One of the Oldest JUDO Clubs in Connecticut Turns 50!

One of the Oldest Judo Clubs in Connecticut turns 50!
The year 1961 went into history as the time when…
• Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space.
• Soviets built the wall dividing East and West Berlin.
• John F. Kennedy is inaugurated President of the United States.
• First direct US involvement in Vietnam.
• Best Film Oscar winner is West Side Story.
• Barack Obama, 44th President of the US; The Edge, guitarist for U2 and George Clooney are born.
1961 is also remembered as the year when the Middletown Judo was formed at the Northern Middlesex YMCA.
At around the same time, Agent 007 was fighting off the evil villains in the James Bond movies with techniques
such as Tomoe-Nage, a Judo throw that translates as “Circle Throw”. Before James Bond, actor James Cagney
and his opponent show off a variety of Judo throws in the 1945 movie Blood on the Sun.
For the last 50 years, people from all walks of life have thrown, pinned, choked and twisted arms of willing
opponents. This is a typical workout at the Middletown Judo Club.
Judo was established in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano who had studied the martial arts of Kito Ryu and Tenshin
Shinyo Ryu Jujitsu. Jigoro Kano emphasized principles into his new martial art such as “maximum efficiency
with minimum effort” (use leverage against your opponent) and “gentleness controls hardness” (causing your
opponent to lose his balance thus reducing his power). This last principle generally describes Judo, ju meaning
“gentle” and do meaning “the way or path”. Judo translates as “the gentle way” and jujitsu translates as the
“gentle art”.
The Middletown Judo Club is under the leadership of Louis LaPila who started learning Judo when the club was
formed. He became the Sensei (head instructor) in 1973, a position he still holds today. He is the 4th head
instructor, preceded by Ruben Figeroa, John Yaglowski and Robert Drescher. Sensei LaPila is associated with
the head instructors of other Judo clubs, including Sensei Sid Kelly who conducted the “First Friday Workouts”
at the Middletown Judo Club.
Sensei LaPila is ranked a 6th degree black belt in Judo and a 5th degree black belt in Jujitsu. He has competed in
many Judo tournaments. In 1965 and 1966, he won the New England YMCA Middleweight Championships. In
1967, he won a gold medal at the AAU Olympic Development program and a silver medal at the Connecticut
Championship Tournament. And in 1968, he won first place at the Norwalk Heavyweight Invitational against
opponents 60 pounds heavier. Sensei Lapila is listed in the Who’s Who of Martial Arts. He was inducted into
the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame and the Middletown Sports Hall of Fame. His many years of devoted
service to Judo were done in spite of suffering from an undiagnosed case of Lyme disease. This disease still
haunts Sensei LaPila and has lead to seven major surgeries thus far to correct bone degeneration and heart
problems.
The Middletown Judo Club is celebrating its 50th anniversary this fall. Sensei LaPila and his instructors are
dedicated volunteers who receive no monetary compensation for their commitment to the art of Judo and
serving the community. Over the years, they have trained and produced national and international Judo players
and coaches, but they also train Judo players interested in self defense and core exercises. The door of our
training area (“dojo”) is open. A training room that bears the name of Charles L. Cutler, a dedicated student and
instructor who passed away in 1999.
The 50th anniversary celebration was held on October 1st, 2011 with family and friends at the Peckham Park
(Middlefield, CT). Guests included Sensei John Yaglowski, Sensei Sid Kelly and Sensei Pam Hinkle.
If you wish to try a class or would like more information, please visit us…
• On the web: www.Middletown-Judo.com or Facebook at www.facebook.com/MiddletownJudoCT
• Northern Middlesex YMCA at 860-347-6907.
The Judo