Moscoso, judo teammates become fast friends
By ERNIE PALLADINO
By ERNIE PALLADINO
THE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: July 28, 2007)
(Original publication: July 28, 2007)
ARMONK - It didn't take long for Rafael Moscoso to make a positive impression on Charles Partellow.
Partellow was engaged in a grueling overtime period against Long Island's Tommy Broschardt in yesterday's judo match, and the only voice he could hear belonged to a man he had met just 24 hours earlier.
"Do it again, do it again," Moscoso yelled from the bleachers.
Partellow had just tried a move he had learned from the 29-year-old Moscoso during a half-hour practice the day before.
"It didn't work," said Partellow, competing in his first Empire State Games, "but I didn't put myself in any trouble because of it."
Partellow ended up losing his second-round match in the 73-kilogram (161-pound) weight division, but he's grateful for the new friendships he's made as part of the three-person local contingent representing the Hudson Valley in judo.
"I'll tell you, he has more energy than anyone in the building," Partellow said of Moscoso.
That's not news to Mynor Mendez, the third local representative.
Moscoso, a native of Guatemala who left his country seven years ago in a quest to "find myself," actually introduced Mendez to the sport in 2005.
They met at Assumption Church in Peekskill, where Mendez, a fellow Guatemalan who works landscaping, heard from friends that Moscoso was involved in judo. Mendez said he wanted in, and Moscoso told him to come along.
Now, a smiling Mendez calls him "my sensei." He goes regularly to practice sessions Moscoso holds on a 10-square-foot mat in his basement, imparting all he knows to about 10 students from whom he takes not a nickel.
Unfortunately, his main student didn't do too well yesterday. Mendez got thrown quickly in three of his round-robin bouts in the 66 kg (146-pound) group.
"He's still learning," said Moscoso, who sailed through his first three preliminaries in the 60 kg (132-pound) division. "I tell him, you're here right now (holding his hand low). But if you keep working, you'll be up here. This is only his second competition, so he's here just getting experience."
Partellow has been competing on-and-off since the fifth grade. The 25-year-old personal trainer has competed out of the Watanabe Judo and Akido School in Valhalla the past couple of years. But after meeting Moscoso on Thursday, he said he might make a few trips to Peekskill to enhance what he's learning in Valhalla.
"I just met him for the first time (Thursday)," the Mount Kisco resident said. "He's just awesome.
"I'm going to stick with Sensei Watanabe, but I'm probably going to go up to Peekskill a few times to practice with Rafael, too, from now on. Going to different people always helps."
Moscoso, a former teacher in Guatemala who now does construction while awaiting an opportunity to get an American teaching degree in either philosophy or history, relies on the West Point Judo Club for his knowledge. He joined five years ago, and has since participated in several high-level competitions, including the New York Open and the Liberty Bell international tournament in Philadelphia.
He's held his own against various international competitors, but has suffered from a lack of practice time.
"That's my dream - to find something where I can have time to practice and teach," Moscoso said. "I go to tournaments every four or five months, but it's not enough to compete nationally. Those guys practice six hours per day. Me? I get maybe one hour after work."
The trio's path to the Empire State Games was similar. They all attended the qualifying meet in Poughkeepsie. Moscoso left that after making a good impression on Hudson Valley coach Bill Scribner, whose own club gets weekly visits from Moscoso for a month before major events.
"He's an experienced player and is a good competitor," Scribner said. "He could be a national player if he put in the time. He's got talent, but talent only gets you so far."
Mendez only had to go through one opponent to get his berth. Partellow entered on a "Why not?" whim and beat two others.
Yesterday, the three competed together and might stay together for a while longer.
Partellow was engaged in a grueling overtime period against Long Island's Tommy Broschardt in yesterday's judo match, and the only voice he could hear belonged to a man he had met just 24 hours earlier.
"Do it again, do it again," Moscoso yelled from the bleachers.
Partellow had just tried a move he had learned from the 29-year-old Moscoso during a half-hour practice the day before.
"It didn't work," said Partellow, competing in his first Empire State Games, "but I didn't put myself in any trouble because of it."
Partellow ended up losing his second-round match in the 73-kilogram (161-pound) weight division, but he's grateful for the new friendships he's made as part of the three-person local contingent representing the Hudson Valley in judo.
"I'll tell you, he has more energy than anyone in the building," Partellow said of Moscoso.
That's not news to Mynor Mendez, the third local representative.
Moscoso, a native of Guatemala who left his country seven years ago in a quest to "find myself," actually introduced Mendez to the sport in 2005.
They met at Assumption Church in Peekskill, where Mendez, a fellow Guatemalan who works landscaping, heard from friends that Moscoso was involved in judo. Mendez said he wanted in, and Moscoso told him to come along.
Now, a smiling Mendez calls him "my sensei." He goes regularly to practice sessions Moscoso holds on a 10-square-foot mat in his basement, imparting all he knows to about 10 students from whom he takes not a nickel.
Unfortunately, his main student didn't do too well yesterday. Mendez got thrown quickly in three of his round-robin bouts in the 66 kg (146-pound) group.
"He's still learning," said Moscoso, who sailed through his first three preliminaries in the 60 kg (132-pound) division. "I tell him, you're here right now (holding his hand low). But if you keep working, you'll be up here. This is only his second competition, so he's here just getting experience."
Partellow has been competing on-and-off since the fifth grade. The 25-year-old personal trainer has competed out of the Watanabe Judo and Akido School in Valhalla the past couple of years. But after meeting Moscoso on Thursday, he said he might make a few trips to Peekskill to enhance what he's learning in Valhalla.
"I just met him for the first time (Thursday)," the Mount Kisco resident said. "He's just awesome.
"I'm going to stick with Sensei Watanabe, but I'm probably going to go up to Peekskill a few times to practice with Rafael, too, from now on. Going to different people always helps."
Moscoso, a former teacher in Guatemala who now does construction while awaiting an opportunity to get an American teaching degree in either philosophy or history, relies on the West Point Judo Club for his knowledge. He joined five years ago, and has since participated in several high-level competitions, including the New York Open and the Liberty Bell international tournament in Philadelphia.
He's held his own against various international competitors, but has suffered from a lack of practice time.
"That's my dream - to find something where I can have time to practice and teach," Moscoso said. "I go to tournaments every four or five months, but it's not enough to compete nationally. Those guys practice six hours per day. Me? I get maybe one hour after work."
The trio's path to the Empire State Games was similar. They all attended the qualifying meet in Poughkeepsie. Moscoso left that after making a good impression on Hudson Valley coach Bill Scribner, whose own club gets weekly visits from Moscoso for a month before major events.
"He's an experienced player and is a good competitor," Scribner said. "He could be a national player if he put in the time. He's got talent, but talent only gets you so far."
Mendez only had to go through one opponent to get his berth. Partellow entered on a "Why not?" whim and beat two others.
Yesterday, the three competed together and might stay together for a while longer.
Fonte: The Journal News / Lohud.com - Westchester, NY, USA
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário