Judo Opens Up New Worlds -- Kentwood's Prep Program Offers Journey To Japan

Judo, in Japanese, means "the gentle way."

So it may seem a bit of a contradiction when Kentwood High School Coach George Uchida urges his players to throw their opponents on their backs, "with appreciable force."

In fact, there's no contradiction at all. When, in 1880s Japan, judo was developed as a sport from the martial art of jujitsu, moves that could cause injury were expunged from training. As long as practitioners learn how to fall - the first thing Uchida teaches a novice - judo is, indeed, gentle.

With that harmonious thought, Uchida will take 15 high-school students, including 13 from the greater Seattle area, on a three-week cultural exchange to Japan next week.

The students will stay with fellow high-school students in Gumma and Saitama, northwest of Tokyo, from Tuesday until July 7. They'll attend school classes, work out with the school judo teams, and experience Japanese life.

Making the trip will be Kentwood students Alfred Evans, Josh Fitchett, Steve Greenfield, Matthew Hazard, Eric Makela, Thomas Parke and Ryan Sowards, and Kentridge students Bryan Fukushima, Kory Nishimura, Jeong Rim and Marvin Terada. They'll be joined by Aaron Mattson of Sammamish High School in Bellevue, Benjamin Kneadler of Eastmont in East Wenatchee, and two students from Timberline High School in Pierce, Idaho, Richard Barlo and Cody Imel.

For Uchida, a second-generation Japanese American who grew up in Southern California, these exchanges have become an annual pilgrimage.

"The emphasis is on goodwill, friendship, and developing an understanding between our two countries," he said. "They won't compete in any tournaments; their biggest challenge will be learning to communicate."

In some ways, that emphasis reflects the underlying principle of judo.

"The focus is development of the whole person - body, mind and spirit," Uchida said. "Judo is one of the only sports where the athlete shows that he respects both himself and his opponent."

Uchida says his is oldest high-school judo program in the United States. It was established in 1955 at Kentridge by Dr. George L. Wilson, and moved to Kentwood in 1982 when Wilson - a black belt - became principal of the new Kent school.

Wilson recruited Uchida, then a professor of physical education and head judo coach at California-Berkeley, in 1969. It wasn't hard to persuade him: "College had become too routine," said Uchida, now 65.

Perhaps the most successful graduate of the Kent judo program was Doug Graham, a Kent-Meridian High School alumnus. Graham, who competed in judo for the United States in the 1972 Olympic Games, and is a mathematics teacher at Kentwood and Uchida's assistant coach.

Students from throughout the Kent School District travel to Kentwood for demanding, two-hour afternoon practices during the spring sports season. They compete in a league, then cap their season at the state meet - a tournament Kentwood has a habit of winning. This year was no exception.

Proficient students can join a dojo - a judo club - for year-round tournament competition. But Uchida would rather see his students play football, wrestle, or participate in other prep sports.

"They're here for an education," he said.

Even so, a dedicated judo athlete can progress during four years of high-school competition through the 10 white belt degrees and three brown belt levels to a black belt ranking.

Belts are awarded according to the player's skills and maturity. Success in competition speeds advancement through the lower ranks. An athlete earns points and victories by throwing an opponent forcefully on his back; holding an opponent firmly on the mat for 30 seconds; or applying a submission hold, such as an arm-bar or choke-hold.

Quickness and stability, rather than size and strength, are the keys to success in judo, according to Uchida.

"Weight is not a factor," said Uchida, a small, wiry man. "The smaller person has skills and techniques to apply to the bigger person, and vice versa."

Uchida is still progressing through the ranks. Only a year ago, he was awarded a seventh-degree black belt, a professional honor few receive. He's not far from the ninth- and 10th-degree black belts that designate judo masters.