HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976 03-31 Judo is popular event in Maplewood program THE REVIEW Ponce 18_...____._.,_ Wed.,Mooch 31,1976 THE REVIEW
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"It's fun,keeps me in good shape,and chance to do some traveling. "The Otherwise we'd just be wasting our title
gives me something to do,"Maplewood tournaments are held alFover the state sitting home watching TV."
housewife Jackie Langois said recently and country,"17-year-old Don Beguhl,a Although for a long time judo was male-
during a break in the action.It's a cinch black belt holder himself,said.The black dominated, Jackie and the other girls
Jackie wasn't talking about her belt is the highest rating individuals can compete in the tournaments against other
housework.Instead the petite 33/ear-old achieve.Beguhl placed third in last year's females.After three years of judo,Jackie
was discussing her reasons for belonging Junior Olympic Nationals held in Ithaca, has a brown belt,one level below the
to the Maplewood Judo Club,sponsored N.Y. "The tournaments give kids a coveted black belt. While the girls are
by Maplewood Community Services Dept. chance to travel when they wouldn't wholly accepted by the club members,
Jackie and about 30 other male and otherwise get to," Beguhl said. Last they still must put up with occasional
female members,ranging from six-years spring's Maplewood tournament, span teasing from male schoolmates or
old on up,meet once a week at John Glenn sored by the club,drew competitors from husbands.
junior high to learn the sport of judo.For as far away as Iowa. "The guys really hassle ya,"17-year.
two hours black belt holder Dick Hoffman As club members,individuals are also old Gale Lar...f'eld of North high school
teaches members different holds and welcome to work out and receive in- said."But the girls think it's really neat."
throws that will enable his students to straction from the many other clubs in the As for Jackie,her husband says that
compete in judo tournaments across the surrounding areas.So the members are now he isn't afraid to take her any place.
state,as well as simply defend them- not only busy,but also are in contact with "He says I can always fight my way out."
setvea.Unlike other disciplines,judo is others that have similar interests. "We Further information on the club can be
taught only as a means of self-defense.In get to meet a lot of kids,"Green said. obtained by contacting Hoffman at 159-
fact,
5&fact,many originally take up the sport "The club gives us something to its. 4219.
solely for this reason.
"I think a lot of kids want to learn to "v'°`'a'" 'ise' F"" '
handle themselves better,"Hoffman said.
"Maybe someone picks on them in school,
or something like that.Judo helps develop 4 '-:,v
self-confidence and can help them to at
least defend themselves if they run into '
trouble"
Hoffman,a 1971 AAU judo champion, ‘i„4.
organizes as well as instructs the clubtr
members,as he has for the past eight a - ii
years.This gives him a chance to stay fit 1
Mille volunteering his free time to teach
others.The club's dues,325 for the year or
$10 for 10 lessons,pays for the cost of Y •
equipment.He tries to give special rates
if more than one family member joins, - ..
saying he doesn't want money to restrict
anyone from learning judo. Hoffman
often throws a year-end picnic for the
members with any money left over.
i.
"I learned my judo here at John t b . +4 i.
Glenn,"Hoffman said,"and somehow got p { .T .
roped into teaching it."Actually Hoffman _
has almost as much fun at the classes as . i$ r
fpl
the other members,including his three •r ''
F+T'
sons who would like nothing better than to ...ie..'
toss old dad to the floor.They don't often
succeed—yet. '
�
Most of the club's half dozen females •- •
admit the self-defense aspect initially .:+.
attracted them to the sport.Most were a
little apprehensive at first.However they !
now mix it up with the male members
without hesitation,and the boys admit the
girls are"pretty tough."
"You learn it's all leverage,"Jackie
said."It's not brute force.You can throw IfY.
someone twice your own weight."While ..
the members slam each other to the mats,
all have learned how to fall,and the in-
juries are rare.
Although many members may have
taken up judo for self-defense reasons, ..
most now say the activity is just plain fun.
"You start doing it,"Jackie said,"and THE MAPLEWOOD JUDO CLUB meets at John Glenn Junior high and includes
then figure,'Heck,I'll stay the rest of the members of all ages.
year.'You keep at it,go to tournaments
and just have lots of fun."The members
give Hoffman a lot of the credit for the
success of the club."Dick really makes
the class a lot of fun,"Jean Wennes,16,
said.
Part of the fun is the chance for
members to compete in tournaments
usually held by ether clubs.Individuals
compete in different weight classes for
ribbons and trophies.In fact,there is no
question why sonic of the boys work so
hard tossing and flipping other members.
"They're having three-foot trophic;at the
Aquatennial tnurn::meet this year,"
Hoffman's son Mark said.The Goys aee
quick to point nut the number of trophies
they had won since taking up the sport.
Although Tom l;reer,of St.Paul Pais had
only been practicing judo for four months,
he already has three ribbons for his of
fors.
The tournaments ah,o give mamiwea a