Submitted to ‘Amateur Sports News’ March 2009 edition
Submitted to ‘Amateur Sports News’ Mar 2009 edition, by Sensei Gord
Judo – The Gentle Way
A martial art, an Olympic sport, a means of self defense …. A way of life!
Nestled in the heart of the Ottawa Valley is the small community of Almonte, home of the inventor of basketball, Dr. James Naismith. While basketball thrives in the community, it is somewhat ironic that Almonte is better known for producing dominant football teams, prominent track athletes, an Olympic trampolinist, and we are also home to the former North American belly flop champion!
The community of Almonte and surrounding towns and villages today form the amalgamated town of ‘Mississippi Mills’, a vibrant arts-based community in the heart of Lanark County. The martial art of judo has a long tradition in the town, dating back to 1968. The Almonte Judo Club does not take success or longevity for granted, and continues to enhance and modernize the facilities, resources and programs offered.
The current 08-09 season is well underway, and it has been a busy one. For the past four years the Club has added Sunday morning workouts to the winter, spring and summer curriculum making judo one of the few sports practiced year round.
This past summer Sensei Gord MacDonald attended a fundraising BBQ and send-off for Beijing bound judo athlete Nicholas Tritton of Perth, Ontario. While Perth is a community not much larger than Almonte, it was capably represented at the 2008 summer Olympics by no fewer than four athletes competing in equestrian, track, swimming and judo. The 24 year old Tritton developed his early judo skills while training and competing throughout the Ottawa Valley. Nicholas has never forgotten his roots, and for this reason the Almonte Judo Club was more than happy to provide major sponsorship for his journey to Beijing. Unfortunately Nicholas was unable to secure a medal but still made Canada, his hometown, and his sponsors proud. No doubt this same level of support will prevail as he continues his path to the podium in London in the year 2012.
After a summer of training, and cheering on Canadian athletes at the Olympics, the Almonte Judo Club resumed full operations in September 2009. Each year the community hosts ‘Mississippi Mills at a Glance’ where each organization has the opportunity to promote itself. Once again the Almonte Judo Club was front and centre, capturing a large and attentive audience throughout a two hour live demonstration.
As a gesture of appreciation for our support, Nicholas Tritton paid a visit to our Club in October just weeks after his first Olympic experience. Nicholas and his girlfriend Tomoko Mori became instant celebrities with club members and they were thrilled to participate in games and competitions with a ‘hometown hero’. Nicholas stayed afterward to provide photo opportunities, sign autographs, and simply talk about the sport he loves so dearly. Sometime after 10:00 PM he and Tomoko departed for Montreal where they would take part in critical team training at 8:00 AM the next morning! True dedication.
The Fall session continued along with several competitions held throughout the province and locally. Club members attended the annual Shinbukan tournament in Toronto, followed by the ‘Hatashita International’ two day competition held at the Hershey Centre in Toronto (which included several world champions and Olympic athletes), and a novice tournament in the village of Munster, Ontario where five Almonte athletes brought home a total of six medals. All this hard work led into the much anticipated Christmas party where a crowd of 100 or more enjoyed food, drink and good times.
After a short Christmas break the Club resumed in early January for training toward winter/spring competitions, and for many, refining judo techniques essential for belt progression. In January and February club members attended tournaments in Guelph, Kingston, and Gatineau, Quebec. Experience at such tournaments develops skill that often cannot be taught in class. To compete in a judo tournament is truly a test of self development as combatants go one on one.
An annual tradition during the March Break is to ‘Bring a Friend’ to the judo class held during that week. This year we entertained several friends of club members, and they entertained us as well! Students were challenged to teach their friend a judo technique in a rather short time period, then have the friend demonstrate in front of the entire class. Based on the calibre of demonstrations there is no doubt future judokas out there, not to mention future instructors from within.
With all that fun aside, club members are now focused on preparations for their grading, a rite of spring. The annual banquet held in late April will reveal who has met the tough challenges of judo and will therefore advance in belt level. The same banquet allows members a chance to show parents and friends how far they have come in the sport through live demonstrations.
As far as club structure, the Almonte Judo Club is built around two classes, one for students aged 5-13, and the second for participants aged 14 and older. Males and females participate equally, and current membership is split evenly between genders. The younger class is focused on judo fundamentals and introduces safe falling techniques, throws, hold downs, competition rules, and judo theory. Games, exercises, and drills relevant to developing a strong mind and body are also incorporated in each class. The latter class builds on these fundamentals, and also offers advanced grappling techniques, arm locks and choke submissions. Kata development (pre-determined demonstration of techniques by two partners) is another component of the ‘Senior Class’ whereby students accumulate knowledge and a new found respect for the underlying fundamentals of the sport.
The Almonte Judo Club enjoys a large, modern, fully furnished and air conditioned facility equipped with Olympic calibre mats. Parents and friends are encouraged to view each class from a comfortable seating area surrounding the mat surface. Head Instructor (Sensei) Gord MacDonald is ably assisted by several senior students, some who have gained complementary training in other martial arts such as karate and jiu-jitsu. Sensei Gord is also a certified coach, provincial referee, club manager, and long standing member of the East Region Judo Ontario Executive.
The Almonte Judo Club promotes an environment which instils ‘Discipline, Confidence, Fitness and Fairness’. The Club applauds students who excel in these areas, as well as attendance, competition, peer recognition and more. At the end of each judo season an annual banquet is held and each and every member is recognized for their accomplishments, whether a striped (partial) belt promotion, a full belt promotion, certificates of special recognition, or a trophy recipient. It is the membership who makes our club successful year after year, and we put forth a special effort to retain and reward each individual who makes a contribution to the club.
If you are passing touring through the Ottawa Valley, the Almonte Judo Club welcomes you as a visitor. Anyone new to the community itself is most welcome to view our classes, and participate in any number of free sessions. Judo continues to be the most affordable sport (and Federal Tax Credit eligible), and the benefits remain life-long. Judo is truly a ‘way of life’, and those active in the judo community are proud of their involvement and the contributions of all who surround them.
