I began training in boxing in September 1943 in the US Army a year before I went to West Point, and continued for eight years. Later, in 1951, I started Judo training at Travis AF Base in California on November 15, 1951. So at this date (2005) I have had 62 years of hard training and teaching.
Martial Edge: Could you tell me when and where you got started in martial arts?
Phil Porter: I began training in boxing in September 1943 in the US Army a year before I went to West Point, and continued for eight years. Later, in 1951, I started Judo training at Travis AF Base in California on November 15, 1951. So at this date (2005) I have had 62 years of hard training and teaching.
ME: You have been training for many years, who were the defining individuals that shaped your training?
PP: Of great importance was my first Judo instructor, Walter Todd at Travis AFB. I trained with him for nearly three years. In 1953 I met two great Japanese teachers who became my lifelong friends. They were Sumiyuki Kotani and Tadao Otaki, 8 and 7 Dans at that time (later to become 10 and 9 Dans, respectively). Then in 1954 through 1958 Trevor P. Leggett became my teacher in London at the Budokwai. At that time also I became friends with Geoffrey Gleeson, whose penetrating ideas influenced my Judo a great deal. Finally, starting in 1972, I became friends with Anton Geesink, another great thinker on Judo.
ME: How would you define modern judo?
PP: An important Olympic sport. Judo has grown to be practiced in over 100 countries, and has branched out into many different styles and approaches. Judo continues its healthy development. One can never really know the mind of Dr. Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo, but I believe at least some of his aims have been accomplished.
ME: As a martial artist what would you describe as your greatest achievement?
PP: The development of many innovative coaching and instruction techniques as well as theories concerning the mechanics of Judo and the tactics and strategy of the Judo contest. Using these ideas and techniques, I developed over 1,000 national and international medallists in Judo, an unequalled record in America. Many of my ideas and methods are now in standard use in American Judo.
ME: You founded the USJA in 1954 could you describe to us what those early days were like?
PP: I was only one of the founders of the USJA. Also in at the beginning were Mel Bruno, our leader at that time, and George Harris, who I started in Judo at Travis AFB in 1953. There were several others, most of whom are either dead or out of Judo now. We were very idealistic in those days. We felt that we could make American Judo the best in the world, but American Judo has fallen into the hands of the politicians and referees and is moribund. Its a tragedy, but the greatest nation in the world is about 25 (The last time I computed the standings) in world Judo.
ME: Your accomplishments as a competitor both on the national and international circuit are well documented, how does the competition aspect compare with today’s set up?
PP: I think the competition today is much stronger than it was 50 years ago. There are many better trained athletes, and the rest of the world has gone ahead rapidly. American Judo is about where it was 50 years ago, the world has passed us by competitively.
ME: As a president of an organisation, an instructor and as a student what values do you live by, and how much influence has your training had on these??
PP: I try to work for practical and beneficial outcomes without having a secret political agenda to which I must conform and attempt to make others conform. I try to assess each athlete, student, and member in respect to how I can help them deal with their Judo and life problems more effectively.
ME: You have held a number of positions of office. For example you were one of six on the consultative committee of referees for the first judo Olympics in Tokyo 1964 to being National Chairman of the AAU Judo Committee (61-64). Was founding a non political organisation a result of experiencing the high levels of the sport?
PP: Yes, when we created the USMA in 1995 we resolved to avoid politics, secret agendas, and neglect of the grass-roots Martial Arts instructor. Definitely this was the result of experiencing at the national and international levels the disastrous results of politics as usual in sport.
ME: The USMA that you founded is in its tenth year, how has the organisation evolved?
PP: The USMA has grown quite well. We how have about 800 different Martial Arts, and are thus the largest multi-discipline organization in the Martial Arts world. We have nearly 7,000 members, with 2,500 of them holding Black Belt rank, in 1,500 clubs through the US and about 25 foreign countries.
ME: It is noted that your two main priorities for the future are character development for young people, and fostering American excellence in Jujitsu, Judo and Karate. How much success are you having at achieving these aims?
PP: We are working steadily toward these ends. Remember that the higher your goals, the more difficult they are to achieve. It is better to do something, however small it may seem, each day to move toward your high goals than to accept minor goals because they are easy to accomplish.
ME: Is there anything you would like to add before we conclude?
Keep training and learning. Never give up hope. Any action for the good is never wasted. Believe in yourself and your ability to take control of your life. Keep struggling till the end!
Interviews 
I began training in boxing in September 1943 in the US Army a year before I went to West Point, and continued for eight years. Later, in 1951, I started 
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