USJA Coach - Judo Information Site

USJACOACHa a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a aPROFILE OF A JUDO LEADERRonald C. Thomson, Nidan, Head Coach,Jackson YMCA Judo Club, Jackson, TNRon began Judo training in the U. S. AirForce by joining the Armed Forces JudoAssociation (AFJA) while stationed atChateauroux Air Station in France. HisJudo instructor was George A. Edmonds,who conducted training with a group of l0or 12 members. Ron competed in twoUnited States Armed Forces Europe(USAFE) tournaments, as well as severalother smaller tournament throughoutEurope. Due to his dedication andparticipation in Judo during his tour inEurope, he was promoted to the rank ofSankyu in 1965.He was reassigned to McClellan AFB nearSacramento. CA. where he continued inJudo with Barnes Sensei and a smallgroupconsisting ofone other brown belt and threewhite belts. After six months of training,Barnes Sensei arranged for the McClellanAFB Judo Club to work out regularly withthe San Juan Judo Club in Sacrantento.During Ron's stay in Sacramento, hecompeted throughout Northern California,and assisted the San Juan Judo Club bybeing an active participant in a special Judoexhibition with the touring All Japan Hi-thSchool Judo Champions.Ron then took a year off fiom Judo as hewas assigned to duty in Vietnam andThailand. Upon his retum to the U.S.. hewas assigned to Offutt AFB near On.raha,NE, where he resumed his participation andcompetition in Judo for the next four ycars.ln 1972, the Air Force then sent him toFairbanks, AK, where, at that time, Judowas non-existent.In 1996, Ron met Sensei Frank Hurtado,and assisted him in the formation of theHenderson Judo Club in Henderson, TN.Ron was validated to the rank of Shodan in1998. He attended Tomadachi Judo Campin 1999 and was certified in Nage No Kata,Katame No Kata, and received a Level Onecoaching certification. He was promoted toNidan in October 1999. When theHenderson Judo Club folded, Rontransferred his membership to theClarkesville Judo Club under Ryan Senseiand Hurtado Sensei. He attended the All-Carolina Judo Camp in Charleston, SC inJune of last year. After returning to Jackson,TN, and with the help of Hurtado Sensei,Ron opened the Jackson YMCAJUdo Clubas Head Coach, and currently has registered28 members. As of the end of 1999, hisgroup had entered three toumaments andbrought home three Bronze Medals.Ron says"my long-range goals are to openat least two more Judo clubs in the localarea, and eventually introduce Judo as anintramural sport in middle and high schoolsin at least Western Tennessee."a a a a a a a aFOR THEYOUNGERSETMore dojo games for children. Needlessto say, a Coach must always be presenland olert when these garrres are played,so that no child is hurt.CATCH THE HORSE: At onc cnd ol'thcnrat - "horscs" otr hands and knccs: thc"catchcr-cowboys"are standing sontcdistance in liont ol'thcrn. On "Hajimc". thchorsestart crawling to thc othcr end ol'thcmat, and the cowboys must stop thcnr.Teaches: Ne-Waza techniqucs - stopping aplayer frorn moving; turning thcm over topreventhem from using their lcgs to gctaway.SAFETY TIP: Teach a roll-overwhere you hook one leg and rollsideways to get the opponent on theirback between your legs. It has beennoticed (especially with adults' infact), that people tend to throwthemselves at their opponents, androll. See that your students catch theopponent, hook the legs in (to stopthem crawling) and THEN roll. Thisprevents injuries.INNER TUBETAGHere, the standard game of tag is playcd,but instead of an opponcnt being touchedby a hand, a bicycle inner tube must beplaced over their head and shoulders.Obviously a good warm-up activity, butskills are developed in agility (runningaround to avoid being caught), andbreakfalls. The breakfalling comes once thetube is over an opponent's head andshoulders and it is relatively easy to guidethem forward into a roll. The elasticity ofthe inner tube prevents too much forcebeing applied.