VOICES
A revolving introduction of our contributors, their expertise and experience.
Neil Ohlenkamp

Neil Ohlenkamp
Member – US Ju-Jitsu Masters Caucus
California USJJF Regional Representative
Mr. Ohlenkamp holds a sixth degree black belt in Judo and a sixth degree black belt in jujitsu with over 36 years of training and experience in various martial arts as a competitor, instructor, team coach, and tournament official. He has been awarded black belt rank certificates by the United States Judo Association, United States Judo Federation, Southern California Black Belt Association (Nanka Yudanshakai), United States Martial Arts Federation, United States Ju-Jitsu Federation, and the Kodokan Judo Institute in Tokyo, Japan. He is an active member of these organizations as well as United States Judo Inc. and the International Judo Coaches Alliance.
Mr. Ohlenkamp has been teaching martial arts for twenty five years, and has been the head instructor of the Encino Judo Club since 1985 responsible for classes in four locations teaching over 350 students each year, with the help of 25 other black belt members of the Encino Judo Club. He has developed highly successful Judo, jujitsu and self defense programs for various health clubs, churches, schools, employee groups, community centers, youth centers, and recreation centers throughout Southern California. He has trained athletes and coaches in seminars and clinics at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs as well as other cities in the US and Europe. He has trained national champions as well as recreational Judo players. He is widely recognized as a leader in the teaching and promotion of Judo and jujitsu for sport and self defense.
Mr. Ohlenkamp has been a coach and advisor to the Braille Institute of America Judo Team since 1976. Due to the success of the local Judo program, he led the way in creating a national Judo program for blind athletes, and served many years as head national coach and coordinator for the U.S. Association for Blind Athletes. He was the U.S. Team Coach at the 1988 Paralympics in Seoul, Korea, the 1989 World Championships in Manchester, England, and the 1990 World Championships and Games for the Disabled in Assen, Netherlands. Coordinator of numerous elite athlete training camps, national and local tournaments, and other training opportunities for the visually impaired. He has trained many blind national and international champions, as well as other coaches and instructors. He also served as the US Representative to the International Blind Sports Association Judo Technical Committee from 1988 to 1993 and was instrumental in creating the international rules for visually impaired competitors.
Mr. Ohlenkamp has been certified by the United States Judo Association as an instructor, referee, master coach, and master rank examiner. Certified by the American Coaching Effectiveness Program and the International Blind Sports
Association, with standard Red Cross first aid and CPR certification. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Child Development with a specialty in recreation from California State University, Northridge and has completed post- graduate studies in Public Administration.
As a pioneer in promoting martial arts around the world through the internet, Mr. Ohlenkamp created one of the first web pages devoted to Judo. Since 1995 his Judo Information Site has been the most highly acclaimed, most popular, and most comprehensive Judo web site on the internet. He has also contributed to martial arts books, and had articles published in most of the major Judo publications in the US.
Published works Include:
- Judo Unleashed: The ultimate Training Bible for judoka at Every Level
- The Arts and Science of Judo & Guide to the Principles of Grappling & Throwing
- Judo Formal Techniques & Basic Guide to Throwing & Grappling—The Essentuals of Kodokan Free Practice Forms
- Black Belt
- Judo Unleashed: Essential Throwing & Grappling Techniques for Intermediate include to Advanced martial Artists