André Kolychkine Thompson

Russia Soviet Union Cuba
Born 1913-03-11, Saint Petersburg
Died 1997-03-12, Havana
11.3

Also known as

A. Kolychkine · Andrés Kolychkine

Description

Judoka and coach considered the father of Cuban judo. Born in Finland and baptized in Saint Petersburg, he studied in Paris under Jean de Herdt, a disciple of Mikinosuke Kawaishi. Commissioned by Kawaishi, he introduced judo to Cuba in 1951, founded the Cuban Judo Foundation, and promoted the creation of the Pan American Judo Union. Director of the Cuban Judo Federation, coach of the national team, and author of "Judo: nueva didáctica"; reached 6th dan. Bert Becerra's first teacher.

Teachers (1)

  • Jean de Herdt
    sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Probable
    Probable
    EcuRed states Kolychkine was a student of Jean de Herdt in Paris, himself a disciple of Mikinosuke Kawaishi, founder of European judo
    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
    EcuRed states Kolychkine was a student of Jean de Herdt in Paris, himself a disciple of Mikinosuke Kawaishi, founder of European judo
    “En París fue alumno del sensei Jean de Herdt [...] quien a su vez era discípulo de Mikinosuke Kawaishi”
    — EcuRed contributors. (2026). André Kolychkine Thompsonlink history info

Lineage

Ranks (2)

  • sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō
    military_tech6 dan Probable
    Probable
    EcuRed records that Kolychkine reached 6th dan; note that the Kolychkine Judo Foundation page instead describes him as an 8th degree black belt, so the two sources conflict
    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
    EcuRed records that Kolychkine reached 6th dan; note that the Kolychkine Judo Foundation page instead describes him as an 8th degree black belt, so the two sources conflict
    “Alcanzó el grado de sexto dan.”
    — EcuRed contributors. (2026). André Kolychkine Thompsonlink history info
    military_tech8 dan Probable
    Probable
    The A. Kolychkine Judo Foundation, run by his disciples, describes him as an 8th degree black belt, while EcuRed states he reached 6th dan - the two sources conflict
    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 A. Kolychkine Judo Foundation, run by his disciples, describes him as an 8th degree black belt, while EcuRed states he reached 6th dan - the two sources conflict
    “Master Kolychkine, black belt 8th degree, developed the "new didactic of Judo" a comprehensive new approach to Judo teaching with a Ph.D. in education.”
    — A. Kolychkine Judo Foundation. (2024). About - A. Kolychkine Judo Foundationlink history info

Students (2)

  • Bert Becerra
    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
  • Orlando Madrigal Valverde
    sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Probable
    Probable
    EcuRed names Madrigal as Kolychkine's Costa Rican student, who returned home to open Costa Rica's first judo and jiu-jitsu academy
    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
    EcuRed names Madrigal as Kolychkine's Costa Rican student, who returned home to open Costa Rica's first judo and jiu-jitsu academy
    “En 1955, su alumno costarricense Orlando Madrigal Valverde (1921-1991) vuelve a Costa Rica, donde abrió la primera academia de judo y jiu-jitsu de ese país.”
    — EcuRed contributors. (2026). André Kolychkine Thompsonlink history info

Sources

“Se le considera el introductor del judo en Cuba [...] Alcanzó el grado de sexto dan.”
— EcuRed contributors. (2026). André Kolychkine Thompsonlink history info
visibilityFirst-hand
“A. Kolychkine: Becerra's first teacher and the Father of Cuban Judo”
— Becerra Judo. (2011). Becerra Judo & Jujitsu linkhistory info
“André Kolychkine Thomson was the founder of Pan-American Judo in Cuba. Master Kolychkine, black belt 8th degree, developed the "new didactic of Judo" a comprehensive new approach to Judo teaching with a Ph.D. in education.”
— A. Kolychkine Judo Foundation. (2024). About - A. Kolychkine Judo Foundationlink history info

Cite and reuse

CC BY-SA 4.0expand_more
Plain text
Muñoz, Frederico (YEAR_PLACEHOLDER). André Kolychkine Thompson. In Martialis: Martial Arts Lineage Database. https://martial.is/entity/01KZM8EFMVHGQA389F4WB4335V - CC BY-SA 4.0. Accessed ACCESSED_DATE_PLACEHOLDER.
BibTeX
@incollection{martialis_01KZM8EFMVHGQA389F4WB4335V, author = {Muñoz, Frederico}, title = {André Kolychkine Thompson}, booktitle = {Martialis: Martial Arts Lineage Database}, year = {YEAR_PLACEHOLDER}, url = {https://martial.is/entity/01KZM8EFMVHGQA389F4WB4335V}, urldate = {ACCESSED_DATE_PLACEHOLDER}, note = {CC BY-SA 4.0} }
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https://martial.is/entity/01KZM8EFMVHGQA389F4WB4335V

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