Judo Clinic in Manhattan & A Special Class at the Japanese School in New Jersey
An individual from Kokushi Budo Judo watched my video of a Judo Clinic and invited me to his dojo to do a Judo Clinic. Location? On the west side of Central Park, the Upper West in New York!! Wow!! I used the opportunity to also visit the Japanese School in New Jersey for a special class.
1. A DOJO in Manhattan!!!??? Upper West??
The offer was from Kokushi Budo Dojo, which is located in Upper West – a quiet location bit away from the Bright Lights Big City. Many Judo enthusiasts gathered together to welcome me. 30 participants ranging from the teens to the 50s were all intermediate Judokas. Although it was a one day clinic, I did my best to convey the professional techniques.
ew York American Buddhist Center is located in a calm residential neighborhood. The dojo is located in its basement.
Same aggressive Americans, but these New Yorkers were a bit different.
In all of my clinics, I take over the class after the line up and bowing, so it is critical that my first voice gets across to them. Fortunately, the feeling wasn’t bad at all and I “took over” once the exercise started.
Warmup -> Standing technic/UCHIMATA)→ Ground Technic / Turnover was my procedures as normal. What was unique in this clinic was at the end. It’s normal that I get asked a lot of questions, but is it because of Broadway? There were a lot of requests for actual performance!! These requests included experiencing my Turnover, as well as being thrown hard by myself. Of course, they all were done with no mercy!! They all wanted to “feel” the world class WAZAs which was a different type of aggression (in a good way) which made they day so perfect.
Serious practice, but smiles when the camera is pointing at them. Enjoy JUDO!!
He is the unique individual requesting my throws. Just so that he would be satisfied, I did the full option – Osotogari / Uchimata / Tomoe Nage!!
2. Special class at the Japanese School in New Jersey
The Japanese School in New Jersey is located in Oakland, NU which is about 30 miles Northwest of Manhattan. I rented a car at Newark Airport and drove about 1 hour. It was located in a place that was remote. All 44 students welcomed me. Here I did a special class to 23 junior high school students including my lecture and experiencing Judo.
It’s my 3rd time to speak in public, but same as Judo, practice makes perfect.
This is the 3rd time I am doing a lecture. The past twice had a lot of room for improvement, but think positive – the sky is the limit. Just be grateful for the opportunity. Result??? Wasn’t the best of the best, but I believe they all enjoyed by visit. I conveyed my lifetime experience Nothing Impossible to the pure kids and the JUDO experience which they all enjoyed. All 23 kids were in New Jersey due to their parents’ assignments. Each and everyone of them had thoughts as they are spending their puberty in a different location and a different environment compared to their friends back in Japan. I laid that over to my puberty days and gave them a message “A different experience will definitely be an asset in your life” where they all listened so seriously. This experience added another “To Do” on my list. Visit ALL Japanese Schools in the United States and make these kids happy too.
3. In Closing
While I do these Judo Clinics around the United States, I do see that there are different “colors” depending on the region. Wherever I go, I feel the love to Judo which makes me pround. New York is the 10th state of my clinic. I got 40 more to go – only 20% complete. My next stop? The exact opposite of New York – North Dakota!!!
Picture from my favorite steak house Peter Luga’s Steakhouse in Brooklyn as well as a snap from the Brooklyn Bridge. The 2nd time for me, the first time for my son 😊
