Once upon a time in the bustling, busy state of New Jersey, known for its sandy beaches, the legendary Jersey Tomatoes, and the coolest jigsaw-like highways, lived a group of energetic, fun-loving kids. These kids were not just any ordinary children; they were the Judo champions of the world. Well, their world, to be exact, which was mostly the local community center and occasionally their backyards. But they were champions, alright, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise! Let me introduce you to the ringleader of the bunch, a witty, bright-eyed Jersey boy known as Judo Joe. Joe was a master of 'ippon', a term in Judo which means 'one full point'. It also means 'I just threw you flat on your back', which was a point of pride for our Judo Joe. He could toss even the biggest kids, but he'd always help them up after with a wide grin. However, his biggest challenge was to do the same with his twin sister, Jumping Jill, who was as nimble as a cat and way trickier than any opponent he had ever faced. Together, these Judo kids of Jersey, led by their fearless leader, Judo Joe, had many adventures, adding a sprinkle of action and laughter to every tough situation. Whether it was flipping over the school bully or helping out a trapped kitten, they used their Judo skills in ways that even the professionals would admire. And at the end of the day, they would all gather at the local pizza parlor, sharing laughs, recounting their escapades, and planning their next Judo adventure. But that's a story for another day.
Read morebest judo programs in Cranford, NJ
What began in a humble New York City apartment with just a single student, Spark, has since blossomed into an enriching program impacting thousands of children. Our unique educational approach combines the elements of art, yoga, meditation, and nature to create a holistic learning environment. This distinctive blend is what sets Spark apart, allowing us to reach and inspire a multitude of children in truly meaningful ways. With an array of offerings to accommodate various schedules and needs, Spark has something for everyone. Our services extend beyond the standard after school and weekend classes to include holiday and summer camps, birthday parties, portfolio preparation, private classes, and custom pods. We also welcome homeschool groups and are thrilled to announce the recent addition of a forest school program to our repertoire. You can find Spark on-site in various schools and at our main studio located in the Upper West Side. But we're not stopping there - we're also planning to expand to the Upper East Side and Brooklyn. For our families in Pennsylvania, we run the program from our family studio there. And if you're not in close proximity to any of our locations, don't worry. We offer in-home instruction and virtual options to ensure that Spark can reach you, no matter where you are. We invite you to explore all the ways you can experience Spark and look forward to helping bring our program to you.
Established in 1962 by Yoshisada Yonezuka, the Cranford Judo Karate Center has been home to many aspiring students, world-class athletes, and Olympic medalists. After training several Olympic and World team athletes including his son Nick, Yoshisada was asked to be the Head Coach of the US Judo Team for the 1988 and 1992 Olympic Games. The Dojo walls display the club’s history in photographs, newpaper and magazine articles from Olympic Games, World Championships, Junior National, Junior World Championships, Karate World Championships, and Sumo Championships. These artifacts are a tribute to the many years of dedication and training of these stellar athletes of all ages.