I have never been a sports fan. When people ask me what my favorite sport is, I jokingly say politics. In reality, though, my favorite sport is something most Americans know little or nothing about--judo.
This information often surprises people. As a 110-pound, softspoken 17-year-old girl, I surprise most people who learn that I'm a green belt in the sport. While it's absolutely true that I don't fit the traditional profile of a judoka, a good deal of the surprise stems from misconceptions about what judo really is. Most people think it's a violent sport, like karate, kung fu, or jujitsu, full of punching and kicking, that frequently leads to injury. In reality, it is at once an extremely safe, even gentle sport and a powerful martial art that relies as much on mental as on physical agility and much more on efficiency and skill than brute force.
Judo's history is unique among martial arts, in that it stretches back less than 150 years. Its founder, Dr. Jigoro Kano, was a school official who wanted to develop a sport children could learn that would safely simulate combat while teaching the principle of mutual efficiency and mutual benefit. He selected techniques from jujitsu and created a sport that would endure. After World War II, Marines (like my judo coach's father, one of the highest-ranked black belts in the US), popularized the sport in America. Before long, it became an internationally recognized competitive sport, even earning a place in the Olympics. Today, it is the second most popular sport in the world.
Dr. Kano intended for judo to be a sport for everyone. Size and muscle are not required; instead, practitioners learn to use their opponent's strength against them, attempting to break the other player's balance and use a safe yet effective foot, hip, or hand throw to take them to the ground. At my club, children as young as 5 or 6 come to class with their parents, practicing alongside 80-year-olds. Everyone, regardless of skill level, improves their lives through the sport.
I have come to love judo, against all odds. While I'm not good enough to compete in the sport, I derive incredible joy from it. What's more, as a young woman, judo has empowered me and given me the confidence I once lacked. Mastering a new throw makes me feel powerful and strong, giving me an incentive to continue working hard. In addition, I feel safe walking down the street, knowing I can defend myself if need be.
In fact, I see only two problems with judo today. First of all, it remains a heavily male-dominated sport. At my judo club, I am one of only three females, only one of whom is a black belt. At the national and international level, serious female competitors remain extremely rare. Unfortunately, not enough women by far are aware of the tremendous benefits of this sport.
Second, judo has not really caught on in the United States as much as in the rest of the world. Due to this lack of interest, the U.S. has had an extremely poor showing on the international judo scene. Only 4 American judoka have ever won an international title, and while we have had an Olympic team for decades, no American has ever won an Olympic medal in the sport.
Fortunately, however, both of these have a good chance of changing this year, and we have a 22-year-old blonde girl from Ohio named Kayla Harrison to thank.
Not only is Harrison a truly outstanding athlete, she has an incredible personal story that makes her an inspiring story of hope to all judoka, indeed all athletes. Harrison overcame years of sexual abuse to achieve her incredible success.
Like many cases of sexual abuse, this one involved the exploitation of a young woman by an older man in a position of authority, in this case, her judo coach. At the age of 13, Harrison was already a distinguished competitor who was quickly advancing through the world of judo, when she began a sexual relationship with her 29-year-old coach. For three years, the abuse remained hidden as Harrison began traveling the world competing, winning medals while being exploited behind the closed doors of her hotel room.
Finally, at the age of 16, Harrison began confiding in a friend and fellow judoka. Ultimately, rather than keep her abuse a secret, which could endanger countless other girls, she found the courage to face her abuser in court, and he was imprisoned. However, Harrison became depresse, riddled with guilt and anger. Her mother encouraged her to quit judo, and she considered committing suicide.
However, Harrison didn't give up. Instead, at the age of 16, she moved to Boston, alone, to train with one of the top judo coaches in the U.S. With the help of her coaches and the friend she had first confided in (who followed her to Boston and is now her fiance), she began to heal. In 2010, she won a gold medal at the Judo World Cup, becoming the number one judo player in America.
Now, she is headed to London with her eye on the gold. Despite facing seemingly impossible odds, she has a good chance of bringing America its first gold medal in judo--and for a 22-year-old woman, this is even more remarkable. Let's all rally behind Kayla for her hard work, amazing dedication to her sport, and her inspiring spirit of hope and survival no matter what stands in her way.
And hey, if you're looking for a sport that empowers everyone, teaches valuable self-defense skills, and is a lot of fun, consider stopping by your local dojo and trying out a judo class.
