The Riverside Youth Judo Club will host its second contest of courage for disabled judo athletes at Orange Crest Park, 20010 Orange Terrace Parkway in Riverside, at 9 a.m. this Saturday.
The Yuuki no Shiai tournament will feature dozens of developmentally disabled students with autism, cerebral palsy, down syndrome, sight, hearing, and speech challenges, and intellectual disabilities.
Jamie Brewer, best known for her role as Addie on “American Horror Story,” will be the guest speaker at the event.
Each competitor will be paired with a volunteer so they can safely demonstrate their judo skills at their individual ability. There will be skirmishes between the more advanced students. Instructors will also show children who want to join in how to perform basic moves.
“It is important for kids to have an outlet to learn concepts such as respect, compassion, humility, bravery and self-confidence,” said club director Brian Money by email. “Traditional judo offers these concepts and more.”
Money, a detective with the Riverside Police Department, started the club in June 2012. An assistant instructor at UC Riverside’s judo club, Money wanted to teach judo to adolescents.
After a meeting with Riverside Police Chief Sergio Diaz, they decided to sponsor a youth program through the Riverside Police Foundation as part of the Police Activities League, which provides programs for at-risk, special needs and other youths.
“Immediately, we found that the special students gained confidence, agility and improved social interaction,” said Money. “The rewards have been phenomenal. We have watched special developing students walk and run for the first times in their lives, during judo class.”
Kevin Lopez, 25, who has autism, said he is looking forward to the tournament Saturday and expects to get first place.
“I’m going to fight hard, once I win I’m going to feel great,” said Lopez. “I never get tired of judo.”
The club embraces students of all incomes and integrates disabled and non-disabled students. Nearly half of the students are not charged tuition. The club has more than 160 students, making it the second-largest chartered judo club in the United States Judo Association.
They won first place at the California State Games in 2015 and were the third at nationals.
The club has over a dozen certified black belt instructors and two behavioral analysts that specialize in developmental disabilities.
Money said he wants the community to come out so they can see the strength, fortitude, and commitment his disabled students show everyday in the dojo so they can gain the same inspiration as he has.
“These students have had an incredible impact on me, said Money. “If I am having a bad day, feeling sick or under the weather, I think about what these brave kids go through each day. Words can hardly describe it.”
Contact the writer: community@pressenterprise.com
