Our Judo Experience
by John and Hiroko Wilson
My two young boys have been studying Judo with Jerry Lafon and his diverse, experienced coaching staff at San Diego’s Judo America for 2 years now. Starting at ages 4 and 5, their shared experience will be one of their first memories. What they’ve learned here will help shape their future development and grant them a perspective influenced by this special school.
Their earliest lessons were basic and fundamental, but of the highest value. From the beginning, the mental aspects of the sport were integral to the training; don’t quit, always do your best, honor your teachers, understand the idea of respect – and show respect, understand the idea of toughness – and be tough, try not to cry, listen carefully, speak when words are needed, think, and have fun. Importantly, learn when to be serious and when to be silly. Take care of your teammates – take care of your opponents.
As for technical advancement and instruction, the coaching style pushes and supports at the same time. The coaches obviously have a great depth of knowledge, but they teach Judo at a level the kids can respond to. They use a remarkable balance of expectation, humor and disciplined reprimand. The structure of the class itself helps our kids learn. Its approach combines variety within a consistent structure of recognizable units – the physical conditioning section, the instruction section, and the application section. This gives the kids milestones in each class – it gives a rhythm. Our boys learned the basic techniques slowly and at times they got disheartened. The coaches always encouraged them when this happened; they never become impatient or disinterested.
At home, we talk about the importance of these lessons and how they relate to the other learning environments they find themselves in. Judo, in fact, has become part of our family’s language, and why shouldn’t it? The education they receive in the “thinking” sport of Judo is real, and we can measure its benefits outside of Judo class. Our young kids see for themselves that the attitudes they develop during training can be applied elsewhere. Their practical experience with balance, flexibility, strength, and endurance at Judo helps them understand and accept the demands they face elsewhere – even at this early age.
As our boys learn the lessons of Judo, their training regimen helps us learn more about our boys. Attending Judo class with our kids provides a “window” into their world that is difficult to get elsewhere. Parents don’t often go to day school to watch their kids grow and learn. By involving ourselves and attending Judo class, however, we can watch them as they handle success and failure, stress and pain. We can see how they approach problem solving and how they work in a team. Their Judo experience helps them individually and as brothers. Our oldest son has physical handicaps; generally, these are ignored and he’s pushed as hard as anyone else. This attitude by the coaches fosters a relaxed acceptance by the other students that normalizes his shortcomings. I’m proud of our son’s Dojo - they practice the lessons they teach.
As parents, we know Judo can be learned and applied only if the boys commit to the program. Sometimes it’s hard to stay the course; our kids always struggle with the technical requirements – oftentimes other interests or activities conflict with Judo practice in our kid’s busy lives. My responsibility as a parent is to choose a setting for our boys where they are continually exposed to the fundamental lessons discussed above. I believe my responsibility extends to keeping them in programs where such lessons are found – Judo America in our case.
