About

Lopez Judo Academy

Welcome to Lopez Judo Academy, LLC. We are very proud to say we are the only judo school in the South Texas area.  We also have Tai-Chi classes. We have been in existence for over 20 years. LJA is instructed by 7th Degree Judo Black Belt Sensei Louis Lopez and 5th Degree Judo Black Belt Sensei John Gill.

Instructors

Sensei Louis M. Lopez

Judo History

50 years of experience as a national competitor, continental coach, national referee, and national tournament director. Founded the Corpus Christi YMCA Judo Club, Friendswood Judo club, and Lopez Judo Academy, LLC registered club with USA Judo. Also founded the Houston Open Judo Tournament. Recently designed and built Lopez Judo Academy dojo with state of the art spring-loaded mats. On May 25, 2019 hosted Texas State Judo Championships in Corpus Christi Texas.

Certifications

Received Seventh Degree Black Belt in Judo in the year of 2021 certified with the United States Judo Association. Fourth Degree Black Belt in Jujitsu, also certified with the United States Judo Association. USJA Certified National Judo Referee from 1995 to 2000. Currently USA Judo Certified Continental Judo Coach and Certified National Referee.

Instructor/Coach Experience

  • 2005-present   Sensei/Owner of Lopez Judo Academy LLC.
  • 2002-2004  Volunteer Judo Sensei, Corpus Christi YMCA
  • 1995-2002   Sensei/Owner, Friendswood Judo Academy
  • 1983-1995   Volunteer Judo Sensei, Corpus Christi YMC

State Judo Service

2021: Currently holds office of Vice President of Texas Judo Inc

Competition

Sensei López competed in over 100 judo tournaments in a span of 25 years. Besides being a Texas state champion, his biggest medals are the following: 

  • 1999 – United States National Judo Championships Bronze Medalist at Spokane, Washington.
  • 1997 – United States National Judo Championships Silver Medalist at Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
  • 1994 – United States National Judo Championship Bronze Medalist at Irving, California

Tournament Director

2019 Texas State Judo Champions Director. 2000 US Senior National Judo Championships Equipment Chairman in Houston, Texas (800 competitors). 1995 USJA Junior National Judo Championships Tournament Co-Director in Austin, Texas (600 competitors). Founded the annual ongoing Houston Open Judo Tournament.  Tournament Director of various local, regional, and state tournaments.

Referee Experience

Current USA Judo National Referee. Refereed at various junior local, regional, state, and national Tournaments. National Referee at Senior National Judo Championships in Chicago, Illinois. 
Drug and Alcohol Test Assistant to the United Olympic Committee at Colorado Springs, Colorado for US Judo Olympic Team selection. Recently referee at the 2017 and 2022 Collegiate National Judo Championships in College Station.

Camps Attended

  • Attended Spring camp Sensei Zdenek Matl (Eight Dan) in Port Lavaca Texas 2017.
  • Attended Olympic Silver Medalist Travis Stevens summer clinic 2018.
  • Instructor at Bert Baccera International Judo Camps in Dallas 2010-2019.
  • Attended Camp Bushido in Colorado Springs the summers of 1982- 1987.
  • Attended Camp Bushido at the University of Southern Louisiana 1989.
  • Coordinated and attended world champion Mike Swain Clinic in Houston after the Houston Open Judo Tournament 2002.
  • Attended Summer Judo Camp with Olympian Pat Burris Camp 2000
  • Attended 1992 Olympic Silver Medalist, Jason Morris Clinic
  • Attended 1984 Olympic Bronze Medalist, Eddie Liddie Clinic
  • Attended Sensei Keiko Fukuda Kata clinic (1996)
  • Attended Sensei Karl Geis Clinic (1986)

Education

  • Liberal Arts degree from Del Mar College.
  • Bachelor Human Resources, University of Incarnate Word
  • Master of Arts in Administration, Organizational Development from the University of the Incarnate Word.

Sensei John Gill

Judo History

Sensei Gill began Judo in 1984 under Sensei Carlos Koide in Lorena, São Paulo, Brazil. When he moved to the United States in 1988, he trained under Sensei Wayne Maxwell, Sensei Jesse Ballou, and Sensei Lorenzo Schipp in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Then, in Laredo Texas, he trained under Sensei Renee Zeelenberg and Sensei Matias Cuellar. Sensei Gill currently trains in Corpus Christi under Sensei Lopez and Sensei Matl.

Competition

Sensei Gill competed in the US High School Nationals, numerous Senior National tournaments, and three World Masters tournaments. He never earned a national title, but he earned the name “The Scrapper” from the Texas Judo Community.

Our Lineage

Sensei Lopez’s lineage goes back to his original Sensei, Eddie Sanchez at the Corpus Christi YMCA in the 1970’s. Sensei Sanchez was a black belt and began his judo experience as an Air Force child who was relocated with his family around the world and with that experience he was able to learn from Judo dojos around the Globe.

Afterwards, Sensei Lopez got his black belt in 1979 from a renowned Houston Coach by the name of Karl Geis. Sensei Geis was 10th degree black belt in Judo and Aikido. Sensei Geis learned his Judo while being stationed in Tokyo Japan during his service in the US Air force. He was Sensei to Olympian Jimmy Wooley and Tommy Riggs. He was also a co founder of the United States Judo Association.

One of the most note worthy Sensei’s I trained with in Judo Kata was Judo 10th degree Keiko Fukuda. Ms. Fukuda is the only women judoka to have achieved Judo 10th dan.  She lived to be 99 years old and was the last surviving student of Judo founder Dr. Jigoro Kano.  

Listed below are various Olympians and World Champions that Sensei Lopez trained with in different clinics and camps.