[blindkid] FW: Wrestling to Judo - An Easy Transition

[Carrie Gilmer]

FYI, y'all

 

 

 

Carrie Gilmer, President

National Organization of Parents of Blind Children

A Division of the National Federation of the Blind

NFB National Center: 410-659-9314

Home Phone: 763-784-8590

carrie.gilmer at gmail.com

www.nfb.org/nopbc

  _____  

From: U.S. Association of Blind Athletes [mailto:etap at usaba.org] 
Sent: Friday, January 23, 2009 12:30 PM
To: Carrie Gilmer
Subject: Wrestling to Judo - An Easy Transition 

 

 

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IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date:  January 23, 2009
Contact: Amanda Fassett, media at usaba.org, 719-630-0422

 

        Wrestling to Judo - An Easy Transition 

 

On January 23, 2009, three members of the United States Association of Blind
Athletes (USABA) National judo program, Scott Moore, Dr. Marc Vink, and Ron
Hawthorne, will provide an instructional presentation, Transitioning from
Wrestling to Judo For Low Vision & Blind Athletes, to wrestlers and coaches
attending the 2009 North Central Association of Schools for the Blind
(NCASB) Conference Wrestling Championships.  Approximately 100 participants
from 11 NCASB conference schools are expected to attend this presentation
being held at the Kansas State School for the Blind.

 

Scott Moore, the first American judo athlete in history to win a Paralympic
gold medal (2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney, Australia), enjoys introducing
blind athletes to the sport of judo and has a wealth of experience working
with judo athletes of all ages and experience levels.  Moore also served as
the assistant coach of the 2008 Paralympic Judo Team that recently competed
in Beijing, China.  

 

Dr. Marc Vink, USABA National Judo Team Leader, has over 40 years of
experience cultivating judo athletes.  He was instrumental in establishing a
successful judo program at the Overbrook School for the Blind in
Philadelphia, Pa.  Vink served as Team Leader for the 2008 Paralympic Games.

 

Accompanying Moore and Vink, is Ron Hawthorne, a Kansas State School for the
Blind alumni, and a standout wrestler while at there.  Hawthorne competed
with the USABA National Judo Team during the 2007 IBSA World Championships
in Sao Paulo, Brazil.  Hawthorne, a rising talent, is a hopeful for the 2012
Paralympic Team.  He is also currently ranked #11 by U.S. Judo in the 55kg
Senior Elite Roster. 

 

USABA is continuously searching for wrestlers who are blind or visually
impaired to transition into judo.  While judo is a Paralympic sport, there
is no Paralympic competition for wrestling.  As an Asian wrestling form,
judo has much in common with freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling.  Many
throwing techniques such as hip tosses, headlocks, underhook doubles,
fireman's carry, ankle-picks and arm throw are directly transferable as
winning judo throws.  The training and match preparedness are so similar
that over half of the United States Paralympic Judo Team members entered the
sport with a wrestling background.  

 

During the presentation, attendees will have the opportunity learn more
about the similarities between wrestling and judo while seeing many
wrestling throwing techniques demonstrated as they apply to judo.  Following
the demonstration, the presenters will entertain questions from the
audience.  They will also meet with those interested on an individual basis
on Saturday during the tournament.

 

This judo demonstration is sponsored by the USABA with support from the
Blind Judo Foundation (www.blindjudofoundation.org
<http://www.blindjudofoundation.org/> ).  For more information on the event,
contact Marc Vink at 609-605-3495.  

 

Since its founding in 1976, USABA, a community-based organization of the
United States Olympic Committee, has reached more than 100,000 blind and
visually impaired individuals. The organization has emerged as more than
just a world-class trainer of blind athletes, it has become a champion of
the abilities of Americans who are legally blind. USABA's Mission: to
enhance the lives of blind and visually impaired people by providing the
opportunity for participation in sports and physical activity.  For more
information, visit our Web site: www.usaba.org <http://www.usaba.org/>