Our Story: over 75 years of judo, one family, one mission

It all began in 1947, when a 16-year-old named Sethiro Namie stepped onto a tatami for the first time in the Cocuera neighborhood of Mogi das Cruzes, Brazil. He could not have known, in that moment, that he was laying the foundation for one of the city's most enduring judo traditions — one that three generations of his family would carry forward to this day.

The story of the Namie Judo Association does not begin in 2015. It begins much earlier, with a family that made judo a way of life.

The beginning of a tradition

Sethiro Namie learned judo alongside other young people of Japanese descent in Mogi das Cruzes, at a time when the city was already gaining recognition as a reference point for the sport in the region. By the age of 21, he had earned his black belt — and never stopped. He reached the 6th dan and built, over decades, a reputation that extended far beyond the city: the Namie name would become synonymous with judo throughout the region.

His sons Durval, Ricardo, Paulino, and Carlos grew up with the judogi as a second skin. Judo was instilled in them — but its philosophy was embraced. Paulino and Ricardo, identical twins, became the standout representatives of their generation, consistently competing for Mogi das Cruzes in the Regional and Open Games across many years, in the lightweight and half-lightweight categories.

The choice of a lifetime

While many young people dreamed of careers in engineering, law, or medicine, Paulino Namie went his own way. He chose physical education — and never looked back. That decision allowed him to fully merge his work with judo, turning passion into vocation.

Over more than three decades as a coach, he developed 40 black belts. He discovered and mentored talents who went on to represent Brazil in national selections. And he accumulated an understanding of judo that goes far beyond technique: the tatami as a school of life, of character, of citizenship.

Today, a Kodansha of the 7th dan — the highest judo rank held by any judoka in Mogi das Cruzes — Sensei Paulino Tohoru Namie carries everything he learned from his father and chose to give back to the community in a very concrete way.

2015: free judo as a mission

In 2015, Sensei Paulino founded the Namie Judo Association with a proposal that distills decades of conviction: offer high-quality judo at no cost to anyone. With the support of the City Hall of Mogi das Cruzes and affiliations with the São Paulo Judo Federation (FPJ) and the Brazilian Clubs Committee (CBC), ANJ opened its doors to any child or young person in the community who wanted to step onto the tatami.

Not a commercial academy. An association — in the truest sense of the word.

One dojo, one community

Today, ANJ operates Monday through Saturday at Av. Pref. Carlos Ferreira Lopes, 540 — Vila Mogilar, with a team of experienced senseis who follow each student closely, from the first-time beginner to the competitive athlete.

Among the students who trained at ANJ is Willian Lima, a judoka who reached the Olympic podium at Paris 2024. His story is living proof that the Namie tatami shapes far more than athletes — it shapes people.

The values that guide every session

Eight principles guide everything that happens inside the dojo: Courtesy, Courage, Honesty, Honor, Modesty, Respect, Self-Control, and Friendship. These are not decoration — they are practiced daily, from the opening bow to the final moment of each class.

We believe that a young person who learns to bow in respect to an opponent also learns to respect the world around them.

A door always open

From Sethiro Namie in 1947 to the young athletes who today represent Mogi das Cruzes in state and national championships — the story of the Namie family is the story of judo in this city. And it continues to be written with every training session.

If you want to discover judo, or have a son or daughter who wants to give it a try, our door is open. The tatami is waiting for you.