Michele Lawson photo Judo athletes have Olympian dreams
Author: Michele Lawson
Date: Apr 03, 2008
Author: Michele Lawson
Date: Apr 03, 2008
At what point (if ever) does the love for a sport become a quest for Olympic gold?
Aliesha MacDonald was first introduced to judo when she was six. Now, at 14, she’s still showing up regularly at the dojo.
“My dad got me into it,” she recalls. “And after a month, he asked me if I wanted to continue, and then after a year, I kept on committing until it was just a regular thing.”
In addition to the two training sessions a week she shares with her home-dojo classmates at Barrie’s All Round Health and Fitness on Hurst Drive, the blue belt seeks out additional opportunities to get involved.
“Sometimes I go to Orillia to train, so I get a variety of people to train with,” she says. “I do it as often as I can – sometimes I do judo five days a week.”
At some point during the past seven years, her commitment turned to passion.
“I’ve always dreamed of going into the Olympics,” she says. “I would like to get invited to try out for the national team and train for the Olympics.”
Judo, largely due to the worldwide adherence to standard regulations, is the only martial art included in the Olympics.
But to compete at that elite level, it’s all a matter of accumulating points to qualify for the next level.
“I go to any tournament I can – especially some of the national qualifiers,” says MacDonald, who is well on her way.
She recently placed third in her division at the Ontario Winter Games in Wasaga Beach. Before that, at the Hatashita International in Mississauga last November, she fought (and beat) older and more experienced girls to place second in Ontario in her division.
“That was one of the biggest tournaments and I’m really happy I placed this high,” she says. “I’m really proud of myself.”
Sensei Bill Shoup, who opened the judo school and health club in 1995, encourages his students to get involved in the tournaments he hosts at All Round Health & Fitness, and those further afield. He says it promotes both athletic and personal growth.
“Dreams are what make us strive to do better,” he says. “Making the national team is an attainable goal. The Olympics is a much larger dream to reach, but like I tell my students: the journey is the true goal, it's not whether you win or lose.”
MacDonald is one of eight girls studying the martial art at the Barrie club. She may be the only one with Olympic aspirations, but she’s not the only one with a competitive nature.
Orange belt Kassandra O’Brien, 14, has been coming out for classes since the club did a presentation at her school three years ago.
“I tried a bunch of martial-arts classes, but Judo is just the best,” she enthuses. “It’s the best form of self-defence because it’s not aggressive, it’s completely self-defence. It’s about controlling a situation.”
Although the idea of competing in the Olympics appeals to O’Brien on some level, the route isn’t for her.
“I tend to just do it for the fun and activity – although I am competitive in tournaments,” she says.
“It’s one of the best things about judo – you can do it as a friendly sport or you can do it as a competition.”
Although she took second place at a recent tournament held at All Round Health and Fitness, she says her proudest tournament moments came from participating in a Huntsville Shiai (tournament) where not one medal was brought home.
“We were completely outweighed and shorter by a huge amount,” she recalls. “I don’t think any of us won our fights, but as a team we worked hard and got it for best sportsmanship.”
Although Shoup, who has been studying judo for 32 years, encourages his students to try tournament activity, competition isn’t a mandatory element of club participation.
“Martial arts in general is important for fitness, for confidence and respect,” says Shoup, who runs the only judo club in the city. “Judo in particular, is great for the self-defence, the social aspect, to learn how to fall, expend excess energy and anger in a positive way, and maybe even to make it to the Olympics. There are so many benefits.”
“I like the fact that I’m good at it,” acknowledges O’Brien. “And I like the friendships.”
The friendships can extend worldwide, says Shoup, who has travelled extensively and always finds a home away from home in any judo dojo he visits. Not only is martial arts training the same everywhere, but the judo community in general invites visitors. Travellers can often find themselves offered a meal, if not also a place to stay.
Shoup has trained and competed at the world-class level, but he is now more interested in passing on what he has learned and ensuring his students are having fun doing it.
“There wouldn’t be any judo in Barrie without him,” says O’Brien. “He’s a great teacher – he pretty much commits himself completely and works really hard to keep the club going.”
Both she and MacDonald credit Shoup and their sport for increased self-confidence.
“Before I went to judo, I was completely self-conscious,” says O’Brien. “Judo teaches you respect, discipline and keeps you fit and healthy.”
And then there’s the self-defence aspect.
“I can get out of a situation as quickly and painlessly as possible,” adds MacDonald. “If a grown man attacks me, I know how to choke him in five seconds flat.”
“I feel safer walking around,” agrees O’Brien. “I have a way of protecting myself.”
This might not be the first thought if you happen to come across a quieter O’Brien while she’s writing poems or scribbling in her journal. But the teenager isn’t passive.
“I want to be a lawyer,” the grade-eight student acknowledges. “I like debating and contradicting rules.”
For her part, MacDonald intends to study to be a chiropractor while training for the top spot in the judo world. She is no stranger to multi-tasking. In addition to her busy judo regime, she manages to maintain a “very-high average” while holding down a part-time job, babysitting for neighbours and participating in soccer, wrestling, snowboarding and cycling.
She also manages to fit time in to read, go to mall, log into Facebook, have sleepovers with friends and spend time with her family.
“We are the family who sits in front of the TV eating junk food, and then we play soccer as a family or build snowmen,” she says. “We work as hard as we play.”
Both girls give thanks to their supportive families as well as their dojo.
“I am very proud of what they have achieved,” says Shoup of his young charges. “Not in wins or losses, but in the effort and spirit they have brought to the club. They both enjoy doing judo so much and put so much work into the sport, I have seen a lot of growth in both of them.”
Aliesha MacDonald was first introduced to judo when she was six. Now, at 14, she’s still showing up regularly at the dojo.
“My dad got me into it,” she recalls. “And after a month, he asked me if I wanted to continue, and then after a year, I kept on committing until it was just a regular thing.”
In addition to the two training sessions a week she shares with her home-dojo classmates at Barrie’s All Round Health and Fitness on Hurst Drive, the blue belt seeks out additional opportunities to get involved.
“Sometimes I go to Orillia to train, so I get a variety of people to train with,” she says. “I do it as often as I can – sometimes I do judo five days a week.”
At some point during the past seven years, her commitment turned to passion.
“I’ve always dreamed of going into the Olympics,” she says. “I would like to get invited to try out for the national team and train for the Olympics.”
Judo, largely due to the worldwide adherence to standard regulations, is the only martial art included in the Olympics.
But to compete at that elite level, it’s all a matter of accumulating points to qualify for the next level.
“I go to any tournament I can – especially some of the national qualifiers,” says MacDonald, who is well on her way.
She recently placed third in her division at the Ontario Winter Games in Wasaga Beach. Before that, at the Hatashita International in Mississauga last November, she fought (and beat) older and more experienced girls to place second in Ontario in her division.
“That was one of the biggest tournaments and I’m really happy I placed this high,” she says. “I’m really proud of myself.”
Sensei Bill Shoup, who opened the judo school and health club in 1995, encourages his students to get involved in the tournaments he hosts at All Round Health & Fitness, and those further afield. He says it promotes both athletic and personal growth.
“Dreams are what make us strive to do better,” he says. “Making the national team is an attainable goal. The Olympics is a much larger dream to reach, but like I tell my students: the journey is the true goal, it's not whether you win or lose.”
MacDonald is one of eight girls studying the martial art at the Barrie club. She may be the only one with Olympic aspirations, but she’s not the only one with a competitive nature.
Orange belt Kassandra O’Brien, 14, has been coming out for classes since the club did a presentation at her school three years ago.
“I tried a bunch of martial-arts classes, but Judo is just the best,” she enthuses. “It’s the best form of self-defence because it’s not aggressive, it’s completely self-defence. It’s about controlling a situation.”
Although the idea of competing in the Olympics appeals to O’Brien on some level, the route isn’t for her.
“I tend to just do it for the fun and activity – although I am competitive in tournaments,” she says.
“It’s one of the best things about judo – you can do it as a friendly sport or you can do it as a competition.”
Although she took second place at a recent tournament held at All Round Health and Fitness, she says her proudest tournament moments came from participating in a Huntsville Shiai (tournament) where not one medal was brought home.
“We were completely outweighed and shorter by a huge amount,” she recalls. “I don’t think any of us won our fights, but as a team we worked hard and got it for best sportsmanship.”
Although Shoup, who has been studying judo for 32 years, encourages his students to try tournament activity, competition isn’t a mandatory element of club participation.
“Martial arts in general is important for fitness, for confidence and respect,” says Shoup, who runs the only judo club in the city. “Judo in particular, is great for the self-defence, the social aspect, to learn how to fall, expend excess energy and anger in a positive way, and maybe even to make it to the Olympics. There are so many benefits.”
“I like the fact that I’m good at it,” acknowledges O’Brien. “And I like the friendships.”
The friendships can extend worldwide, says Shoup, who has travelled extensively and always finds a home away from home in any judo dojo he visits. Not only is martial arts training the same everywhere, but the judo community in general invites visitors. Travellers can often find themselves offered a meal, if not also a place to stay.
Shoup has trained and competed at the world-class level, but he is now more interested in passing on what he has learned and ensuring his students are having fun doing it.
“There wouldn’t be any judo in Barrie without him,” says O’Brien. “He’s a great teacher – he pretty much commits himself completely and works really hard to keep the club going.”
Both she and MacDonald credit Shoup and their sport for increased self-confidence.
“Before I went to judo, I was completely self-conscious,” says O’Brien. “Judo teaches you respect, discipline and keeps you fit and healthy.”
And then there’s the self-defence aspect.
“I can get out of a situation as quickly and painlessly as possible,” adds MacDonald. “If a grown man attacks me, I know how to choke him in five seconds flat.”
“I feel safer walking around,” agrees O’Brien. “I have a way of protecting myself.”
This might not be the first thought if you happen to come across a quieter O’Brien while she’s writing poems or scribbling in her journal. But the teenager isn’t passive.
“I want to be a lawyer,” the grade-eight student acknowledges. “I like debating and contradicting rules.”
For her part, MacDonald intends to study to be a chiropractor while training for the top spot in the judo world. She is no stranger to multi-tasking. In addition to her busy judo regime, she manages to maintain a “very-high average” while holding down a part-time job, babysitting for neighbours and participating in soccer, wrestling, snowboarding and cycling.
She also manages to fit time in to read, go to mall, log into Facebook, have sleepovers with friends and spend time with her family.
“We are the family who sits in front of the TV eating junk food, and then we play soccer as a family or build snowmen,” she says. “We work as hard as we play.”
Both girls give thanks to their supportive families as well as their dojo.
“I am very proud of what they have achieved,” says Shoup of his young charges. “Not in wins or losses, but in the effort and spirit they have brought to the club. They both enjoy doing judo so much and put so much work into the sport, I have seen a lot of growth in both of them.”
FONTE (photo include): Barrie Advance - Barrie,ON,Canada
http://www.barrieadvance.com/
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