19 September 2009

Judo at New Mexico Military Institute

It has been a few years since the New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell, NM has had a judo program. As of the 17th of September 2009, that is no longer the case! Brigadier General Richard Geraci made the decision to allow me to teach Judo as a club activity this year. I want to thank General Geraci for this great opportunity and look forward to his continued support!


On to the judo!*


The 17th of September was an overcast day, which makes no difference for judo since we practice inside! After the mat was unrolled, we started with falling. Falling is always a good way to start a class, especially with new students. Starting with back falls we rapidly progressed from squatting to standing and showed our mettle as we ranged through the side and front falls. Only one didn’t do the front falls, but that was due to a shoulder injury.

On we worked! Onto the fundamental hip throw, O Goshi. Old and new cadets alike worked hard to develop the skills necessary to successfully perform this throw. Our first drill was simply learning to turn inside the feet of our partner. Using our shoes to simulate the placement of uke’s feet, we practiced for a time just turning into uke. After a while, we finally were able to develop enough skill to start learning to use our arms, but now we needed a real-live person! Shoes would no longer do for us! So we matched up by size and proceeded to work on O goshi.

The pairing worked well, but for one pair. Of course, when one partner is over six feet tall and the other around five foot nine, it is a little difficult for the taller to work. But prevail they did and soon bodies were flying about! Ukemi, loud in the basketball court, was being done smoothly and with crisp slaps, ensuring the safety of all.

Shortly before we left, Sensei allowed questions to be asked. Today’s question was about the difference between Jujitsu and Judo. Though sensei rambles when he explains things, the explanation was thorough and touched on several key points. The first of these points was which “Jujitsu” were we asking about? Were we thinking of the “roll on the ground fighting for submission” jujitsu or the older samurai jujitsu? Both types of jujitsu were explained in some detail and compared and contrasted with judo as Dr. Kano developed and the current evolved sport version of judo that we see at tournaments.

The next class will be on Tuesday, the 22nd, and I expect that all six, perhaps more, of Thursday’s class will return.
*Readers take note: I will speak not as the instructor but from a fictional student point-of-view when I talk about classes, sometimes. I think it makes the reading more interesting. Let me know!

18 September 2009

The School Year has Begun!

Summer is over and the kids are back at school! Now is the time for all students to start judo! At least that's what I think! We are growing at Roswell Judo Club. Recently we have had an old student return, several high school students join our Adults program, and several elementary students join our After-School Program.

This year I am going to concentrate on growing Roswell Judo Club to twenty students in every class. That's three classes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. We have an After-School class that starts at 3:30pm and runs for an hour; a Youth class that starts at 6:00pm, also running an hour; and an Adult class that starts at 7:00pm and runs for an hour and a half.

The After-School class is going to concentrate on developing the Pillars of Character, outlined by Character Counts! I plan to teach the basic fundamentals of judo in a fun, engaging, and encouraging atmosphere. We'll use games and play to make judo fun and exciting for students. The After-School class is designed for elementary school age children of both sexes. So, if you know any elementary kids who need something fun to do after school, bring them by the Yucca Center on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 3:30!

The Youth class will also concentrate on developing the Pillars of Character, but in a more age-appropriate fashion. In this class the fundamentals will be the foundation, but we will delve deeper into judo and how it can be applied outside the dojo. The atmosphere will be fun and engaging which helps to encourage these middle school students to their full potential. Bring them by at 6:00pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays!

The Adults class is for High School students and older who would like to develop self-defense, athletically, or just get some exercise in during the week. This class will be different from the Youth and After-School classes, but will still be fun and engaging. We will put a strong emphasis on developing technique, self-defense, and character in the Adult class. Come by and pick up some self-defense skills; learn how to throw, choke, or armbar like they do on the UFC; come to learn a traditional martial art; or just come to have fun! Whatever you do, make sure you're here at 7:00pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays!

We'll see you on the mats!

--Loren