(Eighteen years of trials, triumphs and tears came down to...)
Eighteen years of trials, triumphs and tears came down to a final instant for Kevin Asano. His journey began as a seven-year-old boy in a judo dojo in Okinawa... It ended as a man competing for gold in Seoul, Korea. Kevin embraced the elation of winning while being mercilessly taunted by doubts and disappointments. Yet always, he was certain it was his destiny. He was compelled beyond himself to step onto the mat . Finally, Kevin s childhood dream of competing in the world's most prestigious sporting event was staring him in the face. Thousands packed the international arena, yet his only concern was to please an audience of One. When you face your moment, your dream, your chance, there is only one question: Will you step onto the mat?
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He graduated from Pearl City High School in Hawaii in 1981, studied Japanese and trained in judo at Tokai University for two years, then went on to study at San José State University where he graduated in 1989 in Accounting.
Asano came close to winning the gold medal, but lost it on a one-point penalty to Kim Jae-Yup of South of Korea. In 2008, Kevin Asano"s autobiography, Step Onto the Mat: Journey to True Success, was published by White Mountain Castle Publishing, Limited Liability Company. He co-founded Pacific Rim Legacy Group, a financial planning organization and Personal Transformation International, a 501(c)3 organization. He has served as President of Hawaii Judo, Incorporated., the state judo governing body of United States of America Judo and President of the United States Judo Federation, a grassroots national judo organization.
He is also the head instructor of Leeward Judo Club in Hawaii.
(Eighteen years of trials, triumphs and tears came down to...)
He is also a member of the Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame 2000 inductees is also a member of the San Jose State University Sports Hall of Fame.