Yoshito Vince Tamura (July 25, 1929 – April 20, 2010) was a former international competitor in judo.[1]
Tamura represented the United States in the first Judo World Championships in 1956 and served as a referee in the 1964 Olympics for judo.[2] Tamura won the 1954, 1956, and 1959 US National Judo Championships placing second and third in 1957 and 1958, respectively.[3] He continued to compete into the 1970s.[4]
Tamura's brother Mas Tamura was promoted by Jigaro Kano to Yondan inspiring Tamura into judo.[1] By the time he died in 2010, Vince Tamura was ranked 9th Dan.[1]
Tamura was a descendant of the Taira Clan,[2] and served in the US Army Combat Engineers of the First Cavalry Division during the Korean War,[1] earning a Bronze Star. He co-authored a book Common Sense Self Defense[5] and was also an instructor of Heike-Ryu Jiu Jitsu.[6]
Tamura had a wife, Yuri, and two sons, Bob and David Tamura.[7] Tamura was the youngest of 7 sons and 4 daughters.[8]