[Sportsandrec] Judo

[Cervenka, Stacy (Brownback)]

Hey, all,
    Last night, Greg and I attended a practice of the Washington Judo
Club at Georgetown University and we both had a really great time! I
know that a few people on this list have considered starting judo at
various times, so I thought I'd share my experiences as a beginner.
    As some of you know, Greg is a Paralympic bronze medalist in judo
and he was looking at different places to train for when he moves out to
the East Coast in August. 
    I, on the other hand, have very little judo experience; I took it
for a year in college at the University of Minnesota. I liked it a lot,
but I never picked it up again after I graduated and moved out to DC to
start working. I've been missing being involved in an organized sport. I
think it's always nice to be learning a new skill and I feel like I've
missed that in my life the past few years. So, I decided to tag along
with Greg and check it out.
    I do have to admit that, though I was excited, I was actually really
nervous about going with Greg last night; I didn't feel like I
remembered much of what I'd learned back in college and I didn't want my
beginner-ness to make Greg look bad in some way. Besides not remembering
much judo, I'm definitely not in the greatest shape of my life. Plus,
obviously Greg has done judo all over the world, whereas I'd only done
it at the U of M, so I didn't know if things would be really different
or what to expect when we got there. I think I was most worried that
they would expect me to do things I just couldn't do or that they'd all
be a bunch of big, tough, macho people who would look down on me as a
beginner; I don't know. 
    Greg had actually met the sensei several times before at various
competitions and had even ridden with him from a competition in
Philadelphia down to DC a few months ago. So, Greg called him and told
him that we were coming and that I was a beginner and the sensei assured
Greg that the club welcomed people of all levels. 
    Anyway, we both had a really great time. The people there were
amazingly friendly and helpful. Greg found lots of black belts to spar
with and got a good challenging workout. Meanwhile, students of all
levels (including a woman from Japan who had taken second in the US
Open) took me aside and showed me the various throws the class was
working on. While the rest of the class was sparring, another black belt
took me to the side to go over break falls, since I hadn't done them in
forever. Seriously, I was even a little surprised by how welcoming and
willing everyone was to work with me and explain things to me. In a
nutshell, even though Greg and I are at totally opposite ends of the
judo spectrum, we were both able to find our niches in the class.
    I look forward to being involved in an organized sport again and
setting small goals for myself. For me, judo will definitely be a
recreational thing; I look forward to getting in better shape, to
meeting new people, and it will be nice to work toward goals that aren't
work-related project deadlines. :-D 
    If anybody in the DC area is interested in tagging along with Greg
or I sometime, just let one of us know. 
 
Stacy Leigh Cervenka
Legislative Assistant
Office of Senator Sam Brownback (KS)
303 Hart Senate Office Building
Phone: (202) 224-6521
Email: stacy_cervenka at brownback.senate.gov
<mailto:stacy_cervenka at brownback.senate.gov>