Yama Judo was formed as a club in ...
Yama Judo's mission is to positively affect the character, fitness, and lives of its members and the community through the principles of "mutual benefit and welfare," and "maximum efficiency with minimum effort."
Sensei Tom Smith III, Black Belt in Judo, Head Judo Instructor at Fight to Win Asheville
Sensei Tom Smith III is a seasoned Judo practitioner with 35+ years of experience in this art. In Media, PA, Sensei Tom entered Williamson Free School of Trade. His judo path began there in 1983 when he joined and commenced training under Sensei Thomas Blair. At this school, Sensei Tom became team captain and placed in the Liberty Bell Tournament of 1985. In 1985, he migrated to a new gym located at Coatsville, PA. The name of the gym was called Brandywine Judo. During this time at Brandywine, he practiced under Sensei Nidan Richard Georg.
In 1988, Sensei Tom served our country as a US 1LT 5th Special Forces, Airborne. We are so thankful for the sacrifices he made for our country during his time served.
In 1997, life brought him to Waynesville,NC. Here, he would continue to train judo underneath Sensei Godan Jimmy Riggs and would be joined with having Sensei Yodan Chris Shell as an instructor later on in 2009 as well. At this time in Waynesville Kodakan Judo, Sensei Tom began the process of obtaining his coaching certification from USA Judo. In 2010, Tom then migrated to Asheville Judo where he began receiving instruction from Sensei Nidan Chris Rich. Up until 2015, Tom remained at this gym as well as training with Blackeye Fitness. At Blackeye, Sensei Tom was able to train under Sensei Yodan Rey Garcia who now trains overseas in Vietnam. It was here at Blackeye, that Sensei Tom crossed paths with our Jiu Jitsu black belt and instructor Brad Hannah.
We are so grateful to have Sensei Tom with us. He has dedicated his time, body, and career to maintaining the TRUE art of Judo while keeping it faithful to its origin. With his experience spreading out over time and places, he has trained under 5 separate black belts. These experiences have contributed to who he is today, bringing the sport alive and preserving it in its authentic form.
Sensei Phil Rasmussen
Sensei Phil has spent much of his life living and traveling around the world. During his formative years he lived in the Middle East. He has traveled around the US and has been in every state. Having grown up in the military and various cultures, he has learned a great deal about people, their culture, and history.
Sensei Phil’s parents started him in judo at the age of 4 in order to distract him from running out onto the runways at Wheeler Air Force Base in Hawaii while his siblings were being fed.
Having spent his entire life associated with the US military in one form or another, Sensei Phil has practiced and learned judo around the world. He has competed internationally and has taught judo, self defense and unarmed combat to military and law enforcement personnel both stateside and overseas.
Sensei Phil has been involved in the martial arts for over 70 years and holds black belts in Judo and JuJitsu (6d), Aikido (1d) and Shotokan Karate (1d). Having taught Judo for more than 40 years, many of his students have won state, regional, national, and international tournaments. In addition to teaching Judo, he conducts seminars and workshops several times a year,
Sensei Phil has also served as Chairperson, National Collegiate Judo Committee, USJA; and member, USJA National Jujitsu Steering Committee. Developed, implemented, and instructed unarmed self-defense program for NC Department of Corrections and has worked with several law enforcement agencies.
As a graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology, Sensei Phil holds associate, bachelor and master degrees in photography, instructional development, physics, chemistry, history and business.
Other post graduate work includes certificates from UCLA, Univ. of Wyoming, Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute, SAS Institute, US Army AND US Navy schools, in public relations, computer science, quality assurance, critical path management, project scheduling, human relations, equal opportunity, personnel management, and technical writing.
Currently Sensei Phil is semi retired doing woodworking as an avocation, and consulting with business, industry, and government on security, safety and self-defense training. He continues to conduct seminars and workshops in self-defense, personal safety and the martial arts.