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Ogden Judo School
As a non-profit organization, Ogden Judo School is engaged in promoting the betterment of individuals through Judo and the teachings of Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo. A large percentage of our students being under the age of 18, offer our instructors the opportunity of reaching youth at impressionable ages. Athletes of all ages are taught the virtues of healthy competition, good sportsmanship, respect, discipline, and a sense of fair play in Judo. Character building is a key tenant that equips our athletes with healthy minds, bodies and souls that will be carry over into other aspects of their lives. The current staff of instructors are made up of Black Belt Senseis who for the most part began their Judo careers as child protoges of Sensei John Ogden, the founder of Ogden Judo School.

Mission
Ogden Judo School is dedicated to performing youth outreach and mentoring students of all ages in an effort to assist them in developing their minds, bodies, and spirits in equal proportion.

Vision
Our vision is to provide a suitable and sustainable environment in which we are able to produce talented Judo athletes who are good citizens that possess self-confidence and display characteristics of integrity, responsibility, commitment and good sportsmanship.

Origins
Ogden Judo School was founded in 1953 in Long Beach, California by Sensei John Ogden. Until recently Ogden Judo School had only been located in two places in Long Beach, CA. After over 50 years of service to the Long Beach community a declaration of imminent domain was issued by the city of Long Beach and the school was forced to move. In 2007 and just before the passing of Sensei John Ogden, the school was relocated in Lakewood, CA and after a surge in student growth relocated twice to its current location of 17034 Bellflower Blvd, in Bellflower,

Founder
Sensei John Ogden (10/14/1921 - 7/27/2007) began his Judo career as a student of [school name] [in/from] [date(s)]. Sensei Ogden's school of Judo has trained students from local neighborhoods to law enforcement officers of the Long Beach Police Department and local Sheriffs Departments. Sensei Ogden continued training students "on the mat" until the age of 86. He held Judo Rankings, 7th Degree Black Belt Judo, 7th Degree Black Belt Jujitsu, and was a 5 Time Junior Olympic Coach.

Awards and Accomplishments
Sensei Ogden and Ogden Judo School have been presented the following awards:
 * California Legislative Sports Award
 * Long Beach Hall of Fame
 * Lakewood Hall of Fame
 * Honored By the Long Beach Century Club
 * Southern California Judo Parents Federation
 * Southern California Black Belt Hall of Fame
 * John Dixon Citizen's Award

Training Methods
The original dojo contained one large martial arts style tatami (workout mat) constructed of an extremely durable tatami textured vinyl surface that is resistant to tears, a rebounded multiple foam density core, and an anti-slip bottom for stability.

Much of the training is performed in group settings with all ranks practicing in groups within the same large room. Smaller children and adults typically workout on opposite sides of the room to prevent the possibility of collision.

Practice starts promptly at 7:00 p.m., Monday, Wednesday. and Friday. At each practice athletes participate in warm-up activities that usually last approximately half an hour. Judo techniques are then practiced for between 45 and 60 minutes. Between 8:15 and 8:30 p.m. refereed contesting begins and lasts approximately 30 minutes. Class is typically dismissed before 9:00 p.m. and for the following 30 minutes, free practice is allowed for those who wish to remain.

At each class there are typically two or more black belts in attendance and one or more certified Judo coaches. Feedback and critique are very important in teaching judo. Students have many opportunities to approach instructors and coaches for advice or opinion while practicing.

Younger and inexperienced students are monitored closely by instructors coaches to prevent injuries and to ensure that good sportsmanship and fair play is always the rule of the day.

Instructors
Many of the instructors at Ogden Judo School began as children or teenagers at Ogden Judo and have continued on to volunteer as instructors, passing on their expertise and the traditions of Judo and Ogden's style of teaching to others.