Leo Lopes: Empire State Judo | The Shintaro Higashi Show
In this candid episode of The Shintaro Higashi Show, Shintaro sits down with longtime friend, competitor, and now influential leader, Leo Lopes. From his arrival in America as a child to his roles as club founder and president of New York State Judo, Leo’s story is a masterclass in resilience, community-building, and the relentless pursuit of excellence both on and off the mat.
From Brazil to Connecticut: The Making of a Competitor
Leo’s journey begins in Danbury, Connecticut, where, after immigrating from Brazil at around age 9 or 10, he was quickly introduced to the world of judo. Thanks to a coach with a rich Brazilian and Japanese pedigree, Leo’s early days were a blend of playful chaos—hanging out on the streets until one fateful invite to a local club—and rigorous, old-school martial arts training. A “who’s who” of Connecticut judo legends helped shape the competitive scene: solid coaches, tough training partners, and a regional pipeline that produced killers on the mat.
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His own ascent was fast, but not without setbacks. Lacking U.S. citizenship meant heartbreak—he could win local and regional tournaments but was blocked from greater national exposure. Wrestling became an outlet, and Leo’s natural judo instincts took him far. He set high school records and earned college scholarships, but the path was never smooth. “At the end of the day, all was judo,” Leo recalls, his style always standing out, no matter the ruleset.
The citizenship struggle finally ended in the early 2000s, but by then, life’s pressures—like so many immigrant athletes—had shifted his course. Still, judo remained a constant anchor.
Building a Dojo, a Business, and a Family
After college, Leo’s grit and entrepreneurial fire took center stage. He launched Total Form Fitness in 2007 with a simple, relentless mission: build a community where athletes could pursue the highest levels of performance—while also serving everyday adults and parents. “Most athletes are broke at the end of the day, chasing dreams,” Leo jokes—but he found a way to support both competitive kids and their families, blending fitness, data-driven training, and real martial arts at every level.
From a modest 800-square-foot start, the business grew to two locations and weathered challenges like COVID. His serial entrepreneurship—dabbling in everything from flooring to crypto mining—showed the sort of hustle that defines so many immigrant success stories.
The heart of the gym, though, became its judo program. What began as an informal club for his own kids and the children of friends soon turned into something bigger. The “underground fight club for judo” in the gym’s back room became a magnet for future stars like PJ Duke (now a wrestling phenom), as well as a new generation of kids from all backgrounds—including refugees and kids with special needs. “[My dad] dreamed of a school for underprivileged kids,” Leo says. “That’s why this dojo had to be real—not just a hobby.”
From Hobby to Legacy: Elevating New York State Judo
Today, Leo serves as president of New York State Judo, with a goal of restoring its former strength and community spirit. The mission has two sides: boosting the competitive pipeline (getting more New Yorkers on national teams) and rebuilding judo as a grassroots, accessible, and institutionalized sport.
Key innovations included modernizing tournaments: switching from messy paper systems to Smoothcomp, creating smoother events, and making the athlete and parent experience far more professional. Leo is blunt about the challenge: “We need more people doing judo. Our numbers are embarrassing compared to wrestling or BJJ. Doubling and tripling participation has to be our mission.”
How? For Leo, it’s a combination of grassroots programs, dual and inter-club events, community-focused gatherings, and—critically—coach development. He argues powerfully that the path to judo’s future is openness: partnering with wrestling and BJJ clubs, reaching into underserved communities, mentoring coaches to make judo sustainable as a profession, and targeting the next generation in ways that fit modern lifestyles.
Why Kids—and Families—Matter Most
Though some clubs focus on adult programs, Leo is passionate about youth development. He believes judo (and wrestling) teaches resilience, confidence, and discipline to kids in ways that truly change lives. Family engagement, where parents and kids train together, is the secret sauce: “When the dad’s in the adult class, the kids are on the mat, they travel to events together—nobody quits.”
Yet, Leo also stresses the importance of balancing serious athletic pathways with a welcoming, inclusive mindset—so everyone, from future stars to beginners, finds a place.
Bringing It All Together
Leo’s story shows that American judo’s growth will come from a blend of immigrant drive, genuine community, open-minded innovation, and a business model that values both elite performance and broad participation. The time for “hobby” judo is over—it’s time to build, promote, and unite.
Want to get involved?
Attend New York State Judo events and tournaments
Donate or help sponsor grassroots camps and club activities
Follow Total Form Fitness Judo Club (Instagram, TFFJW.com) and connect at competitions
With leaders like Leo Lopes, judo in New York—and across the U.S.—is poised for a new wave of growth. As Leo and Shintaro both agree: it’s about legacy, hard work, and always believing that the next generation can go further than the last.
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