Irwin Cohen had a long career in judo in the United States. He first won the US Junior title when only 13-years-old and won again when 16. Cohen won a silver medal in light-heavyweight at the 1975 Pan-American Games and won gold medals at the Maccabiah Games in 1973 and 1977. But he later became better known as a coach, or a sensei in judo terms. He and his brother Steve operated a series of judo clubs around Chicago that produced multiple champions, including Bob Berland, the first American to win an Olympic silver medal in 1984.
