One alumnus, who helped found the club after Korean War, thinks the club would be beneficial to the university’s diverse student body.
When I arrived in Athens right out of the Navy Seabees on Sept. 19, 1956 and enrolled with 5,500 other Ohio University students — some of them were also Korean War veterans. We formed the OU Judo Club under the leadership of ni-dan (2nd degree Black Belt) Jack Roberts, who was a veteran of the Navy's Submarine Service. In 1958, Jack left OU to return to his home in Rocky
River and create his Academy of Judo in downtown Cleveland. It spawned other martial arts dojos (schools) there.
Our OU team of 10 judokas (Judo players) continued our club's practice and enjoyed the participation with other judokas among Judo teams in Ohio's colleges. OU's Judo Club was the top team in shiais (contests) during 1956-1959. I had learned Judo under rokku (6th degree Black Belt) Japanese sensei (teacher) Nakano-san while stationed at the Marine Air Force base in Iwa Kuni, Japan, for one year in 1954-55.
Given the student and faculty populations of Japanese, Chinese, other nationals and U.S. students at OU who've practiced Judo, I wish they would re-establish the OU Judo Club. Their efforts could also inspire Athens's local schools and city to create their Judo clubs. Many dojos exist in Ohio. Judo is an international and Olympic sport. Their shiais and dojos can be found on the Internet.
John Spofforth is an Athens resident and an alumnus of Ohio University.
