Issue 074

April 2011

A former Olympic medallist and prodigal judoka, Zebra Mats’ Jimmy Pedro has turned his expertise to producing premium fight equipment and training the newest MMA superstars

It’s abnormal to find a former Olympic judo bronze medallist and judo world champion that once hated competing in the sport. Yet Jimmy Pedro, a man who has acquired 29 gold medals in international competition, hasn’t exactly lived the most normal of lives. Born in Danvers, Massachusetts, Pedro’s reluctant inception into judo came at just five years old under the tutelage of his father, a former member of the US national judo team. “Earlier on in life I had no choice but to train judo because my father forced me,” laughs Pedro. “He thought it would be good for my fitness while building my character and teaching life lessons. Maybe it was my competitiveness or the need to please my dad but I just kept winning even though I didn’t particularly enjoy the sport.” 

Pedro’s victories seemed to come easily. It wasn’t long before his attitude changed, reaching his teenage years and discovering a burgeoning passion for competition. “I realized judo was all I wanted to do at 15 years old. I became known as a ‘lung’; I was extremely fit and could go the entire match while pushing my opponents to exhaustion and winning many matches by attrition.” With a relentless style and a hunger for elite opponents, Pedro was soon competing on one of the biggest judo stages in the world. “I remember being overwhelmed at my first major world championships at how large-scale and incredible the event was; walking into the huge stadium in Barcelona, being there with the first ever basketball dream team. The athletes that were my heroes growing up in Boston, such as Larry Bird, were on the same team I was at just 20 years old. I fought well and got bronze. I didn’t win, but I loved it so much I spent the rest of my life pursuing it.”

Pedro’s crowning glory came at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia, where he claimed bronze, defeating an array of world-class Japanese opponents. “Every hour I spent in the gym, or weightlifting, or on the track running, or overseas in Japan, Russia or South America, spanning the globe training to become world Olympic champion, it came together that day and became a reality when I put that medal round my neck. That’s what it feels like to be on top of the world and that’s what every athlete competes for: that moment of elation where you can say, ‘I did it.’” Although Pedro could boast of two bronze medals in the world’s largest judo competitions, he was still missing the supreme prize. It came at the 1999 World Judo Championships in Birmingham, England, where he achieved gold at lightweight (73kg) against Russian, Vitaliy Makarov. “I’m glad he was Russian,” says Pedro. “As a kid growing up in the Cold War, I was always envisioning myself competing against a Russian in the Olympics. I dreamt about it my whole life and when it came true it was amazing.” Pedro would go on to compete once more in the Olympics, in 2004 where he would again achieve a bronze medal at the respectable age of 34. Now focusing his wealth of talent and experience on coaching, he trains some of the judo elite world champions in Wakefield, Massachusetts. In an ever-changing sport landscape, Pedro has witnessed the influx of MMA into the mainstream, with a number of judokas crossing over into the ever-popular mixed martial arts world. “I think we’re seeing this crossover from judo to MMA because it’s now so difficult to qualify for the judo Olympics. You have to be ranked in the world’s top 22 in the men’s side and top 40 in the women’s ranks to even stand a chance of going. It’s also so expensive to travel, and the Olympic committee will only financially support you once you’re in the team. So if you’re a hungry kid it’s an uphill battle – you gotta do it on your own.”

Some judo aficionados may be cynical towards their peers crossing the boundaries into another sport. Yet Pedro has supported his fellow judokas all the way. So much so that he now manages Rick Horn – a judo competitor in the 2004 Olympics and Bellator’s recent signing. Boasting a record of 9-0, Pedro states he is “the one to watch”. Horn is not the only member from Pedro’s 2004 Olympic team that has made the transition into MMA. Randy Ferguson competed alongside Pedro in the men’s division and is now 3-0 in Strikeforce, while Ronda Rousey – who competed in the women’s Olympic division – is also 3-0 in pro competition at only 22 years of age.

Pedro’s sporting achievements are equally matched by his current business acumen, working for Zebra producing popular mats, cages and outfits. “When I was approached by Zebra as a spokesperson I asked the president if I could also come on board as a sales guy. With my knowledge in martial arts I’ve helped them grow. It’s now the number-one brand in flooring and offers products that are going to take a beating yet still last a lifetime. I’m just glad I can use my judo knowledge to create a product that offers the best to athletes who demand the best in this truly great new sport of mixed martial arts.” Zebra have outfitted everywhere from Joe Rogan’s personal garage gym to the new super-sized Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas.

With a brace of successful judokas under his wing, a wealth of industry knowledge and a flourishing company at the forefront of MMA equipment, Pedro’s winning streak continues. Now the next generation of judo and MMA stars can look forward to the mentoring from a true great, where everything he touches turns to gold – including medals.