What Judo Means To Me

By WATARU SAWA

Judo means 'gentle way'. When we study judo we don't just learn how to throw people we also learn discipline of the heart and body. Through our training people who study judo become kind and polite.

Jigorou Kanou started judo in Japan. In 1882 Kanou opened his first judo school in Tokyo. He was a judo master and educator. It soon became very popular and judo grew into a Japanese national sport. Do you know Ryouko Tani? She is a Japanese judo Olympic champion. My favorite judo master is Tadahiro Nomura. I like him because we're in the same weight class and we're the same height. I want to challenge him.

I started learning judo when I was ten years old. My father, who has a black belt, used to teach me judo in the park because the grass was soft. When I went to junior high school I joined judo club. We practised hard every day. We were a strong team and we won many tournaments.

In my first year at NIHS, we didn't have a judo club. But when Hayashi-sensei joined our school last year he started teaching judo. I joined the club. I like judo very much because it's fun and it keeps me healthy. My dream is to become a pastor but before I can go to Bible college I must work for a few years in a regular job. I'll become a security guard and I think my judo skills will help me.