 99 Real Judo Magazine "Player of the Year"
* 04 New York Athletic Club Hall of Fame
* 04 Brown University Hall of Fame
* 97 New York Athletic Club "Athlete of the Year"
* 97 Black Belt Hall of Fame
* 10x USJA Jr. National Champion
* 6x US National Champion (89, 91, 93, 94, 99, 03)
* 3x High School National Champion (86, 87, 88)

===Gold major international medals===
* 04 & 00 German Team Championships (73&nbsp;kg Member of TSV Abensberg)
* 04 & 03 New York Open (73&nbsp;kg) - Manhattan, NY
* 04 Pan Am Championships (73&nbsp;kg) - Margarita Island, Venezuela
* 03 Korean Open (73&nbsp;kg) - Yongin University, Korea
* 03 Rendez Vous Canada (73&nbsp;kg) - Montreal, QC
* 03 Tre Torri (73&nbsp;kg) - Porto Sant'Elpidio, Italy
* 03 Puerto Rico Open (73&nbsp;kg) - Salinas, Puerto Rico
* 03 British Open (73&nbsp;kg) - London, England
* 00 Europa Cup Team Championships (73&nbsp;kg Member of TSV Abensberg)
* 99 World Championships (73&nbsp;kg) - Birmingham, England
* 99 Pan Am Games (73&nbsp;kg) - Winnipeg, Canada
* 98 US Open (73&nbsp;kg) - Colorado Springs, CO, US
* 98 Pan Am Championships (73&nbsp;kg) - Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
* 98 French Open (73&nbsp;kg) - Paris, France
* 98 Austrian Open (73&nbsp;kg) - Leonding, Austria
* 98 Shoriki Cup (73&nbsp;kg) - Tokyo, Japan
* 97 & 95 German Open (71&nbsp;kg) - Munich, Germany
* 97 Pan Am Championships (71&nbsp;kg) - Guadalajara, Mexico
* 95 US Open (71&nbsp;kg) - Macon, GA, US
* 95 Pan Am Games (71&nbsp;kg) - Mar de Plata, Argentina
* 93 Pacific Rim Championships (65&nbsp;kg) - Auckland, New Zealand
* 92 Guido Sieni (65&nbsp;kg) - Sassari, Italy
* 92 Pan Am Championships (65&nbsp;kg) - Santiago, Chile
* 92 US Open (71&nbsp;kg) - Colorado Springs, CO, US
* 90 & 89 US Open (65&nbsp;kg) - Colorado Springs, CO, US
* 90 Tre Torri (65&nbsp;kg) - Porto Sant'Elpidio, Italy

===Silver major international medals===
* 04 Hungarian Open (73&nbsp;kg) - Budapest, Hungary
* 04 German Open (73&nbsp;kg) - Hamburg, Germany
* 03 US Open (73&nbsp;kg) - Las Vegas, NV
* 93 Korean Open (65&nbsp;kg) - Seoul, Korea
* 93 French Open (63&nbsp;kg) - Paris, France
* 92 Hungarian Open (65&nbsp;kg) - Budapest, Hungary
* 90 Goodwill Games (65&nbsp;kg) - Seattle, WA, US

===Bronze major international medals===
* 04 Olympic Games (73&nbsp;kg) - Athens, Greece
* 99 Kano Cup (73&nbsp;kg) - Tokyo, Japan
* 98 German Open (73&nbsp;kg) - Munich, Germany
* 97 Austrian Open (71&nbsp;kg) - Leonding, Austria
* 96 French Open (71&nbsp;kg) - Paris, France
* 96 Olympic Games (73&nbsp;kg) - Atlanta, GA, US
* 95 World Championships (71&nbsp;kg) - Makuhari, Japan
* 95 Pacific Rim Championships (71&nbsp;kg) - Sydney, Australia
* 94 Goodwill Games (71&nbsp;kg) - St. Petersburg, Russia
* 92 French Open (65&nbsp;kg) - Paris, France
* 92 German Open (65&nbsp;kg) - Munich, Germany
* 91 US Open (65&nbsp;kg) - Colorado Springs, CO, US
* 91 Pan Am Games (65&nbsp;kg) - Havana, Cuba
* 91 World Championships (65&nbsp;kg) - Barcelona, Spain
* 91 Pacific Rim Championships (65&nbsp;kg) - Honolulu, HI, US
* 90 Jr. World Championships (65&nbsp;kg) - Dijon, France
* 90 Tblissi International (65&nbsp;kg) - Tblissi, Georgia
* 88 Shoriki Cup (65&nbsp;kg) - Tokyo, Japan

===5th place in major international events===
* 00 Olympic Games (73&nbsp;kg) - Sydney, Australia
* 94 Kano Cup (71&nbsp;kg) - Tokyo, Japan
* 93 World Championships (65&nbsp;kg) - Hamilton, Canada

==Post-competition career==
Pedro retired from competitive judo after the [[2004 Olympics]]. He has worked for Monster.com, promoted a brand of [[tatami]] training mats used for judo and [[jujutsu]] practice and competition, and been the subject of a biographical movie.  A ''[[newaza]]'' (ground techniques) specialist, Jimmy currently owns and operates Pedro's Judo Center in [[Wakefield, Massachusetts]], and teaches clinics and seminars throughout the country. Pedro also coached the  U.S. Olympic Judo team at the [[2012 Olympics]] in London. He is  the national sales executive for FUJI Mats + Facility Design.<ref name="usadojo1"/> He is [[Kayla Harrison]]'s coach. Harrison was the first American to win an [[Judo at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's 78 kg|Olympic gold medal in judo]].<ref name="auto"/> 
''Fury on the mat'' is a biographical movie about Jimmy Pedro. Pedro currently owns and operates the renowned Mat and Outfitting company, www.FujiMats.com and sister company www.fujisports.com

==Personal life==
Pedro is   married and the father of four children.

==Notable students==
*[[Kayla Harrison]] (2x Olympic Champion and current UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion)
*[[Travis Stevens]] (3x Olympian and 2016 Olympic Silver medalist)
*[[Ronda Rousey]] (2008 Olympic Bronze Medalist and former UFC Champion)
*[[Rick Hawn]] (Olympian and Bellator Tournament Champion)
*[[Janine Nakao]] (Pan American Silver Medalist)
*[[Taraje Williams-Murray]] (2x Olympian)
*[[Theresa Roche]] ('Credits Unknown' Assumed ranked 2nd Nationally 1988)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Published works==
* ''Judo Techniques and Tactics'', Jimmy Pedro and William Durbin. {{ISBN|0-7360-0343-6}}

==External links==
* {{Official website}}
* {{Sports links}}
* {{Sports reference}}
* {{The-Sports}}
* [https://pedrosjudo.com/ Pedro's Judo Center]
* https://www.publico.pt/2016/08/10/desporto/noticia/os-portugueses-que-mandam-no-judo-americano-1740822

{{WC Judo Men's Lightweight}}
{{Footer Pan American Champions Judo Lightweight Men}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pedro, Jimmy}}
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American male judoka]]
[[Category:Olympic judoka for the United States]]
[[Category:Olympic bronze medalists for the United States in judo]]
[[Category:Judoka at the 1992 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Judoka at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Judoka at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Judoka at the 2004 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Methuen, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:World judo champions]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2004 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Brown Bears athletes]]
[[Category:Competitors at the 1990 Goodwill Games]]
[[Category:Competitors at the 1994 Goodwill Games]]
[[Category:Goodwill Games medalists in judo]]
[[Category:Judoka at the 1991 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Judoka at the 1995 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Judoka at the 1999 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1991 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1995 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1999 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Pan American Games gold medalists for the United States in judo]]
[[Category:Pan American Games bronze medalists for the United States in judo]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Danvers, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:American people of Portuguese descent]]
[[Category:21st-century American sportsmen]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]