MARTIAL ARTS FOR BOTH CHILDREN AND ADULTS!
by Nicholas Yurisak“But Mom, I don’t want to.” I sighed as she turned off the latest episode of Pokemon.“You’ll thank me one day. Now get in the car,” she said, as we piled into her green minivan.We drove across town on streets I had never seen to reach a place I had never been. That Thursday evening in the autumn of 1999 forever changed my life—it was the day I
by Cyrus Mozzarri – 10 months ago I took a leap. I jumped into the world of Judo with no possibleway of knowing how far it would take me. What started as a trial class I took on a whim is now often the very thing I look forward to the most in my week. Funny how a sport that routinely sends me flying also keeps me grounded. Maybe it’s
by Toshihiro Oki – IJC Judo Athlete“A chance to try your technique is in one instant never to be regained, so try it without hesitation” – judoka Kyuzo Mifune (born 1883)While this references the practice of judo a century ago, I am often reminded about it in my everyday life. Whether at home or at work, situations regularly arise. Depending on how you look at them, these can be opportunities
by Jonathan Yusupov – Team IJC Judo AthleteTo say that Judo is a way of life would be the understatement. Judo has not only helped me mature physically, but also mentally and emotionally. Coming into the dojo at IJC Martial Arts my first thoughts were, “What can I hope to achieve with the practice of such a demanding martial art? What can I hope to gain, and would this type
by Federico Urraca – IJC Judo Athlete & RefereeMy name is Federico, I’m 29 years old, and my journey with judo started when I was 16. At the time, I was dealing with bullying and the feeling of always being the smallest in my class. Judo became my escape, a place where I could build confidence, strength, and resilience. I trained until I earned my orange belt, but eventually stepped
by Sensei David Gutierrez – Judo InstructorDiscipline and Responsibility: The Foundations of GrowthJudo is not just about throwing and pinning your opponent; it’s about mastering yourself. Discipline and responsibility are two of the most valuable lessons you can take from the dojo into everyday life.Discipline is about consistency—showing up to train, putting in effort even when no one is watching, and striving to improve little by little. It builds strong