Dreaming big and beyond

Life continues to fly by. Not just weeks or years but decades, even quarter-centuries.

Blink. And it’s Seoul, 1988. Kevin Asano walks off the mat with a silver medal in Olympic judo following a late, controversial penalty in the gold-medal match against South Korea’s Kim Jae-Yup.

Blink. And it’s Pearl City, 2013. Asano is two months away from his 50th birthday and 10 months into his first term as president of the U.S. Judo Federation.

Blink again?

"If the last 25 went quickly, then the next 25 … I’ll be 75," said Asano, senior advisor for Leeward Judo Club. "It seems like the Olympics was just a few months ago. Where did 25 years go?

"I’m feeling kind of an urgency right now. That I need to make my life count, not for me but for others. I want to leave an impact on society."

To that end, Asano Sensei, a seventh-degree black belt, has a task more daunting than even when facing defending Olympic gold medalist and reigning world champion Shinji Hosokawa at the 1988 Games. USJF, a grassroots organization with 10,000, would like to see the sport grow so that there is judo in every American community and even every American school.

"You can imagine that is a very big mission, what a really big responsibility I have with that mandate," Asano said. "The key to growth is starting new clubs. It’s releasing the younger generation to branch out on their own. And it’s motivating them to do so and be successful."

It’s happening with his own dojo. Leeward Judo Club, one of the largest in the country with some 160 students, has two locations — Pearl City and Waipahu high schools — and is looking at opening a third.

"We have 15 black belts (on staff) and what we’re trying to do is empower the instructors," Asano, a 1981 Pearl City High graduate, said. "We want them to grow and thus grow the sport."

The opportunity will come quickly, not just for Asano but also for 50th State Judo Association, Hawaii’s umbrella organization that oversees more than two dozen judo clubs in the state. Coincidently — or strategically, Asano says with a laugh — the USJF Junior Nationals are scheduled for Blaisdell Arena in July of 2014.

His vision for growth isn’t limited by the "US" in USJF.

"We’re looking at bringing international competition, not just national competition," said Asano, who has been inducted into the USJF, USA Judo, San Jose State and Hawaii Sports halls of fame. "We have commitments already from Florida and Tahiti.

"The biggest thing is getting the word out. We want to make this event one that the rest of the judo world recognizes. A lot of people are already talking about it."

The 50th State Judo Association will host the event, which is expected to draw over 1,000 competitors.

Asano expects it to be a family affair, not just for his extended Leeward Judo Club ohana but for his four children, judokas who range from age 6 to 13.

His presidency has become a family commitment. Wife Mari, who met Asano at church when the two were studying in Japan, helps with paperwork.

"We knew that this would mean more traveling," Mari Asano said. "We home-school so we have a little more flexibility and our oldest daughter traveled with him the last trip.

"It’s such an opportunity."

One that Kevin Asano is still embracing.

"I looked at the tradition of who the past presidents have been and I wondered, ‘What am I doing there?’ " Asano said. "You never think you’re good enough. The people who have been involved with the national meetings … some of them have been doing this as long as I’ve been alive and they’re putting their trust and confidence in me.

"I’m still the new guy coming in but what I’ve realized and appreciate is the older generation has been very supportive, they want to empower the younger people and, I guess at almost 50, I’m in with the younger people."

Asano is a partner at Pacific Rim Legacy, a financial planning and management group. His approach in business is much like his approach as a sensei: it’s about having a long-term perspective.

"Discipleship is what I like to do," said Asano, who started judo at age 7. "If you plant the seed, you might not see the fruit for 10, 20, 30 years, but it will happen with hard work and discipline."

Note: Leeward Judo Club hosts its 7th Tsuruo Fukushima Memorial Tournament Feb. 17 at Salt Lake District Park Gym. The event honors the club’s founder, who died in 2006. For information, go to leewardjudoclub.com.

REC CENTER

XTERRA trail run featured on TV

The XTERRA Trail Run World Championship, with hundreds of Hawaii runners held Dec. 2 at Kualoa Ranch, will be featured on tonight’s Rock Center with Brian Williams on KHNL at 9 p.m.

The segment focuses on Kaytlynn and Heather Welsch, two sisters from Alvin, Texas, who were the youngest competitors at age 12 and 10, respectively. Heather is the youngest to have ever completed the 21-kilometer course.

Women’s rodeo season opens

The Hawaii Women’s Rodeo Association’s first jackpot rodeo of the year is Saturday at the Diamond J Ranch Arena in Waianae. Competition begins at 10 a.m. and includes barrel racing and pole bending. Admission is free. For information, go to rodeooahu.com.

Lacrosse season-opener Sunday

Hawaii Lacrosse opens its men’s club season Sunday at Kapiolani Park with an invitation to new players to experience the sport.

The game begins at 11 a.m. near the park’s cricket pitch. Equipment will be provided. The season continues every Sunday through November.

The Aloha Youth Lacrosse Association opens its season March 3. Players grades 1 through 12, coaches and referees are being sought for the spring season, with practice beginning this month.

Games are played at Kapiolani Park and Central Oahu Regional Park. Online registration and information is available at alohalax.org. For information, go to hawaiilacrosse.com.

Kahanamoku Challenge set

Hawaii water sports legends Ralph Goto, Edie Van Geison and Rosie Lum will be honored at the 28th Duke Kahanamoku Challenge, a day of canoe racing and Hawaiian makahiki games, Feb. 24 at Duke Kahanamoku Beach and Lagoon next to the Hilton Hawaiian Village.

The fundraiser for the Waikiki Community Center begins at 9 a.m. with a double-hull canoe procession, chanting and hula by Halau Hula o Hokulani and kumu hula Hokulani and Larry DeRego. Competition starts at 10 a.m. and continues through the 2 p.m. awards presentation.

Admission is free. For information, call 923-1802 or go to waikikicommunitycenter.org.

Makahiki Challenge at Kualoa

The second Makahiki Challenge, a 5-kilometer mud run with hills, obstacles and mud pits, is scheduled for March 9 at Kualoa Ranch.

The event has nine heats starting at 9 a.m. Online registration is available at makahikichallenge.com. The cost is $70 through Feb. 13 and $80 through Feb. 25.