Professor Willy "Clipper" Cahill
Founding Board Member

Prof. Willy " Clipper " Cahill is a 10th dan in Jujitsu, a 7th Dan in Judo and a co-founder of the Jujitsu America organization. He was born in Honolulu, HI on Nov. 21, 1935. Willy's father John Cahill, Sr. was a well-respected instructor under Danzan-Ryu founder Henry Seishiro Okazaki. Willy began his martial arts training under his father while living in Hawaii. He was also treated and cured of a serious illness by Prof. Okazaki. In 1947, the Cahill family moved to California and the following year opened the Cahill Judo Club in Daly City. Soon other schools opened in San Francisco, San Mateo and South San Francisco. Willy became the head instructor of the dojo after the untimely passing of his father in 1962.

In 1963, Willy built a new dojo in San Bruno and began a new era for Cahill's Judo Academy. In 1970, the school won the first of a string of nine California State Judo Championships and five consecutive United States Judo Association National Championships. As a Judo coach, Willy's teams competed in the Olympics, Goodwill Games, World Judo Championships, the Pacific Rim Championships and the Junior Pan American Championships. In 1975, Willy was inducted as Judo Instructor of the Year into the Black Belt Hall of Fame.

Prof. Willy Cahill is the epitome of a champion. For his lifetime of dedication to the martial arts, Willy was elevated to Judan in Jujitsu. This highest rank in Jujitsu was presented to him by Prof. Wally Jay in Sep. 1994 at the Ohana convention in Las Vegas. He has received the US JU-JITSU President's Leadership Award recognizing his Life Time Achievements and Contributions in Developing the Ancient Art of Ju-Jitsu.