Youth Judo

The Baltimore Martial Arts Youth Judo Program is recognized by the USJF and is active in promoting and encouraging children to participate in competitions. Charles Peters, 3rd degree black belt, and Tomas Drgon, 1st degree black belt, run the children’s judo program. Charles Peters has been teaching children Judo since 1990. Tomas Drgon has been teaching kids, as well as his own for several years and is also an instructor of the Adult Judo Program. Tomas is also an accomplished competitor and recently received “The Best Competitor Award” at a local Judo tournament in Maryland .

Some of our Judo kids also participate in our Junior Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Program which focuses on newaza, or ground work, which is like wrestling. Ground work can give a competitor a tremendous edge against others who do not practice it enough.

Our Kids Judo classes are currently held on Monday evenings 6:30-7:30 PM and Saturday mornings 9-10 AM. See our SCHEDULE which is updated regularly.

Youth Newaza - Judo Wrestling

Judo, or “the gentle way,” is a modern Japanese martial art and combat sport that originated in Japan in the late 19th century but is now practiced around the world. In a Judo match, a competitor can throw an opponent to the ground, immobilize an opponent with a hold or pin, or force an opponent to submit through a joint lock or choke.

Judo became an Olympic sport in 1964, and it was very popular in the United States in the mid-20th century. Mixed martial artists who are judo practitioners — such as Karo Parisyan, Fedor Emelianenko, and Hidehiko Yoshida — have generated more interest in the sport. Other combat sports, like Sambo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, derive in part from Judo.

Our Judo dojo was founded by Sensei John Anderson in the 1950s and is the oldest dojo on the East Coast. In May 2010 the school was moved to a much larger, more modern facility with competition-quality mats.

Sensei John Anderson Shichidan - 7th Degree Black Belt Founder of Baltimore Judo

Sensei John T. Anderson is, a Shichidan (7th Degree Black Belt) in the sport of Judo. He has been studying Judo since 1946 while stationed in Honolulu, Hawaii with the Navy. As a pugnacious competitor, Sensei gained many inspiring achievements such as: a 12 time U.S. National Masters Champion, a 5 time A.A.U. East Coast Champion, a 4 time East Coast Masters Champion, and a 10 time A.A.U. Maryland State Champion. Through out his Judo career, he has studied under many Senseis including Takehiko Ishikawa, Donn Draeger, Kenzo Uyeno and Lanny Miyamoto.

Learn Judo techniques from Sensei John T. Anderson as he demonstrates moves such as the compression arm lock, forearm lock, Hadaka Jime (rear stranglehold), uremia (breakfalling), Juji Gatame cross body armlock, Kate Te Jime stranglehold, Kessa Gatame, Kata Gatame (straight arm lock), Tai Otoshi (dropping body throw), passing guard, Ko Uchi Gari (minor inside reap), leg throw, arm entwining, and Uke Otoshi hand drop.

Baltimore Martial Arts Academy

Youth Judo

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