by Christie Díaz Maldonado (judo mom) – Judo has always been part of our family’s story. My son Leyson carries it in his blood. His grandfather founded judo in Puerto Rico, and his uncles competed at the Olympic level. It’s a legacy that runs through generations, and long before Leyson ever stepped onto a mat, judo was already woven into who he is.
We moved to New York seven years ago, and Leyson started out in karate, then judo, at another academy, but it wasn’t a competitive program. As he grew older, I began to feel the shift every parent of a teenage boy recognizes. He wanted to be out in the streets, searching for stimulation, and the energy of adolescence, the testosterone, the restlessness, was starting to take hold. I knew I needed to find him a place that could match that energy, a rigorous, competitive program that trained as many days a week as possible, so he could channel his growth, his hormones, his age, into discipline instead of distraction. Somewhere that would keep him coming home tired in the best way, building healthy habits instead of chasing the wrong ones. That’s when we found this dojo, a year and a half ago, and it has been nothing short of a blessing.
This academy is everything I was looking for and more. The boys train Monday through Saturday, in a program that is demanding, motivating, and deeply personal. The Senseis don’t just coach athletes, they invest in the whole young person, their private lives, their character, their future. Sensei Saro has become a father figure to my son. Sensei David is like an older brother to him. My son has become part of their family. The bonds Leyson has built here, with his Senseis, his teammates, their children, are some of the most solid and beautiful relationships he has.
I admire these men with my whole heart. Their drive, their dedication, the love they pour into this sport and into every young person who walks through their doors is something rare. Between the training, the camps in Colombia, and the constant travel to compete, this is a community that is extraordinarily organized, active, and committed.
As a mother, this dojo has given me something I don’t take for granted, the feeling that my son is safe. That he is loved, cared for, protected. Since joining, I’ve watched his self-esteem, his confidence, and his growth, mentally, psychologically, physically, emotionally, expand in ways that have touched every part of his life. This is a community oriented toward doing good, toward humility, toward the future, and that orientation has shaped my son far beyond the mat.
Judo teaches self defense and discipline, yes, but it also teaches humility and self-control, lessons that last a lifetime.
For our family, Judo has been a meaningful foundation for helping our teenager build character and become the person he is today.
From the bottom of my heart,
Thank you IJC 🙏🏽
-A happy mom – Christie Díaz Maldonado
