Bert Becerra

Cuba
Born 1948-06-13, Havana
Died 2026-05-06, Garland, Texas
5.4

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
    sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Confirmed
    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
    The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.
    (1954–1960)
    fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
    Frederico Muñoz
    Researcher, Martialis
    2 sources expand_more
    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
    “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 Becerralink history info
    visibilityFirst-hand
    “A. Kolychkine: Becerra's first teacher and the Father of Cuban Judo”
    — Becerra Judo. (2011). Becerra Judo & Jujitsu linkhistory info
  • Moc Kan Sent
    sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Confirmed
    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
    The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.
    (1960–1968)
    fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
    Frederico Muñoz
    Researcher, Martialis
    2 sources expand_more
    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
    “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 Becerralink history info
    visibilityFirst-hand
    “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 linkhistory info
  • Fernando Yi
    sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Confirmed
    Confirmed
    USJJF profile records Becerra took classes with Master Fernando Yi from 1968 until 1970
    The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.
    (1968–1970)
    fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
    Frederico Muñoz
    Researcher, Martialis
    2 sources expand_more
    fact_check
    USJJF profile records Becerra took classes with Master Fernando Yi from 1968 until 1970
    “From this date he start my classes with Master Fernando Yi until 1970.”
    — United States Ju-Jitsu Federation (USJJF). (2026). Humberto Becerralink history info
    visibilityFirst-hand
    “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 linkhistory info
  • Jesus Alvarino
    sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Probable
    Probable
    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
    The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
    fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
    Frederico Muñoz
    Researcher, Martialis
    1 source expand_more
    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
    visibilityFirst-hand
    “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 linkhistory info
  • Takahama Mazayuki
    sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Probable
    Probable
    The club website identifies Mazayuki Takahama as Becerra's first Japanese teacher in Cuba circa 1954, with no period details
    The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
    fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
    Frederico Muñoz
    Researcher, Martialis
    1 source expand_more
    fact_check
    The club website identifies Mazayuki Takahama as Becerra's first Japanese teacher in Cuba circa 1954, with no period details
    visibilityFirst-hand
    “His first Japanese teacher in Cuba; Mazayuki Takahama Sensei, circa 1954”
    — Becerra Judo. (2011). Becerra Judo & Jujitsu linkhistory info
  • Okano Isao
    sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Probable
    Probable
    The club website names Isao Okano, twice world champion and 1964 Olympic champion, as Becerra's teacher, with no period details
    The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
    fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
    Frederico Muñoz
    Researcher, Martialis
    1 source expand_more
    fact_check
    The club website names Isao Okano, twice world champion and 1964 Olympic champion, as Becerra's teacher, with no period details
    visibilityFirst-hand
    “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 linkhistory info
  • John Osako
    sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Probable
    Probable
    The club website describes John Osako as Becerra's last coach, a great judo champion, referee and friend
    The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
    fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
    Frederico Muñoz
    Researcher, Martialis
    1 source expand_more
    fact_check
    The club website describes John Osako as Becerra's last coach, a great judo champion, referee and friend
    visibilityFirst-hand
    “Sensei Bert Becerra and his last coach, John Osako, a great judo champion, referee and friend”
    — Becerra Judo. (2011). Becerra Judo & Jujitsu linkhistory info
  • Ricardo "El Loco" Valdez
    sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Probable
    Probable
    The club website identifies Ricardo "El Loco" Valdez as Becerra's Cuban National Team coach
    The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
    fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
    Frederico Muñoz
    Researcher, Martialis
    1 source expand_more
    fact_check
    The club website identifies Ricardo "El Loco" Valdez as Becerra's Cuban National Team coach
    visibilityFirst-hand
    “Sensei Bert Becerra and his Cuban National Team coach the legendary Ricardo "El Loco" Valdez”
    — Becerra Judo. (2011). Becerra Judo & Jujitsu linkhistory info

Lineage

Ranks (5)

  • sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō
    military_tech2 dan Probable
    Probable
    USJJF profile records the Nidan earned in Cuba before his departure in 1970
    The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
    Dan-Kyu System (1970)
    fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
    Frederico Muñoz
    Researcher, Martialis
    1 source expand_more
    fact_check
    USJJF profile records the Nidan earned in Cuba before his departure in 1970
    “When Sensei Becerra left Cuba he had earned the 2nd Dan (Nidan) in 1970.”
    — United States Ju-Jitsu Federation (USJJF). (2026). Humberto Becerralink history info
    military_tech5 dan Probable
    Probable
    USJJF profile states he already held Godan by the time he moved to Texas in 1995
    The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
    Dan-Kyu System (1995~)
    fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
    Frederico Muñoz
    Researcher, Martialis
    1 source expand_more
    fact_check
    USJJF profile states he already held Godan by the time he moved to Texas in 1995
    “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 Becerralink history info
    military_tech8 dan Probable
    Probable
    USJJF profile records the 2012 Hachidan, issued by both USA Judo and the Judo Federation of Cuba
    The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
    Dan-Kyu System (2012)
    fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
    Frederico Muñoz
    Researcher, Martialis
    1 source expand_more
    fact_check
    USJJF profile records the 2012 Hachidan, issued by both USA Judo and the Judo Federation of Cuba
    “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 Becerralink history info
  • sports_martial_artsJūjutsu
    military_tech8 dan Probable
    Probable
    The club website records an 8th degree black belt in jujitsu, without a date or granting organization
    The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
    Dan-Kyu System
    fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
    Frederico Muñoz
    Researcher, Martialis
    1 source expand_more
    fact_check
    The club website records an 8th degree black belt in jujitsu, without a date or granting organization
    visibilityFirst-hand
    “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 linkhistory info
  • sports_martial_artsGoju-ryu
    military_tech8 dan Probable
    Probable
    The club website records an 8th dan in Goju-ryu karate from Neko-Do Systems, without a date
    The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
    Dan-Kyu System
    fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
    Frederico Muñoz
    Researcher, Martialis
    1 source expand_more
    fact_check
    The club website records an 8th dan in Goju-ryu karate from Neko-Do Systems, without a date
    visibilityFirst-hand
    “He earned an 8th Dan in Goju-Ryu Karate from Neko-Do Systems.”
    — Becerra Judo. (2011). Becerra Judo & Jujitsu linkhistory info

Students (1)

  • John Carmack
    sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Probable
    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, but the episode never names the coach explicitly, leaving some doubt about which instructors he learned from
    The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
    location_onBecerra Judo badge
    fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
    Frederico Muñoz
    Researcher, Martialis
    2 sources expand_more
    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, but the episode never names the coach explicitly, leaving some doubt about which instructors he learned from
    visibilityFirst-hand
    “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 Experiencelink info
    visibilityFirst-hand
    “John Carmack promoted to Brown Belt”
    — Becerra Judo. (2011). Becerra Judo & Jujitsu linkhistory info

Sources

visibilityFirst-hand
Becerra Judo. (2011). Becerra Judo & Jujitsulink history info
United States Ju-Jitsu Federation (USJJF). (2026). Humberto Becerralink history info
visibilityFirst-hand
Pilar Funeral Home. (2026). Humberto Antonio Becerra - Obituary link history info
visibilityFirst-hand
“the place that I wound up is called Becerra judo. [...] he was a Cuban Olympian”
— (2019). The Joe Rogan Experiencelink info

Cite and reuse

CC BY-SA 4.0expand_more
Plain text
Muñoz, Frederico (YEAR_PLACEHOLDER). Bert Becerra. In Martialis: Martial Arts Lineage Database. https://martial.is/entity/01KZM7FWX5ED60G33KMWKDRWYT - CC BY-SA 4.0. Accessed ACCESSED_DATE_PLACEHOLDER.
BibTeX
@incollection{martialis_01KZM7FWX5ED60G33KMWKDRWYT, author = {Muñoz, Frederico}, title = {Bert Becerra}, booktitle = {Martialis: Martial Arts Lineage Database}, year = {YEAR_PLACEHOLDER}, url = {https://martial.is/entity/01KZM7FWX5ED60G33KMWKDRWYT}, urldate = {ACCESSED_DATE_PLACEHOLDER}, note = {CC BY-SA 4.0} }
data_object JSON-LDdata_object Turtle
https://martial.is/entity/01KZM7FWX5ED60G33KMWKDRWYT

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