Sensei Rick Bertucci, Yodan
Judo Team Head Coach
USA Judo (USJI)
It all started back before the dawn of time, before the days of the cavemen. I was 20 years old. I picked up the sport of judo in 1978. At that point I had 4 years of high school and 1 year of college wrestling experience. I was between colleges when I decided to try a new sport that was being offered at my gym. I feel in love with judo right from day one and haven’t looked back since.
1978 - Started competing 3−4 months after taking up judo in the New England area.
May 1983 - Entered first international competition and took 1st place in the brown belt division.
Dec 1983 - Received 1st degree black belt ( Shodan )
1984 - Entered 1st national competition and have since entered every national after that till 1993, also competed at the international level with varying degrees of success.
1986 - Left dojo and started the New England Judo Club.
1990 - Took 2nd place in the Quebec open and with that placing was put on the elite roster list for the USA. At that time, was ranked 5th on the national roster list which remained for the next year. Because of the ranking was allowed to compete for the USA team for invitation only competitions: The Canada Cup, US Olympic Sports Festival, and the World and Pan-Am trials at Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center.
1991 - Was bumped down to 6th on the national roster and missed the Olympic trials by one place.
1994−1998 - Was unable to compete due to an auto accident which resulted in an injured neck and right shoulder. Thus was unable to teach judo, and had to close club.
1997 - Made return teaching judo at Northeastern University
1998 - Made return to competitive judo
Since 1999 - Was competing again at the national and international level. Won 4 gold medals, 2 silver medals, and 1 bronze medal at the national masters competition.
2000 - Placed in the US nationals and was once again on the national roster.
June 2005 - Received 4th degree black belt ( Yodan ).
Since I have come to Northeastern, I have developed a very strong judo club. In 1998, we won our 1st team competition at the Bay State games. We have also won the Mass State Championships as well as a New England Championship. I have also sent 6 of the team’s members to the US nationals. These students had no prior experience before attending Northeastern. One of the members, Kevin Murray, placed in one of the nationals and he too, also became a member on the national roster after only playing judo for 2 years.
Sensei Sherif Hashem, Shodan
Intro Class Head Coach
USA Judo (USJI)
Sensei Sherif Hashem started Judo at the age of 6. He has competed in numerous regional, collegiate and national tournaments in Egypt. He is the 2005 Massachusetts Heavyweight (220 + lbs.) Champion and also finished 1st in the 2005 Bay State Games. Sherif is a member of United States Judo, Inc. (USJI) as well as the Egyptian Judo, Aikido & Sumo Federation holding the Shodan Rank (1st Degree Black Belt).