REMEMBERING A JUDO HERO
Last month we reported on an American Judoka, Jeremy Glick, who went down with one of the highjacked
planes on September 11. His effort to resist the highjackers has prompted some of our dojos to honor his memory.
Sensei Vern Borgen in Fargo, North Dakota and Sensei Bartolome Canellas in Spain held trainings in his memory
during this past month. Both had a special ceremony during the training in remembrance of Jeremy. We are all
saddened by his loss but the vision of the Gentle Path that he pursued is still here with us.

DEALING WITH BREAKFALLS
If you want to read a great article about the art of breakfalling, go to
http://www.koryubudo.com/articles/aerial.htm.
Sensei Vern Borgen is the one who drew my attention to it. I also recommend that you share it with your students.
I have long suspected that breakfalling was about flowing with the throwing technique and not necessarily the result
of being thrown. This article confirms my long time suspicion.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU'LL NEED JUDO
Justin McKinnis-Frazier, Gokyu, justin@apa.org

On a recent vacation in Germany I had my first opportunity to utilize what I have gained from studying judo. My wife
and I were visiting a couple of friends outside of Wiesbaden and we went to the largest discotheque I have ever
seen. The techno room was larger than most clubs and it was only about a quarter of the place. The music was
hopping and the place was crowded as people danced well into the night.
About 01:30 am, however, the pleasure of dancing was interrupted by a couple of guys who decided to fight.
They bounced off of me (I am a large guy, so it takes a bit to move me even when I’m not resisting) and slammed into
my hostess and her fourteen year old sister as they thrashed about headed to the floor. At first I thought someone
had started to mosh so I turned to make sure my wife and I were not going to be thrown into it as well. That was
when I realized it was a fight.
Almost immediately a calm descended over me as things slowed down and the music quieted. A small area cleared on
the dance floor as the two swung at each other. Someone was about to jump in, so I reached out and put my hand on
his chest. I pushed hard enough to stop him, but not so hard that he fell. I turned back to my wife and handed her
my glasses, saying only, “Here, hold these.” When I turned back, the two were on the ground, with the smaller of the
two on top and punching the other one in the face. I moved into the cleared circle and grabbed the guy on top and
pulled him off. He went into the arms of another young man who held him back while the three friends of the
beaten individual helped him up. I just stood between the two with my arms outstretched, one in each of their
directions. I looked at one, and then the other.
They were both reluctant to come towards each other, so I turned to the smaller of the two. He was trying to get his
shoe, which he had lost at some point so I reached down, picked it up, and gave it to him. I then turned him around
and guided him into the crowd, which swallowed him whole and he disappeared. When I turned back around, the
other was picking his tooth off the ground. While his three friends gaped at me. I looked to make sure the smaller
was gone and caught the eye of a fellow reveler. He reached out his hand and shook mine.
I checked on the remaining one again, but he was far from mollified. I looked at his friends, and motioned for them
to get him away from there and they left. I turned back to my wife and we started dancing again, but I must have still
been radiating something. Even with as crowded as the floor was, no one would get near us. Feeling awkward, we
left the floor and found our friends. The music was slowly getting louder again and things were regaining their
normal pace. What had seemed ten minutes to me was actually less than two.
I have been studying Zen Judo for less than a year now, but I know that at this time last year I would have been
one of those around the edge of the circle watching. It is strangely comforting to see a big, strong guy get walloped
by a small one, but I have always disliked violence. Thanks to the real-world usage Sensei Ed Stockwell imparts to
his students, though, I was able to handle myself in diffusing a bad situation and preventing worse from
happening. Confidence can be hard gained, but my short time in the dojo has already yielded amazing results. I knew
from that moment I had chosen correctly with Zen Judo for my path, and I look forward to the continued journey.

TRAINING
The first of four annual black belt trainings for American Zen Judoka will take place this coming November 17.
The American Zen Judo Yudanshakai would like to invite all Zen Judo dan grades, and other black belts who might
be interested in holding a rank with us to attend one or more of our black belt-only trainings. The other dates are:
February 16, May 25, and September 14. Training starts at 2 pm at the Richmond Zen Judo Dojo on 2753 Hungary
Springs Road.

Sensei Gordon Lawson invites all Zen Judoka to his dojo's Christmas training.
Gordon's Christmas training is becoming a tradition with the Zen Judo family. Those interested in contacting him, do
so by visiting his webpage at http://gordonlawson.tripod.com/. For those driving to the dojo, feel free to call
Sensei Lawson's mobile (cell) phone -- 07976 750531. The dojo is at Dayncourt School Gym off Glebe Lane.
From Nottingham head along A52 towards Newark/Grantham. Ignore 1st set of traffic lights at Radcliffe on Trent.
Turn left at second set, then 2nd right, drive into school, park on right. Walk into dojo through main doors. He looks
forward to seeing everybody.