ISU Bengal

Issue date: 11/19/05 Section: Life

Media Credit: Stephanie Oloff David Doran practicing a move while his Judo instructer Nobu Imamaka (blue) looks on.

Media Credit: Stephanie Oloff David Doran (white) practicing a move on his Judo instructer Nobu Imamaka (blue).

With a new semester dawning and registration just around the corner, many students are looking for an exciting and interesting class to take. Look no more, the Judo program has you covered.

A little history behind Judo, it is a martial art meaning "gentle way" in Japanese, adapted in the 1880's from the martial arts form of jujitsu. In Judo, two opponents use balance and leverage to gain advantage over one another.

The judo program has been officially recognized by AISU as an organization since 1967, and has been said to have been around for a few years prior to that. It was first headed by Bill Honjiyo, a PE instructor originally from Hawaii who came to ISU as part of the ROTC program. During the seventies it was run by several individuals, followed by Sami Tadehara, who took over in 1983 and has been head of the program ever since..

The goals of the program are to expose judo not only as physical education, but a total education, in addition to producing high level competitors.

This semester the program has around 60 participants, and on the average has anywhere between 60 and 150 participants per semester.

"Participants in the program range from all levels of physical activity, some come in having no experience with physical activity and others are very accomplished athletes." said Sami Tadehara, head coach of the judo club.

"We are trying to expand the program. I have been working for a long time to get it built up. Unfortunately, in the United States high-quality judo instructors are not available." said Tadehara.

However this is not the story at ISU, visiting staff members Nobuhiro Imanaka, Kei Eguchi, and Jasung Koo are all ranked among the top Judo instructors in the world. All three are very dedicated individuals who have obviously committed their time to becoming world class athletes.

Nobuhiro Imanaka graduated from Tokai University in Tokyo, Japan wit ha Bachelor of Physical Education degree in Judo, a degree that isn't offered in the United States. He recently took second place in his weight class at the 2005 USA Judo National Championships. He also took first place at the International Division 2004 USA Judo Senior National Championships. He currently instructs both beginning and advanced Judo classes at ISU.

Kei Eguchi also graduated from Tokai University with a Bachelor of Physical Education degree in Judo. She has placed in many Judo tournaments worldwide, most recently she was ranked first in her weight category at the US Judo Open Championships held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Here at ISU she instructs beginning and women's Judo.

Both Imanaka and Eguchi were introduced to Tadehara by a coach of theirs at Tokai University, Kenichiro Agemizu, who was also an instructor at ISU. Both decided to take the opportunity to teach at ISU after Agemizu returned to Tokyo.

Jasung Koo, the newest of the three instructors, is from Korea. He has also placed well at national competitions, recently taking 5th place at 2004 USA Judo National Championships.

Throughout the year in terms of national level or ranking tournaments the club sends around 6 athletes to major competitions. November 18, 19 and 20 two competitors from the program, Bob Austin and Clark Geslin are competing Pan American National Championships, in Denver, Colorado.

During the club's most successful year they had five nationally ranked competitors.

As part of the sports science and physical education program which is part of the College of Education, many students from Idaho Falls have taken beginning classes in Pocatello but have trouble commuting to Pocatello to continue taking them. Over the past year the Physical Education department has considered offering classes in Idaho Falls and has finally worked out a schedule extending classes to Idaho Falls campus starting this upcoming spring semester. They will be offering both beginning and advanced classes to those interested at the YMCA.

For those interested on Saturday, November 12th, the Judo club will be hosting their 38th annual tournament at Reed Gym, starting at 10:30 a.m. It would be a great opportunity for anyone to come and see some talented Judo athletes.

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