{{short description|American judoka}} {{Multiple issues| {{BLP sources|date=April 2015}} {{More footnotes needed|date=April 2015}}}} {{Use American English|date=March 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2026}} {{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 = 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| Olympic Games }} {{Medal|B| 1996 Atlanta | {{nbnd}}71 kg }} {{Medal|B| 2004 Athens | {{nbnd}}73 kg }} {{Medal|Competition| World Championships }} {{Medal|G| 1999 Birmingham | {{nbnd}}73 kg }} {{Medal|B| 1991 Barcelona | {{nbnd}}65 kg }} {{Medal|B| 1995 Chiba | {{nbnd}}71 kg }} {{Medal|Competition| Pan American Games }} {{Medal|G| 1995 Mara del Plata | {{nbnd}}71 kg }} {{Medal|G| 1999 Winnipeg | {{nbnd}}73 kg }} {{Medal|B| 1991 Havana | {{nbnd}}65 kg }} {{Medal|Competition| Pan American Championships }} {{Medal|G| 1992 Ontario | {{nbnd}}65 kg }} {{Medal|G| 1997 Guadalajara | {{nbnd}}71 kg }} {{Medal|G| 1998 Santo Domingo | {{nbnd}}73 kg }} {{Medal|G| 2004 Isla Margarita | {{nbnd}}73 kg }} {{Medal|S| 1988 Buenos Aires | {{nbnd}}60 kg }} {{Medal|B| 1990 Caracas | {{nbnd}}65 kg }} {{Medal|Competition| World Juniors Championships }} {{Medal|B| 1990 Dijon | {{nbnd}}65 kg }} {{Medal|Competition| Pan American Junior Championships }} {{Medal|G| 1989 Quito | {{nbnd}}65 kg }} | updated = 30 May 2023 }}
'''James A. Pedro''' (born October 30, 1970) is an American retired World Champion and Olympic judoka,<ref>{{cite Sports-Reference}}</ref> 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 black belt in judo. He is the coach of Kayla Harrison, the first and currently only American to win an 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 (BA) in Business Economics and Organizational Behavior & Management from Brown University, whom he also wrestled for. His favorite judo technique is Sode Tsuri Komi Goshi, and his most effective is 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 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 kg Member of TSV Abensberg) * 04 & 03 New York Open (73 kg) - Manhattan, NY * 04 Pan Am Championships (73 kg) - Margarita Island, Venezuela * 03 Korean Open (73 kg) - Yongin University, Korea * 03 Rendez Vous Canada (73 kg) - Montreal, QC * 03 Tre Torri (73 kg) - Porto Sant'Elpidio, Italy * 03 Puerto Rico Open (73 kg) - Salinas, Puerto Rico * 03 British Open (73 kg) - London, England * 00 Europa Cup Team Championships (73 kg Member of TSV Abensberg) * 99 World Championships (73 kg) - Birmingham, England * 99 Pan Am Games (73 kg) - Winnipeg, Canada * 98 US Open (73 kg) - Colorado Springs, CO, US * 98 Pan Am Championships (73 kg) - Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic * 98 French Open (73 kg) - Paris, France * 98 Austrian Open (73 kg) - Leonding, Austria * 98 Shoriki Cup (73 kg) - Tokyo, Japan * 97 & 95 German Open (71 kg) - Munich, Germany * 97 Pan Am Championships (71 kg) - Guadalajara, Mexico * 95 US Open (71 kg) - Macon, GA, US * 95 Pan Am Games (71 kg) - Mar de Plata, Argentina * 93 Pacific Rim Championships (65 kg) - Auckland, New Zealand * 92 Guido Sieni (65 kg) - Sassari, Italy * 92 Pan Am Championships (65 kg) - Santiago, Chile * 92 US Open (71 kg) - Colorado Springs, CO, US * 90 & 89 US Open (65 kg) - Colorado Springs, CO, US * 90 Tre Torri (65 kg) - Porto Sant'Elpidio, Italy
===Silver major international medals=== * 04 Hungarian Open (73 kg) - Budapest, Hungary * 04 German Open (73 kg) - Hamburg, Germany * 03 US Open (73 kg) - Las Vegas, NV * 93 Korean Open (65 kg) - Seoul, Korea * 93 French Open (63 kg) - Paris, France * 92 Hungarian Open (65 kg) - Budapest, Hungary * 90 Goodwill Games (65 kg) - Seattle, WA, US
===Bronze major international medals=== * 04 Olympic Games (73 kg) - Athens, Greece * 99 Kano Cup (73 kg) - Tokyo, Japan * 98 German Open (73 kg) - Munich, Germany * 97 Austrian Open (71 kg) - Leonding, Austria * 96 French Open (71 kg) - Paris, France * 96 Olympic Games (73 kg) - Atlanta, GA, US * 95 World Championships (71 kg) - Makuhari, Japan * 95 Pacific Rim Championships (71 kg) - Sydney, Australia * 94 Goodwill Games (71 kg) - St. Petersburg, Russia * 92 French Open (65 kg) - Paris, France * 92 German Open (65 kg) - Munich, Germany * 91 US Open (65 kg) - Colorado Springs, CO, US * 91 Pan Am Games (65 kg) - Havana, Cuba * 91 World Championships (65 kg) - Barcelona, Spain * 91 Pacific Rim Championships (65 kg) - Honolulu, HI, US * 90 Jr. World Championships (65 kg) - Dijon, France * 90 Tblissi International (65 kg) - Tblissi, Georgia * 88 Shoriki Cup (65 kg) - Tokyo, Japan
===5th place in major international events=== * 00 Olympic Games (73 kg) - Sydney, Australia * 94 Kano Cup (71 kg) - Tokyo, Japan * 93 World Championships (65 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 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}} already in References & current website Olympedia displayed via {{Sports links}} --> * {{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