In teaching self-defense, there is a great fear of giving students false confidence. We do not want our students to believe they can use skills they do not have and put themselves in danger. Many self-defense seminars do a terrible job of this, especially those directed at women. I understand why such seminars have a bad reputation in the martial arts world. However, we need to be realistic and realize that not everyone will be able to devote years to training Muay Thai or Brazilian Ju Jitsu. We must find ways of bringing simple self-defense techniques to the general population in a more limited time frame. I try to balance the two. While I hold two-hour self-defense seminars, I hope the people in the class will taste the joy of training and want more. I try to boil down the principles I teach to be effective and efficient, focusing on de-escalation, awareness, and asserting boundaries. When I work on strikes and escapes, I don’t allow students to feel that this will be easy to overcome if it happens in real life. My classes require students to train realistically under pressure, never allowing them to become comfortable. I always work to make drills simulate attacks as realistically as safely possible so that they understand that using self-defense will be difficult and they must give everything they have for it. I am also honest with students about how dangerous specific techniques are and how they need to accept that they are attempting them because their other choice is damage or death and that it will not be like the movies. If they try a knife disarm, there’s a very high probability they will get cut. However, as teachers, we cannot be so afraid to give our students false confidence that we crush their spirits or make them fearful of the world. Self-defense must be taught rationally and factually. While we may be at the wrong place at the wrong time and encounter terrorism or violent crime, much of the dangers we face can be avoided by staying aware and using common sense. We can turn down the music on our Ipods so we can hear the world around us. We can plan our route to avoid areas we know are more dangerous. We can feel warning signs when our gut instincts tell us we are no longer safe, and we can act accordingly. These principles can be taught in a short amount of time and can save many lives. Sometimes, basic security measures could have prevented even the most terrible incidents. The 1972 Munich Olympics Massacre was one of the most horrifying events in sports history. For twenty hours, Israeli athletes were held hostage by terrorists who had infiltrated the Olympic village. Sadly, after a failed rescue attempt, all eleven were brutally murdered. This attack succeeded not because the terrorists were exceptionally clever but because of the failure of the Munich Police to demonstrate situational awareness and common sense security tactics. To discuss all of the security failings of the 1972 Olympics will be a feature-length article of its own, but here are the major mistakes in brief and the principle behind them. ●Munich police were stripped of their authoritative uniform and dressed like retirees jogging around the park. ●Munich Police were not armed with weapons, including a personal protection side-arm weapon like a pistol. They could not use force to back up their authority. ●The fences around the Olympic village lacked basic security. Athletes routinely climbed the fence without consequences, and the police never stopped them. No IDs were required. The terrorists themselves were able to easily able to get in. Drunk athletes helped in half, and the other half could walk through an unguarded gate and climb over using a stool left behind by the guards. The terrorists had cased the area and knew they had a soft target. There was no deterrence blocking them; therefore, they didn’t hesitate to strike. Had the terrorists know that the gates were manned by uniformed armed guards who would have arrested them, backing up their authority with force? Imagine if any attempt to climb the walls would have sounded the alarm and locked down the buildings. Eleven lives would have been saved. All of those principles are ones I could cover in a two-hour seminar with time to spare. We may not be able to teach our students how to survive every single violent crime. But we can teach them how to walk with confidence and not look like easy victims. We can teach them how to be aware of the world around them. We can teach them how to maintain boundaries and how to spot danger. We can teach them how to deter many predators in our society who are seeking soft targets and easy victims. This will save them from many of the most common forms of violence. It may save them from some more uncommon and terrifying ones.

Since the dawn of civilization, men needed to develop their physical and spiritual abilities in order to survive. Since their beginnings, apart from being a defensive tool, martial arts have been used to calm ourselves spiritually. It will show how they are actually the first line of personal safety and that their knowledge will bring only advantages, no disadvantages. They have hugely contributed to personal as well as social safety. Martial arts represents a system of exercises based on traditional postulates that, primarily, include preparing the body and the mind for combat. In comparison to other sports and physical activities that usually focus only on physical training, martial arts also require the development of the body and mind. According to that, every martial art is not a martial sport, however, every martial sport is a martial art. Martial sports can be sorted into contact sports in which both athletes are fighting each other by using techniques and rules depending on the type of martial art. Various studies show an improvement of physical health of those persons who practice martial arts. It leads to a decrease in depression and sleep disorders, better anger management and management of stressful situations, it brings the feeling of prosperity and happiness. Training martial arts represents a type of competition with oneself. The person is evolving and is fighting his/her weaknesses, laziness, fear, pain etc. Apart from maintaining physical and mental activities, martial arts teach us life values such as sincerity, perseverance, bravery, compassion, humility, respect towards others, gentleness and responsibility. This develops individuality, builds character and fair judgement. The goal of martial arts is to, first and foremost, create a peaceful society. Because of today's lack of information and knowledge, martial arts are considered to be just physical combat that holds a negative character. But this opinion is incorrect because martial arts are a product of an entirely positive context. Martial arts build a harmonious individual who tends to preserve human dignity and create a peaceful community desirable for life. Martial arts have an educational character, their purpose includes a pedagogical and practical sense in all aspects of life. The Japanese samurai Miyamoto Musashi once said: "The true meaning of martial arts is to know how to practice them in a way that they can be helpful at any time and to teach them in a way that they can be helpful in everything.” His saying reflects best the true worth of martial arts. Men have been practicing martial arts for centuries. The reasons for this have changed through history and in accordance with social changes. Today, people start to train martial arts primarily because of self defense, but also because of their competitive character. Also, by training martial arts, the psychological character of the person develops and builds his/her self-esteem, self-efficacy and personal wellbeing. Martial arts have a long history and an important role in building character of defense forces such as the military and the police. In today's world, learning martial arts is one of the disciplines that all police academy attendees need to pass. Self-defense as well as attack techniques are learnt by all police officials. Defense forces also use different martial arts knowledge, although some martial arts have been used less than before. Martial arts consist of many rules and techniques that can be used for every man's welfare. It has been seen through history how different styles have developed and that all have one thing in common- building a well-rounded man, including his physical as well as psychological states. Through martial arts characteristics, we can see that its practice is beneficial for both sexes and for all age groups. It is very important to make people conscious of and show them the benefits of martial arts. They bring only good, whereas the bad is fenced off right from the beginning. Although they can evoke certain negative terms such as combat or conflict, they can have a very positive purpose if not misused. We live in a world where conflict and dangerous situations are a part of our everyday lives. Such situations need to be recognized on time in order to avoid them and, if they cannot be avoided, we need to know how to defend ourselves. Most often, the endangered groups are women, children and the elder population. We often see physical as well as psychological attacks on those vulnerable groups in our society. Although the general opinion is that they cannot defend themselves, it is important to note that this is due to lack of informness. Violence over women is part of every society, but a very small number of violence is being reported. Besides violence experienced in their families, women are often attacked by unknown persons. In that moment, they feel weak and helpless because, sadly, they do not know how to reciprocate. Although they memorize the face or some characteristic, they are afraid to report the perpetrator. This usually happens because of lack of trust in institutions, long judicial processes, feelings of guilt and fear from the offender. The system may also be partially guilty because court processes may last for years and people do not place any trust in the system and, consequently, do not wish to report violence because they will carry its effects for years to come. Apart from women, most vulnerable groups include children and older generations. Children are a powerless group because, thanks to their age, they have very little knowledge about life as well as dangerous situations which they can become a part of. They often fall victims of bullying from their peers as well as family members. Children need to be shown and explained how and why to use martial arts so that they can identify dangerous situations and defend themselves from them. Also, the elderly are often the target of violence and abuse. Just like children, they are very fragile and weak and, in those situations, they often let themselves be abused because they do not know hot to avoid it. This is why it is very important to educate our citizens, especially those three groups- women, children and the elderly, about martial arts and their advantages. Women often, thanks to other people's advice, carry self-defense spray (pepper spray) in their bags. It is a very useful mode of self-defense, but it is important to inform women that they can achieve more via martial arts. They will know how to defend themselves in a moment and prevent further attacks. By practicing martial arts, women learn self-defense techniques and types of conflicts that they are most often faced with such as: verbal conflict, physical violation, hitting attempts or grabbing by the hair, pulling attempts etc. During training, women learn how to neutralize an unpleasant situation but also, thanks to mental training, how to control their reactions during stress and give the right decision under pressure. Older people represent a specific, vulnerable and sensitive group and their share progressively increases. Violence over this type of people, sadly, is more and more present. Violence and abuse over the elderly is manifested through neglect as well as physical abuse. Such persons are fragile and cannot reciprocate, mostly because of they are frail and in fear from their opponent. Every type of elderly neglect, in terms of care about nutrition and welfare, is thought to be a form of violence against the elderly. They can be mistreated from familiar people as well as total strangers. Older people are often a target of thiefs and burglars. They get attacked in such situations and they do not have the ability or the knowledge to defend themselves. The consequences of violence over the elderly can be huge for them, from damaging their already dissipated health (physical and mental) to losing that small bit of material safety that they already had. The problem of violence against the elderly is still not entirely explored. Because of their lack of ability and the impossibility to reciprocate with an attack or self-defense, they are often the target of violence. Although many believe that age is a problem when it comes to practicing a specific type of self-defense, they are wrong because it only needs to be introduced into everyday practice of an older person. By practicing a suitable type of martial arts, the elderly will gain more strength and flexibility in their frail bodies, gain a feeling of calm, prosperity, harmony of the mind and body and will be able to defend themselves in certain situations, or at least avoid an attack. Violence against children has become today's problem. Children are in more and more instances the target of violence in their families as well as in schools. Practicing martial arts during childhood has a large pedagogical role. Children are taught self-control as well as how to avoid potential attacks. Children who practice and train certain martial arts are often perceived with fear because of lack of knowledge. The child isn't training in order to learn how to punch others, but in order to control and build himself/herself. By training martial arts, children learn how to recognize potential dangerous and conflicting situations, how to solve them, avoid them and protect themselves. By training, children learn how to defend themselves and others as well as how to control their stress and fear in a dangerous situation. Through play and fun, children develop social, mental and physical abilities. They learn healthy life habits, develop concentration and discipline, gain confidence, the habit to help their peers and respect older people. Martial arts are practiced and used on every continent, in every country in the world. Small children need to be taught the basics so they can overcome larger obstacles later on. Every martial art has its own special rules that need to be respected. Using the martial arts practices and techniques against weaker persons in one's free time, except if they haven't started it first and are being used as self-defense, is chargeable and regulated by the Criminal Law. It is desirable to use self-defense knowledge when you really need to defend yourself, but all in good measure. To misuse those skills is unwelcome and culpable. The use of martial arts is not legally described- only its consequences in Criminal Law, The Law on Protection from Domestic Violence, The Offenses against Public Order and Peace Act, Act on the Prevention of Disorders at Sports Competitions and certain other acts and sub-legislations. Law regulations for martial arts clubs where those skills are being taught are regulated by the Law on Sports, Act on the Prevention of Disorders at Sports Competitions and other numerous regulations that those clubs use themselves. There are over 200 different martial art types and disciplines existing in the world, each with their own training characteristics and philosophy. Knowledge in martial arts such as aikido, judo, krav maga, jiu jitsu, BJJ, kapap, systema, karate, tae kwon do, sambo, kung fu, escrima and others is of great use in self-defense. Here's a bit about them. Krav maga means "contact combat” in Hebrew and is the official system of personal defense and close combat of the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), the Israeli national police and other security services. The founder of krav maga is Imi Sde – Or Lichtenfeld who built the system and formed the martial art skill. Krav maga is an ideal mode of self-defense for men, women, the young, i.e. people of all age groups and physical fitness. Systema is a Russian martial art that stems from Cossack systems of combat. It represents a complete system of self-defense, breathing movements and health. It is a martial art which develops motor skills, coordination, condition and coping with unfamiliar situations through a complex system and unarmed combat. All of its tactics are based on instictive reactions, individual strength and characteristics, specially designed for fast learning. The history of systema is scarce. Because of its secrecy and misinformation about the skill, very little evidence has been documented. What was publicly available was called "sports” and "militant type of sambo”, i.e. sports comeptitions and self-defense without weapons. Systema can also be found under another term – "Know Yourself”. Brazilian jiu jitsu is a martial arts focused on grappling and particular combat on the ground aimed at gaining a dominant position and using joint levers and choking in order to force the opponent to give up. Brazilian jiu jitsu developed from a modified version of judo (judo = the gentle way, its founder is Jigoro Kano) and was practiced during World War II along with classic jiu jitsu techniques. It is based on the principle that every person, especially of a weaker build, can, with the use of balance and technique, defend oneself from a stronger attacker. The founder of Brazilian jiu jitsu is considered to be the Japanese judo master Mitsuy Maeda. The skill that Maeda taught to the Gracie family wasn't called judo, but jiu jitsu. The term karate comes from the Japanese word "kara” which means "free and empty” and signifies a hand or fist. It represents a militant self-defense and counter-attack skill without the use of weapons, but rather hand punches (with the edge of an open palm, fist or elbow) and legs (feet, heel, knee). Although the term comes from Japan, its beginnings are believed to come from India and China. Karate was passed on from generation to generation and was first called "To – de”. Gichin Funakoshi later changed it to the term we know today- karate. Tae kwon do is a Korean martial art formed in the 1940's by fusing various Korean martial arts and Japanese karate which was widely practiced at the time. The name comes from the words tae= to kick with the leg, kwon= to punch with an arm and do= the way. Allegedly, the name tae kwon do was first suggested by General Choi Hong Hi's associate in 1955, but it wasn't accepted until 1965. The skill itself was derived from the need for self-defense and its concept was made by General Choi Hong Hi himself. Sambo represents a Russian martial art and its name is an abbreviation from the Russian phrase "self-defense without weapons”. This martial art is very similar to judo. It was founded by the Soviets. It was developed during the 1920's by the Soviet Red Army and is mostly connected to its intelligence services and special forces. Kapap denotes an Israeli martial art, i.e. a survival and self-defense system. It was coined in order to inspire an individual to use whatever he/she feels natural with, all with the goal to self-defend oneself. Kapap is an acronym for "Krav Panim el Panim" which means "face to face combat”. Kapap is often mistaken for krav maga, but they are not the same. Krav maga functions under specific principles, it prepares persons for specific situations they can find themselves in. In comparison, kapap teaches that you should always expect the unexpected and remain calm in all situations. Practicing martial arts is a crucial part of training for all military and police services. They teach how to control oneself, as well as the opponent. In such institutions, trainees do not learn only how to attack someone, but to defend themselves and how to utilize a specific martial art technique in such situations. Martial arts have become more and more popular in today's sports and recreational purposes, but we need to emphasize their importance in the self-defense of the most vulnerable groups of our society. Experts stress the fact that the purpose of martial arts is not only fighting with the opponent, but also a deep spiritual and humane character. Almost all martial arts speak about the relationship between a man's mind and body. Also, we often need to work on updating regulations that prevent violence but also to popularize martial arts. The public needs to be informed about their positive purpose and this is perhaps how we will start living in a community with less violence because people will know how to recognize dangerous situations and defend themselves from them. We can conclude how martial arts are not practiced because of their negative goals, but because a person wishes to build himself/herself as a human being. This is also how we will help others on this path and secure a safe, natural and humane space for all humanity.

Though martial arts cinema hasn't always been taken seriously in the movie industry, that changed this weekend as the genre-bending sci-fi/martial arts romp "Everything, Everywhere All at Once" and its lead actress, kung fu film veteran Michelle Yeoh , dominated at Sunday's Academy Awards. The tale of a harried, middle-aged, immigrant mother who suddenly finds herself traveling through dimensions as a martial arts superhero, "Everything" won seven Oscars including the awards for best picture, best actress, best director, best supporting actor and actress. Though originally trained as a ballerina, Yeoh broke into movies working in Hong Kong kung fu films for which she diligently trained in martial arts and did many of her own stunts. Kung Fu movie legend Sammo Hung, who recalled giving Yeoh her start in the industry, meanwhile spent his weekend receiving the lifetime achievement honor at the Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong. Yeoh, perhaps best known to western audiences for her role in the 2001 Academy Award-nominated martial arts film "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," commented to reporters Sunday on the glass ceiling for Asians in Hollywood, "I kung fu-ed it out and shattered it.”

Recently a friend, David Abdullah Muhammad aka Brotha Newz https://youtu.be/o0FNaWDqB1U started posting vintage martial arts movie posters for an upcoming album release and reminiscing about movies that I watched as a young adult. Most of these are not what you would typically think of like Enter the Dragon. Most of them were from the 80's which I consider to be the golden age of the martial arts movie genre. You had movies like A Force of One with Chuck Norris and Bill Wallace, Blood Sport with Jean-Claude Van Damme, and Above the Law with Steven Seagal. These movies had some of the biggest martial arts stars of the time and really pushed an explosion of martial arts related movies into the next decade. Today's movies feature action stars with huge stunts, but they are generally far more related to car stunts or explosions than pure martial arts as it was in the 80's. There are still many martial arts fight scenes in certain movies but unless you were alive in the 80's or 90's you probably don't realize the number of films in the genre that were being produced at that time. I love all of the old Bruce Lee films, but what Bruce started was then expounded on by the stars of the 80's. Its not just the actors you know that were the giant stars of the time but cult classics like The Last Dragon, Best of the Best, and even Big Trouble in Little China that captured the essence of martial arts movies of the time. The reason I bring this up is that I feel like many young martial artists have started to lose touch with the people that paved the way for them not only in movies but also on the tournament side. Many young martial artists know Richard Plowden as being Avery or Morgans Dad, or the USA head of WKC, but when I was a young martial artist Richard was one of the top fighters on the planet at the time. I remember reading Sport Karate Illustrated and seeing Richard, Billy Blanks, or Steve "Nasty" Anderson being talked about all the time and wanting to emulate them. Its not just previous generations of martial artists that don't get their due at times. I had a student years ago that was talking to some others in class about a new band that she had discovered, when I finally heard the song she was talking about I had to laugh. The song was "Rock and Roll all Nite" by Kiss, when I told her that it wasn't exactly a new band and that the song was from the mid 1970's the puzzled look she gave me was classic. The reason I think this is important is because as the Maya Angelou quote says, "you can't really know where you are going until you know where you have been". One of my many influencers and mentors over the years was Mike Stone. Mike was a legend in the early days of karate in the United States and won many of the tournaments in the 1960's. Although Mike was known by many for his days in the ring, he was probably even more famous for the company around him that included Ed Parker, Chuck Norris, Bruce Lee, and Priscilla Presley. During this time-period Mike wrote some of the screen plays and acted in several of the movies of the era including Enter the Ninja and the American Ninja series to name a few. While many martial artists from my generation know who Mike is and what he has done I hope to get the younger generations of martial artists to reach back into the time vault and explore some of the roots from which they have sprung. I know that some of the younger martial artist on the circuit today do watch some old footage from previous years such as Jackson Rudolph who constantly impresses me with his knowledge of martial arts history. I was even shocked a few years ago in Tulsa, OK when I introduced myself to Bailey Murphy, who many consider one of the best point fighters today, and he actually said he felt like he already knew me from watching old NBL Super Grand videos of fights I refereed, so some of today's fighters do still study history and watch old videos. With the explosion of the Cobra Kai on Netflix I hope that it reinvigorates the interest in movies from that era and people learn a bit more about the martial artist that paved the way for them today. So, what is your favorite martial arts movie that maybe people will know or maybe you can turn them on too? David Clifton has refereed over 1,500 MMA, Kickboxing, and boxing matches. He has also been the center official and training official for WAKO USA, NBL Super Grands, World Sport Karate Federation, World Karate Commission (WKC), and many Naska national events.

How Many Have You Seen? The ‘60s were an exploratory time for cinema and martial arts films were no different. Bringing us kung fu directing juggernauts like King Hu and Chang Cheh, this decade laid the groundwork for the stunning era of Bruce Lee cinema to follow. Here are 9 of the most notable and influential martial arts movies from that decade: 9. Dragon Inn (1967): Directed by King Hu. Set during the Ming Dynasty in China, the story follows a group of skilled warriors and spies who find themselves embroiled in a treacherous power struggle. The film showcases impressive swordplay and martial arts choreography, with its iconic fight scenes and atmospheric tension capturing the essence of wuxia cinema. "Dragon Inn" is known for its memorable characters, intricate plot twists, and visually striking cinematography. Watch kung fu classics for free on Black Belt+ . 8. Come Drink with Me (1966): Directed by King Hu, this wuxia film is widely regarded as a classic. It showcased Cheng Pei-pei as a skilled female martial artist, challenging traditional gender roles in martial arts cinema. 7. The One-Armed Boxer (1967): Directed by Jimmy Wang Yu, this film featured Wang Yu as a one-armed martial artist seeking revenge. It popularized the "one-armed" trope and influenced future martial arts movies. 6. The Sword of Doom (1966): Although a Japanese film, it had a significant impact on the martial arts genre. Directed by Kihachi Okamoto, it offered a dark and gritty portrayal of a skilled swordsman's descent into violence. 5. The Assassination (1969): Directed by Chang Cheh, this film showcased intricate fight choreography and introduced Ti Lung as a leading martial arts star, further popularizing the heroic bloodshed genre. 4. The Chinese Boxer (1969): Directed by Jimmy Wang Yu, this film is often credited as the first Hong Kong martial arts film to feature "bare-handed" fighting techniques. It influenced the subsequent wave of kung fu movies. 3. Golden Swallow (1968): Directed by Chang Cheh, it reunited Cheng Pei-pei and Jimmy Wang Yu from "Come Drink with Me." The film further solidified their status as martial arts icons and featured innovative fight scenes. 2. The Flying Dagger (1969): Directed by Chang Cheh, this film starred Jimmy Wang Yu and introduced the concept of throwing weapons in martial arts action, setting the stage for future weapon-centric movies. 1. One-Armed Swordsman (1967): Directed by Chang Cheh, this film introduced a new wave of heroic bloodshed genre, revolutionizing the portrayal of martial arts heroes with complex characters and intense action sequences. These movies played a crucial role in shaping martial arts cinema in the 1960s, leaving a lasting impact on the genre and inspiring future generations of filmmakers and martial artists. How many have you seen? Catch classic martial arts for free on Black Belt+ . Black Belt+ is the biggest martial arts digital platform in history. From its rich history spanning over 60 years, the platform includes thousands of remastered instructional videos, martial arts movies, documentaries, and, of course, digital issues and articles from the iconic Black Belt Magazine . The new app is available on iOS and Android mobile devices and tablets. Or download and subscribe directly from Black Belt at plus.blackbeltmag.com .

Sandbagger. Every gym has at least one. I’m sure you think of a particular person in your gym when the word is mentioned. The term is used a lot in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, especially among competitors. It’s also not likely to be used as a compliment. It gets thrown around here and there, even when it doesn’t necessarily apply. What Does Sandbagging Mean? What exactly is a sandbagger? Why is it generally a bad thing to be one? How do people get labeled as a sandbagger? These are all questions that can arise from people who are new to the jiu-jitsu scene, and it’s time everyone got a solid definition of what the word really means. “Sandbagging” and “sandbagger” are terms used to describe someone who is sitting at the same belt level for a significant period of time. They also can refer to someone who is held back from a promotion despite winning tournaments that prove the person is ready for the next belt. How Does Sandbagging Happen? It can happen for several reasons. In fact, there are so many that no one could tell you all of them. It’s important to realize that a BJJ promotion occurs only when your professor or coach decides you’re ready for your next belt, and different coaches conduct their promotions in different ways. In BJJ, there is no worldwide standard for promotions. Your jiu-jitsu lineage makes a big difference, and often you get promoted differently if you’re a competitor or a recreational practitioner. Additionally, some gyms promote students based on attendance, some based on improvement and attitude, and others based on the amount of time students have had their belt. Sandbagging … The Coach’s Choice It’s necessary to keep in mind that teammates and competitors can’t just choose which belt to wear, so they should not be picked on or criticized if they’ve had their belt longer than what you think is appropriate. Ultimately, it’s the coach’s decision. Thirty or more years ago in some lineages, if a student asked for a belt, it was common for the teacher to hold back the student an additional two years just for asking. Today, it is still uncouth to ask to be promoted, and many coaches will hold you back longer for it. Sandbagging Is Not Always Bad That said, sometimes holding back a student from a promotion can be necessary. The student might have stopped training at some point due to injury, work or another life event. Or the person could be stuck at the same belt because of age. A good example of this is AOJ’s Cole Abate. There’s no doubt the 17-year-old prodigy has made quite a name for himself. Beating high-level black belts while still a blue belt can stir up a lot of drama in the jiu-jitsu world. Many call Cole Abate a sandbagger and unfairly judge the decision of Prof. Guilherme Mendes and Prof. Rafael Mendes — aka the Mendes brothers — to keep him at the same belt. These people fail to consider that if his teachers were to promote Cole Abate to purple belt, he would no longer be allowed to compete through the IBJJF because there is no juvenile purple-belt division. Is it fair for them to take away more opportunities for Cole Abate at such a young age strictly because he’s proved that he’s better than so many people? Not at all. As previously mentioned, this is a perfect example of how sandbagging can be appropriate. The Same Jiu-Jitsu Journey The beauty of BJJ is that everyone is on the same journey. However, we’re all taking different roads. Some people might take longer, while others might follow a shorter path. In the end, everyone deserves the privilege of enjoying their journey to wherever their path leads. Support one another, and don’t be quick to judge if someone is taking longer than you are. Your road may be shorter, but that doesn’t make you any better than anyone else.

The popularity of Brazilian jiu-jitsu has grown by leaps and bounds in the last few decades. Roughly twenty years ago, Mike Ross, a friend of mine at work, was starting his journey in the expanding world of BJJ. A conversation we had piqued my interest in the art, but it was yet to be my time. Now, he successfully runs a school in Michigan. Many years later, while holding the rank of black belt in multiple systems, by a twist in fate, I found myself in BJJ class in Los Angeles, starting over once again at white belt for the fourth time. Those classes were with Professor Gustavo Gasperin. It was with Mr. Gasperin that I found my bearings in BJJ. I later moved back to my hometown in Ohio and searched for what would be my next grappling school. There, I met Mr. Cable, whom I train with to this day. I have found intriguing insight and perspective from each of these men over the years. If you have any interest in BJJ, I trust you will find some valuable pearls of wisdom as well. To the interview… Would you tell us a little about yourself and your school? Mike Ross: I’d be happy to. I started training Brazilian jiu-jitsu/Mixed Martial Arts in January of 2006 under the Rigan Machado affiliation. I am the head instructor/owner of Mamba Brazilian Jiu Jitsu . My training early on consisted of No-Gi BJJ, wrestling, Muay Thai, boxing, and kickboxing. I utilized aspects of all these arts and developed a well-rounded MMA fighting style. I went on to have my 1st MMA fight in August of 2009, where I won by first-round TKO. I later fought for the 185lb TXC title in October 2009, where I became an MMA champion. I have been teaching BJJ in Dexter, MI, since 2009. I was awarded my BJJ black belt in 2014 by my instructor Tyrone Gooden (4th degree Rigan Machado black belt). I’m blessed to have such a great group of students that train at my school. Jason Cable : Sure, thanks for having me. I’m a 3rd degree Black Belt under Professor Clark Gracie. I have 2 beautiful kids, Brody and Chloe. I really enjoy teaching and watching others succeed and reach their potential and goals. I have fought MMA and have been teaching Gracie jiu-jitsu for 20 years. I still enjoy competing and watching my kids compete in jiu-jitsu. My Academy is Gracie Allegiance Ohio . Gracie Allegiance was founded by Professor Clark Gracie. Professor Clark Gracie’s dad is Grandmaster Carley Gracie, the first to bring Brazilian jiu-jitsu to America in 1971 when the Marines asked him to come over. Grandmaster Carley Gracie is the 11th child of Gracie jiu-jitsu Founder Grandmaster Carlos Gracie. I try to make my academy feel very welcoming and want everyone to feel like family. I want everyone to learn self-defense and to build self-confidence and have a fun time doing it. I opened Gracie Allegiance Ohio in 2020. We offer kids and adult classes. Gustavo Gasperin: Of course. Thank you for the question. I hold a 3rddegree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under the tutelage of Fabricio Werdum. I began my BJJ journey back in 1997 while residing in Brazil. In 2004, I relocated to the United States when I was a purple belt. Currently, I have the privilege of teaching at two prominent gyms in Los Angeles: Uprise MMA and Dynamix MMA . As both of these gyms primarily focus on mixed martial arts (MMA), our training emphasis leans more towards No-Gi grappling rather than the traditional Gi-based training. What got you into jiu-jitsu? MR: I got into BJJ as something to do to fill my competitive edge. After playing D-1 college basketball, I turned to BJJ/MMA to fill that void. BJJ was something that always interested me, but I never had the time to do it because of other sports. Once I started training, I became hooked. I wanted to get good as fast as possible. I consistently trained 5-6 days a week. GG : I was first drawn to jiu-jitsu as a means of staying active during the week while still being able to pursue my passion for surfing on the weekends back when I was living in Brazil. Additionally, many of my surfer friends were already practicing jiu-jitsu and would frequently invite me to join them for a class. After some consideration, I eventually decided to give it a try and joined a gym. JC: I got a little training in jiu-jitsu while I was in the Marine Corp. I really enjoyed it but wasn’t able to really train like I wanted to. When I got out of the Marine Corps in 2000, I was fighting MMA. To be good at MMA, I really needed to find a jiu-jitsu school. I found one in Columbus, Ohio, but I had to drive 90 minutes one way to train. I drove this 4-5 times a week after I got off work. Once I started training, I fell in love with the art and knew it was something I wanted to do. What’s the greatest challenge you have faced in your training? MR: The greatest challenge I have faced in my BJJ journey is overcoming injuries. Training back in the day was a lot harder on the body than it is today. I have had numerous injuries that will affect me for the rest of my life. I still wouldn’t trade the experience. Being able to train while you are injured is a big challenge, but it continues to make you better even though you can’t train 100%. Being able to do something is better than nothing. Understanding how to protect yourself and your injuries is an added benefit that you can use off the mat. GG : One of the most significant challenges I encountered during my training was mastering the ability to remain calm and patient while being trapped in dominant positions such as side control and mount, as well as when facing submission attempts. It was crucial to develop the confidence to navigate these situations without allowing negative thoughts to overwhelm me and create a sense of hopelessness. JC : I feel the greatest challenge I have faced in training is time management. I did well in competitions and when I was awarded my blue belt I was told to open my own academy and start teaching. So being able to take time to train myself and the time I put into my students was difficult. It made it very hard to do everything I wanted to for myself. My passion to see others succeed has always been ahead of my own needs. Why have you stuck with training? MR: I stuck with training because it’s a lifestyle. BJJ is addicting. The thing I love about it is that it is always evolving, and you never stop learning. I’m not sure how people quit BJJ. If I go more than a week without choking someone, I start to get the shakes, lol! GG : I have remained dedicated to training because I believe it has a transformative impact on my character. It has helped me become a more composed, patient, and self-assured individual in every aspect of life. Despite encountering significant injuries throughout my journey, I have always returned to training because I recognized its vital role in maintaining balance and harmony in my day-to-day existence. JC : The reason I have stuck with training is jiu-jitsu is a lifestyle and I couldn’t imagine a single day where I wasn’t able to train or teach. This lifestyle is something I want to pass on to my kids. Jiu-jitsu is an art that offers so much to so many people. This lifestyle has given me so much, along with meeting people that I’m closest to in my life that I can’t imagine my life without it. Why did you get into teaching? MR: I got into teaching because I have a lot of knowledge I wanted to share with others. Being able to share your knowledge with others and hearing success stories of how your teaching impacted them to be a better person is very rewarding. GG: Becoming a jiu-jitsu instructor was a natural progression for me. Prior to achieving my black belt, I worked as a physical education teacher and personal trainer. Thus, transitioning to teaching jiu-jitsu was an organic extension of my teaching career, which ultimately led me to pursue it full-time. JC: Back in 2003, I was driving back and forth to Columbus, which was a 90-minute trip one way. One day I asked my instructor if it was ok to rent a place in the town where I lived to see if I could get people there to train with me. So, once I had a place, people were coming in to train with me, and it was great. One day, one of the guys training with me asked if I could teach them what I learn when I go to Columbus, so my next trip to Columbus I asked my instructor he said I could go ahead and show them. So as a white belt, I had other white belts training with me and competing with me, and we did really well in local tournaments. In January 2006, I received my blue belt and was told to open my own academy. Back in those days, it was very hard to find a black belt to train with. My instructor was a purple belt. So, it wasn’t uncommon for blue belts and purple belts to be teaching back in those days. What has been the greatest surprise of your journey? MR: I can’t say I have really been surprised by anything in my journey. Seeing people come and go is somewhat surprising. GG: The most astonishing aspect of my journey has been witnessing the remarkable evolution of our martial art/sport over the past three decades. When I first started, it was a niche discipline and often overlooked. However, it has now emerged as a prominent and widely recognized martial art/sport, reaching the mainstream status it enjoys today. JC : I would have to say the friendships I have made and wouldn’t have made if I wasn’t in this jiu-jitsu lifestyle. I have made some of my closest friendships and still have them through meeting them in jiu-jitsu. Also, the experiences I have been able to have for myself and my kids are something that can never be replaced. What is the best piece of advice you can give for someone new to jiu-jitsu? MR: The best piece of advice I can give to someone just starting BJJ is to come to class and be consistent. I see so many students who may be at a certain rank for years, and it’s because they come to class for a month and take 2 months off. So, everything you learned in that one month was forgotten by missing the next two. Be consistent, and success will follow. GG: For anyone new to jiu-jitsu, my best advice would be to prioritize learning the fundamental techniques of our martial art instead of trying to win every sparring session. By focusing on the proper techniques early on, you can develop a solid foundation for your practice and progress more quickly. It's important to concentrate on technique rather than relying solely on your physical attributes. JC: The best piece of advice I can give someone new to jiu-jitsu is for people wanting to start, you must step outside your comfort zone and just try it. Don’t make excuses to put it off. When a new person comes into my academy, I try to get them on the mats that day. Once they experience it, they will know whether or not it’s something they want in their life. As for new students who have been training, don’t worry about anyone else. Worry about you and trying to improve yourself every day and don’t compare yourself to anyone else. Jiu-jitsu is about bettering yourself and improving every day on the mats and off. What makes for a good student? MR: A good student of BJJ is one who is always at class, eager to learn, and works hard. The first part of that is key…Come to class and be consistent! GG: A good student is someone who demonstrates dedication and commitment by consistently attending classes and putting in the necessary effort. They focus on their individual progress rather than comparing themselves to others. Furthermore, they prioritize understanding the underlying principles and mechanics of techniques rather than simply going through the motions without grasping the reasons behind them. JC: What makes a good BJJ student to me is their willingness to learn and step out of their comfort zone. When they come to class, they ask questions. It’s different for everyone cause life is different for everybody, but the dedication to keep coming back to learn says a lot. Martial arts are something I wish everyone would do, especially kids. The confidence and character it builds are priceless. So, for me, a good student is one that keeps coming back and shows dedication. What is the number one lesson you’ve learned through training or teaching? MR: The biggest lesson I’ve learned through training and teaching is to respect your training partners. If you’re constantly hurting your training partners, no one will be left to train with. Train with control. The more control you have in training can easily transfer over to a street situation. Control your emotions, control your body movements, and control your opponent. GG: Be humble. There’s always someone better than you ready to chop your head off. JC: The number one lesson I have learned through training or teaching is that you never stop learning or growing as a person. You can always learn something new and find better ways to do things or teach things. Everyone is different, so you must be able to adapt. So always learn and try improving every day on and off the mats. Keep an open mind and learn as much as you can. I still learn to this day, which is why I still have the love for this art. I hope that you’ve picked up some useful chunks of wisdom from these respected jiu-jitsu professors and found the inspiration to become an even better student or coach. I can tell you that my journey in the arts has been greatly enriched by having crossed paths with these men. Salute, Ian Lauer 3rd Degree Black Belt American Kenpo 1st Degree Black Belt Tae Kwon Do 1st Degree Black Belt Hapkido 1st Degree Black Belt Coszacks Karate Blue Belt Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

This article appeared on JudoInside.com website. One of the five original Olympic sports, judo has been a part of the global landscape for over a hundred years. Judo's popularity has waned and waxed over those one hundred years, but the martial art has always maintained a core group of diehard practitioners. In recent years, however, judo has seen something of a resurgence in popularity due in no small part to the increased prominence of mixed martial arts (MMA). Indeed, this resurgence has also provided sports bettors, particularly in the United States, using the best sites listed on GamblingSites.com to be provided with new betting opportunities to enhance their wagering experiences, thus further adding a spotlight on the sport and creating questions regarding its absence across some combat disciplines where it could have a place. But why should judo be in the MMA's spotlight? Let's take a look at some of the possible reasons that can be argued regarding why it should be given the light it deserves. Judo Is an Effective Martial Art The first and most obvious reason why judo belongs in the MMA's spotlight is that it is an effective martial art. Unlike some other martial arts that rely primarily on striking (e.g. boxing, Muay Thai, taekwondo), judo focuses on grappling and throwing. This makes it an excellent complement to striking-based martial arts such as boxing and Muay Thai. In fact, many of the MMA's most successful fighters have a background in judo, with some of them having been able to apply the techniques this discipline has proved them while in the ring. Judo Is an Exciting Sport to Watch In addition to being an effective martial art, judo is also an exciting sport to watch. Thanks to its focus on grappling and throwing, judo matches are often fast-paced and unpredictable. We have seen incredible judokas throughout history, including Teddy Riner , thus making for a great spectator sport; something that cannot be said of all martial arts. This is also one of the reasons why it has become a popular Olympic event, and one that has continued to remain on the program with each edition of the Games held. Judo Promotes Fair Play and Respect for Opponents Lastly, judo promotes fair play and respect for opponents, two values that are somewhat lacking in today's MMA landscape. In contrast to other martial arts that allow (and even encourage) fighters to inflict serious harm on their opponents, judo matches are won by points or by forcing one's opponent to submit via holds or chokeholds. This focus on using one's opponent's energy against them rather than inflicting pain helps foster a spirit of fair play and mutual respect between opponents. It can also potentially help to attract new viewers, especially those that have an appreciation for the art of judo and want to see it utilized in mainstream sports such as the UFC . Conclusion There are many reasons why judo belongs in the MMA's spotlight. Judo is an effective martial art with a long history, it is exciting to watch, and it promotes fair play and respect for opponents. With so much to offer, there is no doubt that judo deserves its place among the most popular martial arts in the world. Finally, judo should be added to all MMA & BJJ Schools’ curriculums as UCS below is on the right track Nathan Goltz Teaching Judo at UCS 2023 For the past year Nathan Goltz, 5th Dan in Judo, 1st Dan in Karate and Kendo, with vast knowledge of Muay Thai as well BJJ has been running a Judo Class at U... Updates: Japanese culture event at Kimono exhibition in Paris | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News More on the Judo Gi Updates: Veterans Age Divisions for 2023 Ed Rodriguez recently shared the IJF Veterans Commission is pleased to announce that the age divisions for the Veterans have been adapted for 2023. Therefore, in 2023, during the Abu Dhabi World Veterans Championships, the age divisions applied will be those used in 2022 (see the table below). The IJF Sport Organization Rules (SOR) will soon be updated and the commission will issue event outlines as soon as all topics are settled. The organizers and the IJF Veterans Commission are waiting for you in large numbers to have an amazing experience in Abu Dhabi, UAE, between 31st October and 3rd November! Watch (Just Released) - German Kick Boxer vs. Judoka Video Does judo have a chance in MMA or will Enes end the fight with his kickboxing? Oliver was able to hold his ground against a strong opponent in his first fight and now meets Enes, who tries to end fight by KO! Calendar: (Note - several tournaments have been cancelled since the AJA was not renewed by USA Judo) April - 2023 15th Saturday - Couchigan Memorial Tournament , Las Vegas, NV 16th Sunday - Ryoku's Amarilis Savon Clinic , Las Vegas, NV 16th Sunday - Garden State Open Judo Classic , Wayne NJ 22nd Saturday - Arizona State Championships , Tucson, AZ 29th Saturday & 30th Sunday - Golden State Open , Azusa, CA May - 2023 7th Sunday - CJI State Championships , San Francisco, CA 20th Saturday & 21st Sunday - Senior National Championships , Spokane, WA June - 2023 4th Sunday - Nanka Spring Tournament , Westminster, CA 16th Friday to 18th Sunday - USA Judo Junior Olympics , Shreveport, LA 24th Saturday - Sensei Gary's Birthday Scrimmage , Claremont, CA 25th Sunday - U.S. Adaptive Judo Championships , Riverside, CA July - 2023 7th Friday to 9th Sunday - USJF & USJA Summer Nationals , New York, NY 16th Sunday - CA State Games , San Diego, CA August - 2023 6th Sunday - Nikkei Games Budo Tournament , Cypress, CA September - 2023 17th Sunday - Nevada State Judo Championship , Las Vegas, NV 24th Sunday - Nanka Fall Tournament , Westminster, CA October - 2023 1st Sunday - Capitol Open Judo Championships , Sacramento, CA 22nd Sunday - Fresno Invitational Tournament , Fresno, CA 29th Sunday - Fight for a Cure Women's Tournament & Clinic , Riverside, CA November - 2023 1st Wednesday to 3rd Friday - IJF World Veterans Championships , Abu Dhabi, UAE 5th Sunday - Nanka Team Tournament , Westminster, CA 19th Sunday - Presidents Cup National Championships , Irving, TX December - 2023 8th Friday to 10th Sunday - Nanka Winter Nationals & Clinics , Azusa, CA April - 2024 7th Sunday - Nanka Spring Tournament , Westminster, CA May - 2024 5th Sunday - Nanka West Coast Invitational , Westminster, CA June - 2024 28th Friday to 30th Sunday - USJF & USJA Summer Nationals , Tacoma. WA September - 2024 29th Sunday - Nanka Fall Tournament , Westminster, CA October - 2024 20th Sunday - Nanka Team Tournament , Westminster, CA December - 2024 6th Friday to 8th Sunday - Nanka Winter Nationals & Clinics , Azusa, CA I’m always looking for new subjects to write about regarding judo as well as contributions from my readers. Please send them to gary@garygoltz.com , thanks.

For my Black Belt Judo Blog this week I want to share this article recently written by James Hurtado . Judo is on the rise in the gaming community. Hopefully, this will lead to more interest in taking it up for real! Ippon Again! brings the art of Judo to audiences around the world this January 2023. Here's why it's a great introduction for those new to the sport. Ippon Again! , produced by BAKKEN RECORD and published by Pony Canyon, is an anime adaptation of the ongoing judo-centric manga series written by Yuu Muruoaka. After deciding to quit judo at the end of middle school, due to changing her priorities to being successful in her high school education and upcoming entrance exams, Michi Sonoda is suddenly reminded of how much she loved the sport and her training. Together with Hiura Towa, the competitor she lost her last match to, and Sanae Takigawa, her childhood best friend, they decide to start up the judo club and find themselves participating in tournaments once again. Ippon Again! is heavily focused on the competitive aspects of judo; with countless demonstrations of different techniques and stances, the series also gets quite technical and informative. This makes the series an ideal starting place for individuals wishing to learn about one of the world's most popular sports at a reasonable pace. Here's why Ippon Again! is must-watch for fans of combat sports. Ippon Again! Teaches the Fundamentals of Judo Judo, the art of throwing and grappling was invented by Dr. Jigoro Kano in 1882 by combining jiujutsu with the various features from different jiujutsu schools. The biggest difference between judo and jiujutsu is the fact that judo is more based around throws, while jiujutsu focuses on submissions. Judo later became an Olympic sport in 1964. While unbeknownst to many living in the Western hemisphere, judo is one of the most popular competitive sports in the world next to soccer, with over 200 countries being members of the International Judo Federation. Judo, like many other combat sports, can also be quite dangerous because the emphasis is placed on throwing the opponent to the ground. The martial art of judo is often overlooked because it isn't talked about as much, due to being shadowed by other martial arts such as boxing and jiujutsu in mainstream media, however, some of the most legendary fighters in the UFC have used judo moves quite often. The UFC's First Female Champion Ronda Rousey, a multiple gold medalist in judo, and the UFC Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and his protégé Islam Makhachev, both of whom have performed many brilliant judo throws throughout their careers, are excellent examples of well-known martial artists who have used judo. Ippon Again! is a fantastic place to start learning more about the Japanese wrestling sport, as the series goes in-depth enough for anyone new to Judo to comprehend the sport thoroughly -- such as the application of the judogi, the utilization of distance and balance, and the huge diversity of throws and submissions. Audiences will also learn the rules of judo matches such as the scoring methods: ippon and waza-ari. This is all portrayed by our three main characters as they compete from tournament-to-tournament against a long list of diverse opponents. Real judo techniques, like the yagura nage and sode tsurikomi goshi, are frequently used in the series, hence why current judokas will also greatly appreciate it. Ippon Again! is a rare gem to have been adapted, as anime about combat sports that portray the sport in a non-fantastical way come only once in a blue moon. Ippon Again! is a series chock-full of waza-ari and ippons that shouldn't be missed. Ippon Again! is based on the manga of the same title, published in the Weekly Shōnen Champion on October 18, 2018. The manga is currently ongoing and has 20 volumes released. Ippon Again! will be available for streaming on HIDIVE January 8, 2023. Here is another related article Judo black belt breaks down how legit Guile's back throw is in Street Fighter 6 Posted by Steven 'Dreamking23' Chavez • 1/6/2023 How Legit is Guile’s Throw from Street Fighter 6? #shorts Judo Black Belt, Pak, Breaks Down one of Guile's judo throws from the video game, Street Fighter 6 (2023).#scenicfights #martialarts #streetfighter #streetfi... The Street Fighter series is home to a bevy of fantastical attacks that defy the laws of physics and sometimes logic. However, many attacks take inspiration from real life martial arts, but just how accurate and legit are said IRL-inspired moves? The folks over at Scenic Fights — a small group of experienced martial artists who analyze, breakdown, and recreate fight scenes from pop culture — recently took a closer look at one of Guile's regular throws in Capcom's upcoming major fighting title, Street Fighter 6 . Pak, one of Scenic Fights' Judo black belts, aimed to figure out if Guile's Judo-style back throw is actually legit or just another fantastical maneuver. Looking at the footage, the Judo expert begins by explaining that Guile is likely using a seoi nage for his back throw. This move sees the user grab the wrist, pull the opponent's collar in, and rotate to throw the foe over their back. "It also looks like an Uchi Mata because at the end you see Guile lift up his leg," says Pak. The expert goes on to state that "Uchi Mata" means "inner thigh throw," which appears to be what Guile is also incorporating here with this attack. What's interesting is that Pak notes how the leg lift and transition into an Uchi Mata is completely unnecessary for Guile to complete the throw. His opponent, Luke, is already halfway to being thrown over and already off the ground by that point, so he really didn't need the second move to finish the maneuver. After the breakdown, Pak demonstrates a throw that closely resembles Guile's Street Fighter 6 back throw called the "Split Hip Ippon Seoi Nage." Aside from the leg lift, Guile's throw looks to be fairly legit when it comes to real life martial arts moves. And Yet Another Link on this Subject ! Calendar: (Note - several tournaments have been cancelled since the AJA was not renewed by USA Judo) April - 2023 1st Saturday & 2nd Sunday - High School & Collegiate Nationals , San Jose, CA 15th Saturday - Couchigan Memorial Tournament , Las Vegas, NV 16th Sunday - Ryoku's Amarilis Savon Clinic , Las Vegas, NV 16th Sunday - Garden State Open Judo Classic , Wayne NJ 22nd Saturday - Arizona State Championships , Tucson, AZ 29th Saturday & 30th Sunday - Golden State Open , Azusa, CA May - 2023 7th Sunday - CJI State Championships , San Francisco, CA 20th Saturday & 21st Sunday - Senior National Championships , Spokane, WA June - 2023 4th Sunday - Nanka Spring Tournament , Westminster, CA 16th Friday to 18th Sunday - USA Judo Junior Olympics , Shreveport, LA 24th Saturday - Sensei Gary's Birthday Scrimmage , Claremont, CA 25th Sunday - U.S. Adaptive Judo Championships , Riverside, CA July - 2023 7th Friday to 9th Sunday - USJF & USJA Summer Nationals , New York, NY 16th Sunday - CA State Games , San Diego, CA August - 2023 6th Sunday - Nikkei Games Budo Tournament , Cypress, CA September - 2023 17th Sunday - Nevada State Judo Championship , Las Vegas, NV 24th Sunday - Nanka Fall Tournament , Westminster, CA October - 2023 1st Sunday - Capitol Open Judo Championships , Sacramento, CA 22nd Sunday - Fresno Invitational Tournament , Fresno, CA 29th Sunday - Fight for a Cure Women's Tournament & Clinic , Riverside, CA November - 2023 1st Wednesday to 3rd Friday - IJF World Veterans Championships , Abu Dhabi, UAE 5th Sunday - Nanka Team Tournament , Westminster, CA 19th Sunday - Presidents Cup National Championships , Irving, TX December - 2023 8th Friday to 10th Sunday - Nanka Winter Nationals & Clinics , Azusa, CA April - 2024 7th Sunday - Nanka Spring Tournament , Westminster, CA May - 2024 5th Sunday - Nanka West Coast Invitational , Westminster, CA June - 2024 28th Friday to 30th Sunday - USJF & USJA Summer Nationals , Tacoma. WA September - 2024 29th Sunday - Nanka Fall Tournament , Westminster, CA October - 2024 20th Sunday - Nanka Team Tournament , Westminster, CA December - 2024 6th Friday to 8th Sunday - Nanka Winter Nationals & Clinics , Azusa, CA I’m always looking for new subjects to write about regarding judo as well as contributions from my readers. Please send them to gary@garygoltz.com .

To round out my series of blogs on Women’s Judo, this story which appeared recently in MMA Fighting written by Guilherme Cruz . It messed with my head quite a lot: Olympic Judo Champion Rafaela Silva explains why she will never fight MMA! Don’t expect Olympic gold medalist Rafaela Silva to follow the footsteps of fellow judokas Ronda Rousey and Kayla Harrison to MMA. A two-time judo world champion (2013 and 2022) and one-time Olympic champion (2016), Silva flirted with mixed martial arts during her two-year suspension for fenoterol, a substance used to treat asthma. Silva claimed innocence but was forced to stay away from judo for two years between 2019 and 2021. In MMA, she found a way to stay active. MMA is not for me,” Silva said with a laugh on MMA Fighting’s Portuguese-language podcast Trocação Franca. “I can’t. It doesn’t work for me. I got kicked in the face, kicked on the leg, and couldn’t put my foot on the ground for three or four days. It’s very tough.” Silva is close friends with former UFC champion Jose Aldo and Nova União fighters Leonardo Santos , Matheus Nicolau , and Luana Pinheiro . She said that being in the gym to work with MMA athletes has only made her admire fighters more. “It was a very unique experience for me because it’s a whole different fight,” Silva said. “I have a judo background which is totally different for MMA, so it messed with my head quite a lot. I had to adapt a lot of things. It was a very difficult but amazing experience for me, because it came at a moment I couldn’t train judo, so I gave myself the luxury and privilege of training another sport.” The biggest lesson Silva learned during that period of time was that, even as an Olympic champion, she still had a lot to learn about combat sports. “I believe it helped me a lot because I was always asking for help, advice, [and it helped] me in my return to judo,” said Silva, who won her second world title in her first tournament back from suspension . “I’ve trained in several spots and would always try to learn something here, something in wrestling, in the grappling area. I always had difficulties on the ground. “At the same time, there I was trying MMA, bringing all I could to judo. Even after so many years training judo, this period training MMA helped me a lot, it made my spirit stronger as an athlete.” Silva has always admired the likes of Anderson Silva and Aldo, and watched the UFC stars compete live back when the sport became a sensation in Brazil in the early 2010s. But she became a bigger fan after watching and experiencing what they go through in camp. The list of MMA stars include judo phenoms Ronda Rousey and Kayla Harrison, who made the transition to MMA to become superstars and win titles in UFC and PFL, respectively. “I already admired them from the outside,” Silva said, “and knowing what they went through to make such transition — even Kayla, a two-time Olympic champion and world champion, making that transition the best way possible. You just cannot admire athletes like her.” Updates: US Senior Nationals Spokane 2023 Results News Story on Positive Financial Impact to Area Congratulations to Nanka’s medalists! Samantha Garcia (Harbor Judo Dojo -48kg) 🥉 Jenna Schurr (unaffiliated -52kg) 🥇 Joshua Yang (LA Judo club - 60kg) 🥇 Jonathan Yang (LA Judo Club -60kg) 🥈 Jacob Yang (LA Judo Club -66kg) 🥉 Bryan Davis (LA Tenri Judo Dojo -81kg)🥉 Davit Aghasaryan (LA Tenri Judo Dojo 90kg) 🥈 Tokuzo Takahashi (LA Tenri Judo Dojo 100kg🥉 Philip Horiuchi (LA Tenri Judo Dojo +100kg) 🥇 Team USA at the recent 2023 World Championships Here are all the combat styles Keanu Reeves learned for John Wick Bruce Lee vs. Gene LeBell; The Real Story Daria Bilodid on Her Journey Across California Calendar: June – 2023 2nd Friday to 4th Sunday - Texas International Camp, Dallas, TX 4th Sunday - Nanka Spring Tournament , Westminster, CA 16th Friday to 18th Sunday - USA Judo Junior Olympics , Shreveport, LA 25th Sunday - U.S. Adaptive Judo Championships , Riverside, CA July - 2023 16th Sunday - CA State Games , San Diego, CA August - 2023 6th Sunday - Nikkei Games Budo Tournament , Cypress, CA September - 2023 17th Sunday - Nevada State Judo Championship , Las Vegas, NV 24th Sunday - Nanka Fall Tournament , Westminster, CA October - 2023 1st Sunday - Capitol Open Judo Championships , Sacramento, CA 22nd Sunday - Fresno Invitational Tournament , Fresno, CA 29th Sunday - Fight for a Cure Women's Tournament & Clinic , Riverside, CA November - 2023 1st Wednesday to 3rd Friday - IJF World Veterans Championships , Abu Dhabi, UAE 5th Sunday - Nanka Team Tournament , Westminster, CA 19th Sunday - Presidents Cup National Championships , Irving, TX December - 2023 8th Friday to 10th Sunday - Nanka Winter Nationals & Clinics , Azusa, CA April - 2024 7th Sunday - Nanka Spring Tournament , Westminster, CA May - 2024 5th Sunday - Nanka West Coast Invitational , Westminster, CA June - 2024 28th Friday to 30th Sunday - USJF & USJA Summer Nationals , Tacoma. WA September - 2024 29th Sunday - Nanka Fall Tournament , Westminster, CA October - 2024 20th Sunday - Nanka Team Tournament , Westminster, CA December - 2024 6th Friday to 8th Sunday - Nanka Winter Nationals & Clinics , Azusa, CA I’m always looking for new subjects to write about regarding judo as well as contributions from my readers. Please send them to gary@garygoltz.com , thanks.

blackbeltmag.com The Difference Between Judo And Karate Gary Goltz 13–17 minutos For my Black Belt Blog for This week I wanted to share this interesting comparison between judo and karate. As a judoka I like what the author says about the benefits of judo. However knowing how to strike and block is of key importance in self-defense as proven in the UFC and other MMA events. This is why I put my kids in karate too as they were growing up. I wanted them to be prepared for an encounter with Holly Holmes ! By James Franklin If you’re not a martial arts fan, judo and karate may seem similar. Although both sports originated in Japan and have some similar techniques, the two are entirely different. Generally, the main difference is that judo is a soft martial art that entails grappling and throwing techniques, while karate is a complex martial art involving striking. However, that’s not all. This article dives deep into extracting the main differences to help you grasp the differences between the two forms of martial arts. Read on to learn more. The first difference between these sports is their history. The History Of Judo Judo, a Japanese martial art, was initially referred to as Jiu-jitsu and involved throws, locks, and grappling. However, it was later evolved and renamed by Jigoro Kano in 1882 as it had started to fade away. This sport was inspired by ‘ju yoku go o seisu,’ referring to ‘softness controls hardness,’ meaning a weaker individual can defeat a stronger opponent by using the opponent’s force and momentum. Judo was initially meant for entertainment, but in the 20th century, it was termed an Olympic sport. Judo participants are called judokas, while their instructors are called sensei. The judokas must wear a traditional attire called keikogi when performing the sport. Judo has become popular and is taught in many gyms. For example, if you’re looking forward to learning, it’s worth checking out The Arena in San Diego and other similar places. Here you will meet well-trained coaches such as those with the necessary knowledge about the sport. The main objective of judo is to take down the opponent. Therefore, one is declared a winner when the opponent is inactive and on the ground. The History Of Karate Karate is a form of martial art derived from a combination of words, ‘kara’ and ‘te.’ Kara means empty, while te means hand. Therefore, karate means ’empty hand.’ Karate was invented by people who intended to defend themselves in a period when weapons were prohibited. This martial art originated in East Asia in the 17th century but evolved in Japan in the 1920s. It was categorized into four styles: Wado-Ryu, Goju-Ryu, Shotokan, and Shito-Ryu. Unlike judo which entails taking down the opponent to the ground, karate entails kicking and striking the opponent while defensively blocking the opponent’s moves with legs and arms. Body Parts Used Another key difference is evident in the body parts used in these two forms of martial arts . Judokas use their arms and legs to wrestle with their opponent. However, the force and momentum to take down their opponent are mainly generated from the legs, core, and hips. In judo, the legs aren’t primarily used for their strength but for their ability to abruptly distort the opponent’s balance, after which the core and hips help execute the throw to the ground. Karatekas, practitioners of karate, mostly use their limbs. For example, they use the elbow to fists on the arms and knee to feet for the legs. All the parts between these areas are used to strike and punch the opponent. Throws and locks are non-existent in karate. Therefore, karate focuses mainly on the limbs, while judo is a full-body sport. Techniques Judo has two main techniques: nage-waza (throwing techniques) and katame-waza (grappling styles). However, judo’s strength is mainly in its throwing techniques. Judokas aim to unbalance the opponent and throw them on the ground. Judo doesn’t involve striking; that’s why it’s referred to as a soft form of martial arts. Judo’s training and technique emphasize using force, momentum, pivot points, and joint manipulation. Karate, on the other hand, is a striking martial art focusing on stand-up fighting without grappling or throwing. Karate training only entails kicks, punches, and blocks. These techniques make it a more aggressive form of martial arts than judo. The main aim of karate is to defeat the opponent using strikes and punches. Therefore, karate’s technique and training emphasize the strength and flexibility of the limbs. Self-Defense Judo is a defensive martial art in nature, meaning when a fight breaks on the street, a judoka has the upper hand regarding self-defense. This is because many street fights are close-range and mainly end on the ground, which is judo’s technique. Additionally, judoka can control the opponent and the fight’s direction, making judo greater for self-defense than karate. This is why judo training is taught to law enforcement individuals in many countries. However, judo doesn’t perform well in the case of multiple attackers since it can be disastrous to be on the ground against multiple opponents. Karate is mainly designed for attacking. When karatekas are given ample space, they can unleash quick strikes and punches, gaining an advantage over the opponent. But, when an attacker closes down the distance, a karateka is disadvantaged. However, in the case of multiple attackers, a karateka can finish off two or three opponents before they close in, which is impossible for a judoka. Focus As stated, judo is a defensive form of martial arts. Judo assumes the opponent is about to attack and focuses on countering the attack without sustaining any damage. Therefore, a judoka aims to be firmly planted on the ground to hold and throw the opponent. Once the opponent is on the floor, the judoka finds a superior position to control the opponent to submission. Comparatively, karate is an aggressive form of martial arts that focuses on damaging the opponent before the opponent can strike back. This means the body has to be firmly planted on the ground while the other limbs attack the opponent. Benefits Of Learning Judo Judo isn’t just a sport; it teaches judokas a way of living and has mental and physical benefits. Here are some of the benefits of learning judo: Advantages Of Learning Judo It helps grow strength and flexibility. It improves concentration and coordination. It boosts self-esteem and confidence. It improves overall physical fitness. It helps one master self-defense. Lastly, judo strongly emphasizes discipline, respect, and humility. One must treat opponents and instructors with respect and maintain a high standard of conduct on and off the mat. Here are some benefits of learning karate It tones the body and builds stamina. It improves mental health. It boosts aggression and energy levels. It boosts reaction time and alertness. Conclusion Judo and karate are fascinating martial arts with a long and rich history. Learning judo and or karate are both excellent ways to improve your physical fitness, mental well-being, and overall quality of life. While they may share some similarities, they are ultimately quite different in terms of technique, philosophy, and approach. Whether you’re interested in the throws and submissions of judo or the strikes and kicks of karate, both offer a great way to improve your physical fitness, discipline, and self-defense skills. Updates: Speaking of Karate – RIP Fumio Demura, Sensei pictured below Ken Teshima and me back in 2017. IJF Declares Inal Tasoev Heavyweight World Champion as well, 6-9-23 JudoInside.com - Hans van Essen / judo news, results and photos During the final between Teddy Riner (FRA) and Inal Tasoev (AIN), there was one situation where neither the referee on the mat nor the IJF Refereeing Commission gave any score. Following a thorough expert analysis, according to the current refereeing rules, a score could have been awarded for Inal Tasoev’s counterattack. Therefore, the International Judo Federation declares both athletes as the winners of the contest and award a gold medal and the corresponding ranking points to Inal Tasoev. GG Comment – To me this seems like a big cop out. If they made a mistake the IJF should’ve just fixed it! 81-Year-Old Advocate - European Judo Union Veterans Championships – by Szandra Szogedi Valentins AZAROVS lives and trains in Riga, Latvia, precisely at Satori Judo Club. The veteran judoka competed today at the M9 -73kg category and finished 7th place. Although his age would put him into the M11 age group, due to lower entries around his age, he was merged with the younger group, nothing that would have set him or his passion away from the tatami. Born in 1942, makes Azarovs the eldest competitor at the European Judo Championships Veterans 2023. The 81-year-old judoka first trial himself on the judo mat at the age of 14… and never looked back. It was not until the age of 68 that he actually entered his first judo tournament, specifically the Veteran World Championships. Diving into deep water paid off for the Latvian veteran as he won his first medal and world title simultaneously. That event remains my best memory of judo. I was shocked that I was able to win. I am regularly attending at these events since. I really enjoy competing, I love the whole process of preparation for a tournament and competing with friends. I know almost everyone around me, and I enjoy the atmosphere at these events. Azarovs trains approximately 1,5hrs per day, mixed with judo and other fitness trainings. Whilst he is keeping rather fit for his age, former sambo player and acrobat, is solely dedicating his sporting passion to judo. During his active work life regime, Azarovs was an engineering constructor. He has retired from the working world for quiet sometimes but has no plans leaving the mat just yet. I am a retired man with a lot of free time. I don’t feel the same nor do I see my life without judo. I want to motivate younger people too to continue with judo. I won 3 European gold medal and 4 world titles at the veterans and even if I am not on the podium, I still feel like a winner. Attention Judo Veterans - Register Now for the Veterans Judo Open - Myrtle Beach August 26th, 2023 . For more information go to, www.VeteransJudoUSA.com Competing in judo tournaments can offer additional benefits for Veterans Judo Players. Here are some benefits of competing in judo. 1. Challenge Yourself Competing in judo can be a way to challenge yourself physically and mentally. It requires dedication and hard work to prepare for tournaments, which can help you push yourself beyond your limits. 2. Keep Active Competing in judo tournaments can help older athletes stay active and engaged with their sport. It can motivate them to continue training and improving their technique, which can lead to a greater sense of satisfaction with their athletic performance. 3. Build Confidence Competing in judo tournaments can help Veteran Players build confidence. . Winning matches or achieving personal bests can give athletes a sense of accomplishment and pride, leading to increased self-confidence. 4. Meet Like-Minded People Tournaments offer the opportunity to meet like-minded people who share a passion for judo. Competing can help build camaraderie and friendships with other athletes. 5. Improve Technique Competing allows athletes to test their technique against other opponents and work on improving their skills. This can help them refine their technique and strategy, leading to better performance in future tournaments. In Conclusion competing in judo tournaments can be an excellent way for Veterans Judo Players to challenge themselves, stay active, build confidence, meet new people, and improve their technique. It can be a rewarding experience that can enhance your overall health and well-being, both physically and mentally. See you on the tatami! Sensei Ray Marquez, Jr. Calendar: June - 2023 16th Friday to 18th Sunday - USA Judo Junior Olympics , Shreveport, LA 25th Sunday - U.S. Adaptive Judo Championships , Riverside, CA July - 2023 16th Sunday - CA State Games , San Diego, CA August - 2023 5th Saturday - Beginner & Intermediate Tournament , Las Vegas, NV 6th Sunday - Nikkei Games Budo Tournament , Cypress, CA September - 2023 17th Sunday - Nevada State Judo Championship , Las Vegas, NV 24th Sunday - Nanka Fall Tournament , Westminster, CA October - 2023 1st Sunday - Capitol Open Judo Championships , Sacramento, CA 22nd Sunday - Fresno Invitational Tournament , Fresno, CA 29th Sunday - Fight for a Cure Women's Tournament & Clinic , Riverside, CA 29th Sunday - Hanabi Halloween Classic , Albany, CA November - 2023 1st Wednesday to 3rd Friday - IJF World Veterans Championships , Abu Dhabi, UAE 5th Sunday - Nanka Team Tournament , Westminster, CA 19th Sunday - Presidents Cup National Championships , Irving, TX December - 2023 8th Friday to 10th Sunday - Nanka Winter Nationals & Clinics , Azusa, CA April - 2024 7th Sunday - Nanka Spring Tournament , Westminster, CA May - 2024 5th Sunday - Nanka West Coast Invitational , Westminster, CA June - 2024 28th Friday to 30th Sunday - USJF & USJA Summer Nationals , Tacoma. WA September - 2024 29th Sunday - Nanka Fall Tournament , Westminster, CA October - 2024 20th Sunday - Nanka Team Tournament , Westminster, CA December - 2024 6th Friday to 8th Sunday - Nanka Winter Nationals & Clinics , Azusa, CA I’m always looking for new subjects to write about regarding judo as well as contributions from my readers. Please send them to gary@garygoltz.com , thanks

So, for my blog this week I share this article by Tayeba Hussein. First is a photo journey of one of my high functioning autistic students who participated in this terrific event, hosted by Riverside Youth Judo Club . Children with ASD learn self-defense skills at the Family Judo for Autism program Kids with autism spectrum disorder have the opportunity to participate in judo classes with their family every Saturday at the College of Health Professions and Sciences Rehabilitation Innovation Center. Children who are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder fill the halls of the CHPS Rehabilitation Innovation Center and put on their judo gis in anticipation of throwing around a fifth-degree black belt judo master every Saturday afternoon. Once a week for 45 minutes, kids ages seven and up have the opportunity to participate in a 16-week martial arts class that teaches them basic self-defense techniques. Dr. Jeanette Garcia, director and primary investigator of the program, said the Family Judo for Autism program is intended to impact and benefit children with autism in a variety of ways, including improving their sleep patterns and social interaction skills. Judith Samuels, autism disorder specialist and program manager, worked alongside Garcia to establish the judo program. Samuels said much of her inspiration to develop a program like this was thanks to her own son, who is diagnosed with ASD. “When my son was diagnosed, there were really no services, no support whatsoever, so I dove in head first, went back, changed degrees, schooling, everything, and ended up working in the field as an autism professional,” Samuels said. “Because there was so limited resources, one of my main things was to increase and build those resources in our communities.” Samuels said the UCF Center for Autism and Related Disabilities is a state-funded program through the legislature, and there are seven of these centers in the state of Florida. She said at UCF, the center currently services over 19,000 individuals. Samuels said the UCF Center for Autism and Related Disabilities develops programs, like the judo program, for constituents within seven counties in Orlando and the surrounding areas. She said these counties include Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Sumter, Lake, Brevard and Volusia. Samuels said beyond behavioral matters, early intervention is important for individuals with autism because many children have to start taking medications that often cause weight gain. “They start gaining weight, start becoming obese in younger ages, and then in adult ages are obese, and of course, at that time, it’s hard to change eating habits or exercise habits. Most of them have sedentary lifestyles because they don’t have friends,” Samuels said. However, Samuels said athletic programs designed for people with ASD made it easier for autistic kids to be social and make friends. She said many parents never thought that such progress would be possible for their children. “We did see a decrease in certain behaviors, better communication skills, and most importantly, they felt that they belonged,” Samuels said. Garcia said the College of Health Professions and Sciences has been working on various trials of this program in collaboration with the UCF Center for Autism and Related Disabilities. She said the first trial took place in the summer of 2018 as a small 8-week program with children only. Garcia said this initial trial served as a “feasibility study” that would allow her team to gain an understanding of whether judo worked effectively for autistic kids and to see if they even enjoyed doing it. “To me, it’s really important that the kids like it,” Garcia said. “If they don’t like it, it’s kind of pointless.” From just the first trial of the judo program, Garcia said her team could already see a substantial impact on participants by measuring and evaluating the change in certain behaviors. “We use accelerometers, kind of like Fitbits, to measure their physical activity. We also look at their sleep during these studies because kids with autism, almost 90% of them have poor sleep, and judo, which is a mind-body activity, is supposed to improve sleep outcomes,” Garcia said. Additionally, Garcia said her team utilized parent interviews to gauge an idea of how judo was benefiting the kids’ home life. “According to the parents, the kids talked more to each other, they talked more to the parents, they were more confident and they really enjoyed the program,” Garcia said. Garcia said CHPS Rehabilitation Innovation Center ran the program a second time in the summer of 2019 and again in the spring of 2020, but halfway through that spring, the program had to transition into a virtual setting over Zoom due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She said the remote version of the program had strengths and limitations regarding how kids were impacted. “It was not as good because there were no partners, and they couldn’t do it with someone, but some kids who have more social anxiety actually preferred the remote-based judo, and they were less scared of getting hurt,” Garcia said. Garcia said she wanted kids to continue participating in the program once they were able to return to an in-person setting, which meant they would need to somehow make it more habitual for the kids, which led them to consider making it into a family program. “Research shows that if parents do stuff with the kids, they’re more likely to continue doing it since they’re doing it as a family,” Garcia said. In the spring of 2022, Garcia said her research team conducted another feasibility study to see how involved parents would be in the program and how parent involvement would impact their children on the spectrum. She said there were two sessions once a week for 15 weeks, one being child-only and the other including family. Children with ASD learn self-defense skills at the Family Judo for Autism program Kids with autism of ages seven and up learn judo alongside their families at the Family Judo for Autism program in the College of Health Professions and Sciences Rehabilitation Innovation Center. Tayeba Hussein “Attendance was a lot higher in the family program because they saw it as a priority, a family activity,” Garcia said. “With the child- only class, they might miss it more often because of a family obligation, but in the family class, the judo was a family obligation, so they didn’t miss.” Garcia said the benefits of a family program were much greater than that of the child-only program because parents are familiar with the behaviors of their children, so they are able to more intimately help and correct their child’s techniques. She said that parents were also happy to be given the opportunity to bond with their kids, both in class and at home, where they could practice the skills they learned. After seeing how pleased participants were with the family program last spring, Garcia said her team discarded the child-only session for this spring semester and made the program entirely a family program. In the first few years the program took place, there was much less funding going towards the initiative. Garcia said the program received a $7,500 grant from the Morgridge International Reading Center and the Toni Jennings Exceptional Education Institute for the first few trials of the program. However, she said last year the program received a donation of about $90,000 from the Fraternal Order of Eagles. Garcia said this money is put towards paying the program’s judo instructors, providing snacks and refreshments for the families and purchasing real judo gis, in addition to offering the class for free to its participants. Garcia said the program’s team is currently applying for even larger grants in hopes of making the program year-round. Garcia and her team said it was important to purchase judo gis for the children, the traditional uniform worn in judo training and competitions. She said the uniforms have been very beneficial in seeing improvements in the kids. “The kids love the gis. Some of the children have sensitivity issues, and they don’t want to be touched, but when they’re wearing the judo gis, they’re okay with it,” Garcia said. Garcia said different elements of the program are still changing from year to year because it is important that the program is conducted in a way that most effectively benefits the children. In addition to studying the changes and outcomes, Garcia said her team interviews the families to gather their perspectives on how the program went. “We adjust things based on what the families think. If they have issues with something and they make suggestions, we take it very seriously. We’ll adjust the program based on their input,” Garcia said. Garcia said the program has already impacted the lives of its child participants in ways beyond what they could have imagined. “Parents will tell me stories about how their kids were bullied, but then they stood up for themselves because they felt more confident from learning judo. It’s really cool to hear stories like that,” Garcia said. Samuels said one factor of the judo program that has been beneficial to the progress of its participants is the sensei who teaches the class. She said the program has had the same instructor since the very first trial of the program in 2018, which has also helped with consistency among some of the returning participants. “Sasaki is really special. Not everybody can do it. He’s really got the knack for the kids and how to work with them. Sasaki is a total natural with the kids. They’ve got great respect for him, and they admire him,” Samuels said. Sensei Shinjiro Sasaki is a fifth-degree black belt in judo and is the owner of the Sasaki Judo school in Casselberry. Sasaki said he has been teaching judo since he immigrated to the United States 12 years ago, and his whole life revolved around the art of judo. Sasaki said he has never had a job besides judo and that he grew up in Japan with only the sport. He said that judo is the only thing he can give to others. Sasaki said he moved to the United States in hopes of restarting his life and that he wanted to go to the farthest place from Japan as possible, even if that meant changing his language. For this reason, he came to Florida. Sasaki said he first started taking English classes but saw no progress. He then began attending judo practices at an American martial arts school, which he said had the greatest impact on his English skills. After this, he was able to begin teaching judo himself. Sasaki said he has seen great improvements in the children in the program. He said during the first few classes, he would have to coax the kids out of the hallway and onto the mats, but now they will wait for him on the mats in anticipation of starting class. Sasaki said there has been only one challenge in teaching children on the spectrum. “The difficulty is communication. Not technique but communication. If you communicate (with) each student, you get close to them, and they’ll watch and check their habit, and then you can teach techniques,” Sasaki said. “My style is that I teach techniques to everyone in front of them, but after that, I watch each student. That’s the key.” Sasaki said the addition of family has allowed greater improvements in the confidence of the children. “This program is good because the parents help their kids. Kids, they are afraid. Once they get scared, they cannot do anything. Just having parents helps a lot,” Sasaki said. Working alongside Sasaki at the Family Judo for Autism program is black belt Izaya Farrar, who the children call Sensei Izaya. Farrar said he learned about judo several years ago when he temporarily attended UCF and joined the university’s Judo Club. He said Sasaki was the instructor at that time, and this is how the two came to work together. “I had no idea what judo was. I went to UCF, and I was looking at the list of clubs, and I saw the judo club. I took a class, and now seven years later, I have a black belt,” Farrar said. Farrar said when Sasaki first came to him and requested his assistance in teaching the program last spring, he was unsure of what to expect. However, he said he was shocked by the end results. “I’m always super impressed by the progress that is made. The progress they make from day one to the end is crazy,” Farrar said. “To see these kids go from being scared and not wanting to grab anyone to wanting to fight me and throw me down as hard as they can is really impressive.” Farrar said he is the “dummy” that the children work with to practice skills that require body contact after they’ve learned the basics. “First, they learn techniques without a person, like footwork. Then they throw me, everybody throws me. Then they get to the part where they’re actually sparring and fighting, they’re fighting me.” Farrar said. “Every time I get to class, they’re like, ‘I want to throw you. Izaya, can I throw you? Can I throw you?’ And then, by the end of class, I’m drenched in sweat because everyone was throwing me. It’s a really cool feeling.” Like Sasaki, Farrar also said one roadblock he has encountered while teaching children with autism is that they will sometimes “shut down," but because they have family members there to act as a support system, the children are able to overcome the obstacle throughout the course of the program. “I’ve seen one of the kids, his name is Isaac, he felt like if there were too many eyes on him, he would shut down and not want to do anything. Now he looks at me and just wants to throw me all the time now. I can see how he’s gotten comfortable,” Farrar said. Isaac Levine, who is 12 years old, is participating in his second year in the UCF Center for Autism and Related Disabilities family judo program. His father, Jason Evans, said he is happy to see how the program is benefiting Isaac and their family. “He loves it, and it gives him something challenging that he enjoys doing, and I can get him off the video games pretty quickly,” Evans said. “He had tried martial arts before, and he hadn’t had a lot of success, but he’s a lot better. It’s been great.” Evans is not the only parent who is pleased with the program. Cindy McElhinney, the mother of 20-year-old Katryna McElhinney, said the impact that the Family Judo for Autism program has made on her daughter is “incredible.” “She’s very shy, but I’ll tell you, UCF CARD has opened her up a lot socially. She would play on her phone a lot, and doing activities with CARD has helped her come out of that. She likes to talk to people and meet people, which she had trouble doing because she’s so shy,” McElhinney said. McElhinney said she had learned about the UCF Center for Autism and Related Disabilities early in her daughter’s life and has been involved with the center for many years. She said she likes to take advantage of a lot of the programs that they have to offer. “I highly recommend them,” McElhinney said about the UCF Center for Autism and Related Disabilities. McElhinney said that her family heard about the judo program through a newsletter virtually sent out by the UCF Center for Autism and Related Disabilities every month. She said her daughter has been participating in the judo program since 2019 and hopes to keep participating in future years. “She loves it, so much so that she has started taking Japanese online,” McElhinney said. “I think it’s just a fantastic program. I hope they continue it.” Updates: Watch - Running Judo Tournaments - Interview with Ramon Hernandez on the Shintaro Higashi Show Calendar: July - 2023 16th Sunday - CA State Games , San Diego, CA August - 2023 5th Saturday - Beginner & Intermediate Tournament, Las Vegas, NV 6th Sunday - Nikkei Games Budo Tournament , Cypress, CA 23rd Saturday - Veterans Judo Open , Myrtle Beach, SC September - 2023 17th Sunday - Nevada State Judo Championship , Las Vegas, NV 24th Sunday - Nanka Fall Tournament , Westminster, CA October - 2023 1st Sunday - Capitol Open Judo Championships , Sacramento, CA 22nd Sunday - Fresno Invitational Tournament , Fresno, CA 29th Sunday - Fight for a Cure Women's Tournament & Clinic , Riverside, CA 29th Sunday - Hanabi Halloween Classic , Albany, CA November - 2023 1st Wednesday to 3rd Friday - IJF World Veterans Championships , Abu Dhabi, UAE 5th Sunday - Nanka Team Tournament , Westminster, CA 19th Sunday - Presidents Cup National Championships , Irving, TX December - 2023 8th Friday to 10th Sunday - Nanka Winter Nationals & Clinics , Azusa, CA April - 2024 7th Sunday - Nanka Spring Tournament , Westminster, CA May - 2024 5th Sunday - Nanka West Coast Invitational , Westminster, CA June - 2024 28th Friday to 30th Sunday - USJF & USJA Summer Nationals , Tacoma. WA September - 2024 29th Sunday - Nanka Fall Tournament , Westminster, CA October - 2024 20th Sunday - Nanka Team Tournament , Westminster, CA December - 2024 6th Friday to 8th Sunday - Nanka Winter Nationals & Clinics , Azusa, CA I’m always looking for new subjects to write about regarding judo as well as contributions from my readers. Please send them to gary@garygoltz.com , thanks. Sensei Gary Goltz being wished a Happy 70th Birthday by his kids judo class 6-26-23 Sensei Gary Goltz started judo at 10 years old. He celebrated his 70th Birthday this past Monday June 26, 2023 at his dojo in Claremont California. His young...