Jimmy Pedro has been the top-ranked American judoka for the past decade. He has won national titles five times. Pedro is also the world champion in the 73-kg (161-lb.) category. Pedro is a three-time Olympian and 1996 Olympic bronze medalist. Pedro holds a fifth-degree black belt and has practiced judo for 25 years with his father and longtime coach, Jim Pedro, Sr.
Pedro resides in Lawrence, Massachusetts, with his wife, Marie, and their three children.
Writer William Durbin, an accomplished student and practitioner of martial arts with a third-degree black belt in judo, assisted Pedro in the development of the book. Durbin is considered one of the world's foremost authorities and historians on martial arts. Among his numerous martial arts honors are Presidential Sports Awards for karate and judo. Durbin and his wife, Carol, reside in Frankfort, Kentucky.