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    • Bert Becerra
    Bert Becerra
    CUB
    1948-06-13 - 2026-05-06
    Havana - Garland, Texas
    id_cardaccount_treelocation_on
    history_edu5.4 · Recorded
    Also known as
    Humberto Becerra
    Humberto Antonio Becerra
    Description

    Cuban judoka and coach, head of Becerra Judo & Jujitsu in Garland, Texas. Began judo in 1954 in Havana under A. Kolychkine, the father of Cuban judo, later training under Moc Kan Sent and Fernando Yi and competing for Cuba's national youth teams. Left Cuba in 1970, settling in Miami, and moved to Texas in 1995, where he opened his club and taught jujitsu at Richland College. Promoted to judo hachidan (8th dan) in 2012, with additional dan grades in jujitsu and Goju-ryu karate. John Carmack trained judo at his club and was promoted to brown belt in 2007.

    Teachers (8)
    • André Kolychkine Thompson
      André Kolychkine Thompson
      linkKōdōkan Jūdō 3
      Confirmed
      USJJF profile states Becerra started judo in 1954 in the Havana dojo of Maestro A. Kolychkine, organizer of judo in Cuba and founder of the Panamerican Judo Union; the club website likewise identifies Kolychkine as his first teacher
      (1954-1960)
      expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
       2 sources
      fact_check
      USJJF profile states Becerra started judo in 1954 in the Havana dojo of Maestro A. Kolychkine, organizer of judo in Cuba and founder of the Panamerican Judo Union; the club website likewise identifies Kolychkine as his first teacher
      assessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
      "Sensei Humberto Becerra - started his studies of Judo and Ju-Jitsu in 1954 in Havana, Cuba in the dojo of Maestro A. Kolychkine (organizer of Judo in Cuba and founder of the Panamerican Judo Union)."
      — United States Ju-Jitsu Federation (USJJF). (2026). Humberto Becerralinkinfo
      "A. Kolychkine: Becerra's first teacher and the Father of Cuban Judo"
      — Becerra Judo. (2011). Becerra Judo & Jujitsu linkhistoryinfo
    • Mo
      Moc Kan Sent
      linkKōdōkan Jūdō 3
      Confirmed
      USJJF profile records Becerra trained under Master Moc Kan Sent, a two-time Cuban national champion, from 1960 until he left for Mexico in 1968
      (1960-1968)
      expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
       2 sources
      fact_check
      USJJF profile records Becerra trained under Master Moc Kan Sent, a two-time Cuban national champion, from 1960 until he left for Mexico in 1968
      assessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
      "Later in 1960 he went to train under the direction of Master Moc Kan Sent until he left for Mexico in 1968."
      — United States Ju-Jitsu Federation (USJJF). (2026). Humberto Becerralinkinfo
      "Sensei Bert Becerra's rise to fame started at age 6 with coaches Fernando Yi and Moc Kan Sent - 2 time Cuban National Champion."
      — Becerra Judo. (2011). Becerra Judo & Jujitsu linkhistoryinfo
    • Fe
      Fernando Yi
      linkKōdōkan Jūdō 3
      Confirmed
      USJJF profile records Becerra took classes with Master Fernando Yi from 1968 until 1970
      (1968-1970)
      expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
       2 sources
      fact_check
      USJJF profile records Becerra took classes with Master Fernando Yi from 1968 until 1970
      assessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
      "From this date he start my classes with Master Fernando Yi until 1970."
      — United States Ju-Jitsu Federation (USJJF). (2026). Humberto Becerralinkinfo
      "Sensei Bert Becerra's rise to fame started at age 6 with coaches Fernando Yi and Moc Kan Sent - 2 time Cuban National Champion."
      — Becerra Judo. (2011). Becerra Judo & Jujitsu linkhistoryinfo
    • Je
      Jesus Alvarino
      linkKōdōkan Jūdō 3
      Confirmed
      The club website, in Becerra's own words, credits Jesus Alvarino as his mentor and the man who started him in judo at age six
      expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
       1 source
      fact_check
      The club website, in Becerra's own words, credits Jesus Alvarino as his mentor and the man who started him in judo at age six
      assessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
      "My mentor, the man who started me in judo at the age of six. Mr. Jesus Alvarino, a great Cuban actor."
      — Becerra Judo. (2011). Becerra Judo & Jujitsu linkhistoryinfo
    • Ta
      Takahama Mazayuki
      linkKōdōkan Jūdō 2
      Probable
      The club website identifies Mazayuki Takahama as Becerra's first Japanese teacher in Cuba circa 1954, with no period details
      expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
       1 source
      fact_check
      The club website identifies Mazayuki Takahama as Becerra's first Japanese teacher in Cuba circa 1954, with no period details
      assessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
      "His first Japanese teacher in Cuba; Mazayuki Takahama Sensei, circa 1954"
      — Becerra Judo. (2011). Becerra Judo & Jujitsu linkhistoryinfo
    • Ok
      Okano Isao
      linkKōdōkan Jūdō 2
      Probable
      The club website names Isao Okano, twice world champion and 1964 Olympic champion, as Becerra's teacher, with no period details
      expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
       1 source
      fact_check
      The club website names Isao Okano, twice world champion and 1964 Olympic champion, as Becerra's teacher, with no period details
      assessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
      "Sensei Bert Becerra and his teacher, Hon Shihan Isao Okano, 2 time World Champion, 1 time Olympic Champion, and 2 time All Japan Judo Champion"
      — Becerra Judo. (2011). Becerra Judo & Jujitsu linkhistoryinfo
    • Jo
      John Osako
      linkKōdōkan Jūdō 3
      Confirmed
      The club website describes John Osako as Becerra's last coach, a great judo champion, referee and friend
      expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
       1 source
      fact_check
      The club website describes John Osako as Becerra's last coach, a great judo champion, referee and friend
      assessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
      "Sensei Bert Becerra and his last coach, John Osako, a great judo champion, referee and friend"
      — Becerra Judo. (2011). Becerra Judo & Jujitsu linkhistoryinfo
    • Ri
      Ricardo "El Loco" Valdez
      linkKōdōkan Jūdō 3
      Confirmed
      The club website identifies Ricardo "El Loco" Valdez as Becerra's Cuban National Team coach
      expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
       1 source
      fact_check
      The club website identifies Ricardo "El Loco" Valdez as Becerra's Cuban National Team coach
      assessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
      "Sensei Bert Becerra and his Cuban National Team coach the legendary Ricardo "El Loco" Valdez"
      — Becerra Judo. (2011). Becerra Judo & Jujitsu linkhistoryinfo
    Ranks (5)
    • linkKōdōkan Jūdō
      military_tech2 dan 3
      Confirmed
      USJJF profile records the Nidan earned in Cuba before his departure in 1970
      Dan-Kyu System (1970)
      expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
       1 source
      fact_check
      USJJF profile records the Nidan earned in Cuba before his departure in 1970
      assessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
      "When Sensei Becerra left Cuba he had earned the 2nd Dan (Nidan) in 1970."
      — United States Ju-Jitsu Federation (USJJF). (2026). Humberto Becerralinkinfo
      military_tech5 dan 3
      Confirmed
      USJJF profile states he already held Godan by the time he moved to Texas in 1995
      Dan-Kyu System (1995~)
      expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
       1 source
      fact_check
      USJJF profile states he already held Godan by the time he moved to Texas in 1995
      assessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
      "In 1995, he moved to Texas and by this time, he had already obtained Godan in Judo."
      — United States Ju-Jitsu Federation (USJJF). (2026). Humberto Becerralinkinfo
      military_tech8 dan 3
      Confirmed
      USJJF profile records the 2012 Hachidan, issued by both USA Judo and the Judo Federation of Cuba
      Dan-Kyu System (2012)
      expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
       1 source
      fact_check
      USJJF profile records the 2012 Hachidan, issued by both USA Judo and the Judo Federation of Cuba
      assessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
      "he has been promoted from Godan (Judo) in 1995 through Hachidan (Judo) in 2012. These Dan grades were not only issued by USA Judo, but also by the Judo Federation of Cuba."
      — United States Ju-Jitsu Federation (USJJF). (2026). Humberto Becerralinkinfo
    • linkJūjutsu
      military_tech8 dan 2
      Probable
      The club website records an 8th degree black belt in jujitsu, without a date or granting organization
      Dan-Kyu System
      expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
       1 source
      fact_check
      The club website records an 8th degree black belt in jujitsu, without a date or granting organization
      assessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
      "Instructor Bert Becerra is a seventh degree black belt in judo and a eighth degree black belt in jujitsu"
      — Becerra Judo. (2011). Becerra Judo & Jujitsu linkhistoryinfo
    • linkGoju-ryu
      military_tech8 dan 2
      Probable
      The club website records an 8th dan in Goju-ryu karate from Neko-Do Systems, without a date
      Dan-Kyu System
      expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
       1 source
      fact_check
      The club website records an 8th dan in Goju-ryu karate from Neko-Do Systems, without a date
      assessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
      "He earned an 8th Dan in Goju-Ryu Karate from Neko-Do Systems."
      — Becerra Judo. (2011). Becerra Judo & Jujitsu linkhistoryinfo
    Students (1)
    • John Carmack
      John Carmack
      linkKōdōkan Jūdō 2
      Probable
      Carmack describes resuming judo in his thirties at Becerra Judo and later training with "one of my coaches"; the club's own website identifies its head as Bert Becerra and records Carmack's 2007 brown belt promotion, but the episode never names the coach explicitly, leaving some doubt about which instructors he learned from
      sports_kabaddiBecerra Judo badge
      expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
       2 sources
      fact_check
      Carmack describes resuming judo in his thirties at Becerra Judo and later training with "one of my coaches"; the club's own website identifies its head as Bert Becerra and records Carmack's 2007 brown belt promotion, but the episode never names the coach explicitly, leaving some doubt about which instructors he learned from
      assessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
      "I got back into it in my thirties ... the place that I wound up is called Becerra judo. And ... he was a Cuban Olympian ... Then I had judo with one of my coaches another day."
      — (2019). The Joe Rogan Experiencelinkinfo
      "John Carmack promoted to Brown Belt"
      — Becerra Judo. (2011). Becerra Judo & Jujitsu linkhistoryinfo
    Sources
    Becerra Judo. (2011). Becerra Judo & Jujitsulinkhistoryinfo
    United States Ju-Jitsu Federation (USJJF). (2026). Humberto Becerralinkinfo
    Pilar Funeral Home. (2026). Humberto Antonio Becerra - Obituary linkinfo
    "the place that I wound up is called Becerra judo. ... he was a Cuban Olympian"
    — (2019). The Joe Rogan Experiencelinkinfo
    Linked data
    data_object JSON-LDdata_object Turtle
    https://martial.is/entity/01KZM7FWX5ED60G33KMWKDRWYT