Escape To LA Judo Tour Wrap-up
The 2018 Jason Morris “Escape To LA” Judo Seminar Tour that went from December 4-10 and had us travel to 10 cities was a huge success overall. I was able to share a small dose of the “JMJC Experience” to hundreds of aspiring athletes and their coaches. I look forward to working with them in the future. This trip was extra special as I was able to include my wife Teri Takemori and our twin eight year old girls, Dani & Randi. We based ourselves in Torrance and stayed with my niece & JMJC student Cammi and her husband, also a JMJC student, Brice Rudat who now have an adorable 6 month old daughter named Hayden. More JMJC students joined the party as Gina Sullivan and her kids, Kaitlyn, Parker & Rylee flew from Hawaii and stayed the entire time we were there which made it extra fun for Dani & Randi as they are great friends. All the kids did the first four clinics with us, then competed in the Winter Nationals. I want to take this opportunity to thank (in no particular order) all the clubs that brought us in. Tony Okada, San Fernando Valley Judo Club, Taichi Judo Club, San Gabriel Judo Club, Anaconda Judo Club, Upland High School Wrestling & Goltz Judo Club. We want to thank the USJA for establishing the “Bernie Morris Award” and for allowing me the honor to give it to the first recipients, Ted & Carol Okada who are the parents of 1992 Olympian, Tony Okada (60kg). Thanks goes out to our Rock & Roll friends, Robby Lochner, guitarist from Jack Russell’s Great White for coming out to see us at Okada’s dojo then letting us sit in a rehearsal and Lead Singer of XYZ, Terry Ilous for popping in at San Fernando Valley Judo and giving me some great CDs. Thanks to Tom Gustin for the awesome flute. Thank you to the main sponsor of my trip, Nick Niakan and Gary Goltz for encouraging him to do so. The USJA & Nanka (USJF) also chipped in to make the tour possible. I can’t say enough about how well we were treated by everyone while catching up with old friends and meeting new ones. We have received such great feedback as well that makes it likely we can create an annual thing. There is a phenomenal Judo community in that area including my immediate family which makes me excited to return and…….
“Escape From New York”
View the photo album from this tour on our Facebook page by clicking the image below!