[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 114 (Friday, August 2, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1246]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     IN RECOGNITION OF WILLY CAHILL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JACKIE SPEIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 2, 2013

  Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Willy ``Clipper'' Cahill who 
is being honored today with a USA Judo Lifetime Achievement Award. I 
can't think of a more deserving person to receive this exceptional 
honor. Willy has empowered thousands of children and adults through an 
ancient art form that builds confidence and enhances independence.
  I was one of those lucky children. Willy was my judo teacher from 
third through sixth grade. He was a fantastic role model, the 
embodiment of discipline, humility and grace.
  His teachings have served me well throughout my life. A few years 
ago, Stephen Colbert of Comedy Central's Colbert Report came to Capitol 
Hill to interview me. He was, of course, not interested in ordinary 
footage, instead he made me get on a skateboard and cruise through the 
halls of Congress. He goaded me about my judo experience and dared me 
to throw him onto the marble floor in the Capitol. Colbert ended up on 
the floor and so did the footage--on the cutting room floor. Without my 
early lessons and Willy's guidance who knows what would have happened?
  Willy was born in 1935 in Honolulu, Hawaii. He started his martial 
arts education under his father, Professor John Cahill, Sr. who had 
studied under Professor Okazaki's Kodenkan System of Jujitsu in Hawaii. 
When Willy was 12 years old, he was treated and cured of Polio. He 
walked out of the hospital--a miracle for which he credits Professor 
Okazaki.
  After graduating from South San Francisco High School, Willy attended 
San Mateo Junior College. His father founded Cahill's Judo Academy in 
Daly City in 1948. Professor Cahill's dream was to get one of his 
students to the Olympics. That dream was cut short by his tragic and 
premature death at age 50.
  Willy had big shoes to fill, but he lived up to the challenge and 
beyond. In honor of his dad, Willy opened a new Cahill's Judo Academy 
Dojo in San Bruno in 1963. Setting the highest standards and goals for 
himself and his students, Willy has surpassed his father's dream. His 
coaching and mentorship has produced 1,200 national and international 
medal winners. He accepted the position of U.S. Olympic Judo Coach in 
1988 and of U.S. Paralympic Judo Coach in 1999. In the 2000 Paralympic 
Games in Sidney, his team made world history and brought home two gold 
medals, one silver medal and one bronze medal. Four years later at the 
games in Athens, his team won two silver and one bronze medals. It is 
important to point out that since judo was introduced as an Olympic 
discipline in 1964, no team--sighted or not sighted--had ever won gold. 
Coach Cahill's students have won 75% of all medals in judo on the 
Olympics and Paralympics level.
  Willy has been successful in making judo accessible to people of all 
ages and abilities. In 2003, he cofounded the Blind Judo Foundation. 
The non-profit provides blind and visually impaired athletes the chance 
to train and compete in judo. To advance to the Paralympic Games these 
athletes often have to compete with sighted competitors. In judo, the 
same rules apply to the Olympics and the Paralympics.
  In addition, Willy has trained U.S. Army Green Berets, Navy Seals, US 
Secret Service, and Homeland Security. He is the judo coach at Stanford 
and San Francisco State Universities and of the Junior Pan American 
Championships and Goodwill Games.
  Willy has always led by example. He is a 10th Degree Black Belt in 
Jujitsu, the highest rank, and an 8th Degree Black Belt in Judo. He has 
been inducted into the Black Belt Hall of Fame and the Black Belt 
Coaches Hall of Fame. He was recognized by three presidents at the 
White House. He received the U.S. Jujitsu President's Leadership Award 
and earned the title of Professor Willy Cahill from the U.S. Jujitsu 
Federation. None of these prestigious awards and accomplishments has 
tainted his humility. He will not let others call him Professor or 
Sensei, he simply wants to be called Coach. His 10th Degree Black Belt 
entitles him to a red belt, but Coach always competes in a black belt. 
The tenets of judo define Willy's life. He has practiced for 65 years 
and at age 77 still does so five to six days a week.
  He has been married to his wife Ellie for 24 years. He is the proud 
father of two children from his first marriage, Carin Lockwood and 
Curtis Cahill, who have given him four grandchildren.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to 
honor Coach Willy Cahill, an extraordinary teacher and human being 
whose physical and spiritual embrace has enlightened thousands. Because 
of Willy, the world is a better place.