Encino Judo Club Instructors

Gene Demachi, Head Instructor

Gene started judo at the age of 7 at Encino Judo Club with Neil Ohlenkamp Sensei when classes were still held in Camarillo, California. After a year or so, Gene also joined Oxnard Judo Club (before the merger with Encino Judo Club) with Bill Miyazaki Sensei. For further training he also practiced on Saturdays at San Fernando Valley Judo Club with Roy Murakami Sensei. He quickly reached blue belt within a couple years after successfully competing at local and regional tournaments.

After taking a hiatus during high school, Gene returned to judo in college at San Francisco State University, where he received his Shodan and Nidan with Asanuma Sensei. After graduating, he trained with David Matsumoto Sensei at East Bay Judo Institute until his return to the Encino Judo Club in 2010.

Gene received his Sandan in 2019 and became the third Head Instructor of Encino Judo Club upon the retirement of Neil Ohlenkamp Sensei. He continues the philosophy of teaching judo to the local community at an affordable rate, and also concentrates on competitive judo for students who are looking to compete at the local and regional levels.

Neil Ohlenkamp

Shichidan, 7th degree black belt
Former Head Instructor and founding member of Encino Judo Club
Practicing Judo for 56 years
Author of several Judo books including the latest, Judo Unleashed!
United States Team Coach at Paralympic Games and World Championships and Games for the Disabled

Neil is widely recognized as a leader in the teaching and promotion of Judo. He is a seventh degree black belt and has enjoyed teaching Encino Judo Club classes since 1973.

Neil has been certified by the United States Judo Association as an instructor, referee, national rank examiner, national coach, and coaching course instructor. He served on the Board of Directors of the USJA, and has a Bachelor's Degree in Child Development.

He was the Head Instructor of the Encino Judo Club, as well as Head Coach and National Coordinator of the Judo programs of the Braille Institute of America and the US Association of Blind Athletes. Neil coached athletes who earned several medals, including gold, as Head Coach of the United States Visually Impaired Judo Teams at the 1988 Paralympic Games and 1990 World Championships.

As a pioneer in promoting judo online, Neil created JudoInfo.com and JudoForum.com which helped over 15 million visitors learn about Judo over the 17 years he developed it.

Neil Ohlenkamp authored the first full-color judo instructional book covering all of the techniques recognized by the Kodokan. Published in 2006, Judo Unleashed was a worldwide hit. An updated and expanded version, Judo Unleashed!, was published in 2024.

Alain Wilkinson

Godan, 5th degree black belt
Instructor - Encino Judo Club
Fukuda International Kata Tournament, Silver and Bronze Medalist
IJF Continental Referee
USJF National Kata Instructor
Pan-American Continental Kata Judge

Alain began Judo at the age of 11. He was promoted to brown belt at the age of 13. He won gold medals at the Michigan State and Mid-East Judo Championships, and silver at the Midwest Judo Championships. He was a member of the Michigan State Wrestling Championship team in high school.

He joined the Encino Judo Club in 1997, became an assistant instructor, then took over as instructor of the Camarillo dojo for 10 years.

He became a Regional Referee in 2002, a National Referee in 2004, a Pan-American Referee in 2010, and an IJF Continental Referee in 2018. Alain also served two terms as Nanka Yudanshakai Referee Chairman.

Alain has studied Kodokan kata since 1999. He is a certified National Kata Instructor and Judge, and a Continental Kata Judge.

Yuka Demachi

Sandan, 3rd degree black belt
Instructor - Encino Judo Club
Started judo in Japan at age 6
Successful competitor in Japan

Yuka started studying judo in Japan when she was 6 years old. She says, "I was very competitive, and cried every time I got thrown by other kids at practice." In 2000 she won 2nd place in the All-Japan Junior High School Championships in Ooita, Japan. Later she earned 1st place in a tournament in Tokyo.

Yuka earned her black belt (Shodan) at age 14, and achieved her current rank of Sandan at age 21. She attended Teikyo University in Tokyo and continued training in judo until she was 24. After several years off, she moved to Ventura County, started a family, and joined the Encino Judo Club as an instructor.

Mark Herrschaft

Nidan, 2nd degree black belt
30 years practicing judo
Instructor - Encino Judo Club
Multiple USJA instructor and coaching certifications

Mark began judo when he was 10 years old at the Monterey Judo and Jiu-Jitsu Academy. He studied there for two years and made the rank of Green belt.

It was during this time a painful lesson was learned. "After school with a friend, the topic of judo came up. Showing a gentle hip throw on him, he broke his arm. I still carry the guilt of my actions. That is why I stress to our students we can only practice judo in the dojo."

In college Mark studied judo and jujitsu under the American Judo and Jujitsu Federation. After college, he took up cycling (racing and touring) and ran the LA Marathon.

"In 2000 I stepped back on the mat with Encino Judo Club under the guidance of Sensei Neil Ohlenkamp. After learning Persistence, Judo has become an important part of my life. I found new meaning becoming a black belt, and I now contribute as an instructor helping students progress in their own journey."

Jerrod Wilson

Nidan, 2nd degree black belt
Member of the Encino Judo Club since September 2000
Instructor - Encino Judo Club
Multiple USJA instructor and coaching certifications

"Between watching the great boxing matches of the early 80's with my father and a lot of Kung Fu Theater on Sunday afternoons I developed an interest in martial arts at an early age. After trying multiple martial arts I finally settled on judo.

In the early part of my judo training I focused heavily on the physical side of the art but as the years have gone by the most important things I have learned have been the life lessons. Never waste your time or energy, always work together with those around you, and dedication to something that challenges you will always lead to the greatest rewards.

It is an honor and a privilege to be an instructor at the Encino Judo Club."

Justin Bennett

Shodan, 1st degree black belt
Member of the Encino Judo Club since 2007
Instructor - Encino Judo Club