Takano Athletics

Although the competitive weightlifting career was long but undistinguished, the coaching career has progressed steadily over a four decade span that resulted in induction into USA Weightlifting's Hall of Fame as a contributor.  Incorporating the knowledge gained from a bachelor's degree in Biology from Occidental College with 37 years of secondary science teaching pedagogy into hours of practical coaching experience in the gym has resulted in a mastery of the art of coaching weightlifters and developing the speed/strength characteristics of athletes in other sports.

Bob simultaneously lifted competitively and coached from 1967 to 1988.  His first athletes were juniors at the middle schools where he taught from 1969 to 1977.  His first national Junior Olympic record setter was 1972 national J.O. champion Fred Duran.  By 1975 he had coached his first national medalist at the USA Nationals in Fred's younger brother, Luis.  Bob's team, the Gage Weightlifting Club, had won two state J.O. championships and produced several national J.O. champions and record holders by 1977 when he transferred from his middle school position to Van Nuys High School.

At his new location he persuaded the school to provide him with a dedicated weightlifting facility provided that he train the school's athletes in addition to weightlifters.  He also made the decision to coach six days a week as a lesser  amount would fail to produce optimal results.  His coaching prowess attracted the attention of two already established senior athletes who began training at Van Nuys.  Dale Yahraus, the 1978 national bronze medalist and Ray Blaha, the 1977 national champion and snatch record holder began making great gains while training with Bob.  Dale was selected to represent the US in the Danube Cup and Ray was named to the U.S. team for a USA vs Canada match and became Bob's first athlete to compete in an Olympic Trials.

While training Yahraus and Blaha, Bob recruited two students from his science classes who would eventually draw great attention to his coaching.  Diana Fuhrman initially started weight training to improve her tennis and track and field skills.  Albert Hood at 4'11” was simply looking for an athletic outlet.  By 1982 Diana had placed second at the national championships, and Albert had won the national juniors, the U.S.A. Nationals, established national junior meet records and twice represented the U.S.A. at the Junior World's Championships.

In 1984 Albert became the first junior since 1956 to represent the U.S. at the Olympic Games.  He set two national records, placed eighth overall and won a gold medal in the concurrent Pan American championship.  Bob also served as the assistant training hall manager for the Games and functioned as the coach of the one Sri Lankan weightlifter in the competition.1987 was the year in which Diana would make the first of her six teams representing the U.S. at the World's Championships.  In 1988 Diana won her first American championships while establishing five national records.  She won the nationals for the first time in 1989 and by 1991 was ranked third in the world.  The record lifts of 93.0 snatch, 115 clean & jerk and 205 total established at the 1992 nationals remain the all-time best lifts of a 67.5 kg. category lifter in U.S. history.

As a coach Bob was beginning to build a resume in the early 1980's when he was selected to coach the U.S. Team to the 1983 Pan American Juniors.  This would be the first of 17 trips to international competitions as a member of the U.S.A. coaching staff.  In 1990 he was elected to be the head coach of the U.S. Women's National Team to the World's Championships in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia.  Four more times he would be elected to the coaching staff of the national women's team.

Concurrently Bob was beginning to establish himself as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist and lecturer.  He obtained his CSCS (Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist) in 1986, even though he had been performing strength and conditioning duties for years.  He spoke about the incorporation of the Olympic lifts into strength and conditioning programs at 3 NSCA national conferences from 1988 to 1991.  He wrote a seminal three part article on the coaching of technique for the NSCA journal that was reproduced in the 15th anniversary issue.  Furthermore he was featured as a speaker in the fitness instructors education program at the UCLA Extension.  He also collaborated and taught a course for USAW coaching certification in the Extension program in collaboration with Jean Barrett Holloway.  In 1992 he collaborated with Dr. John Garhammer on the chapter covering the training of weightlifters for the Encyclopedia of Strength and Power, a publication of the Sports Medicine Commission of the International Olympic Committee.  Bob was the only coach asked for a submission to this prestigious publication.  An update of the chapter was published in the revision in 2002.  He also served on the Review Board of the NSCA journal from 1995 to 2000.