Photo by: Charles Ng

The judo club is currently up and running and looking for students who want to come and try their hand at this martial art.

Judo, developed from jujitsu, emphasizes the use of quick movement and leverage to throw an opponent. It was developed from the fighting system of feudal Japan, judo was founded in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. More than a sport, judo is an art, a discipline, a recreational or social activity, a fitness program, a means of self-defense or combat, and a way of life.

The club wants members, experienced or not.

Andy Cohen, club president, stressed that you do not need to be a pro to join.

“I put emphasis on the ‘no experience required’ bit. We actually have five or six brand new students this quarter who have never done any judo before in their lives,” Cohen said.

There are different practices for beginners and skilled members of the team.

“Most importantly, new students must learn how to fall properly.” Cohen said. “There is a technique to falling that is really important to learn, which limits injury in the future.”

For those with experience, more advanced instruction is available. The instructors are Scott Moore, 1998 World and 2000 Paralympic Champion, and Heidi Moore, 14-time National Champion.

“By the end of the year, we should have three members on the USA Judo National Point Roster,” said Cohen.

Competitions are available on both the national and international level for the more advanced members. Cohen added that experience with other forms of fighting would help in learning judo.

“Anybody who wrestled in high school should come out and try judo. Wrestlers usually make the transition into judo very smoothly,” Cohen said.

Practice times are Monday 7-8:30 p.m., Wednesday 7-8:30 p.m. and Saturday 9:30-11 a.m. in the Ritchie center’s weight room next to the racquetball courts.

The team’s Web site is http://recreation.du.edu/students/clubJudo.asp. Included on the site is a video of Andy Cohen in the National Ladder Tournament last summer in Indianapolis, which demonstrates what judo looks like when performed by talented players. Cohen’s e-mail is acohen@du.edu.