AUBURN - Literally translated, judo means “the gentle way.”
This way was paved by Kano Jigoro, the founder of modern day judo and the man responsible for not only making judo a part of the educational program of Japan in the early 1900s, but also the man responsible for making it into the first form of martial arts to be recognized as an Olympic sport.
During his lifetime, Jigoro was an educator of more than judo, serving as the director of primary education for Japan's Ministry of Education and as president of Tokyo Higher Normal School.
Following much the same path as Jigoro, professor Peter Petrosino, an instructor at Cayuga Community College, has also combined the martial arts, judo in particular, with a life in the field of education.
Petrosino, who is also a sixth degree black belt, founded the CCC Judo Club in 1970.
In many ways this club reflects Petrosino's own interest in the discipline.
“I was hooked after my first few days and I've been interested and pursued it ever since,” Petrosino said.
Through the club, Petrosino has been able to help numerous people learn the art of judo.
This is a discipline that Petrosino takes seriously and views as a physical as well as a mental discipline.
“Judo is really the quest to confront one's self,” Petrosino said. “It is not about fighting, we are trying to avoid fighting, that is what I always tell students. This is about confronting and challenging yourself, not about fighting. I think students will be prepared to handle themselves if a situation should become physical, but really judo is about avoiding that kind of conflict.”
Following the example set forth by Jigoro, Petrosino and his fellow instructors work with students of all levels, from beginners to the most experienced martial artists.
Petrosino works from the basics of Olympic-style judo - falling and body motion and conditioning to the katas.
Over the years, Petrosino has taught at numerous schools, including Cortland, Cornell and Oswego, as well as CCC. He has developed a strong reputation for his approach, the quality of the instruction and the knowledge he offers along with his fellow instructors, like former national junior champion Louis Palomeque.
But to a larger degree he defers to the discipline of judo itself.
“It is a universal lifelong thing,” Petrosino said. “It isn't like other sports; it is something that anyone can do all their lives. It is a good physical activity that has a lot to offer.”
Petrosino points to the mix of students that have attended the CCC program over the years as proof that judo truly is a journey.
“We have a good mix of students here,” Petrosino said. “We get people that are just starting out and we get students that started 20 or 30 years ago and are coming back this semester to pick it back up.”
This continuing interested has allowed Petrosino to keep the club going for nearly four decades and also to branch out into other areas of instruction at CCC.
Petrosino said that from the judo club, programs focusing on self defense have been created, programs that offer instruction in self defense for the average person as well as for students majoring in criminal justice, where this kind of knowledge and discipline are necessary.
Over the next few weeks, Petrosino and many of his students will be busy.
May 24 and 25, Petrosino and several of his students will be attending the AM-CAN International Judo Challenge in Buffalo and then return home to the Empire Games trials for the 31st year.
“Across the state there have been low numbers for enrollment in martial arts (for the games),” Petrosino said. “But we've had great success with our program here and with the criminal justice program. And hopefully I'll be able to get a few students interested and get them to go out for the games this year and we have some competing at the AM-CAN on the master level. So we are doing pretty well here with our program.”
The most recent session of the club began Thursday night and will run through August.
For more information or to join, visit the CCC gym from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays or Thursdays.
During his lifetime, Jigoro was an educator of more than judo, serving as the director of primary education for Japan's Ministry of Education and as president of Tokyo Higher Normal School.
Following much the same path as Jigoro, professor Peter Petrosino, an instructor at Cayuga Community College, has also combined the martial arts, judo in particular, with a life in the field of education.
Petrosino, who is also a sixth degree black belt, founded the CCC Judo Club in 1970.
In many ways this club reflects Petrosino's own interest in the discipline.
“I was hooked after my first few days and I've been interested and pursued it ever since,” Petrosino said.
Through the club, Petrosino has been able to help numerous people learn the art of judo.
This is a discipline that Petrosino takes seriously and views as a physical as well as a mental discipline.
“Judo is really the quest to confront one's self,” Petrosino said. “It is not about fighting, we are trying to avoid fighting, that is what I always tell students. This is about confronting and challenging yourself, not about fighting. I think students will be prepared to handle themselves if a situation should become physical, but really judo is about avoiding that kind of conflict.”
Following the example set forth by Jigoro, Petrosino and his fellow instructors work with students of all levels, from beginners to the most experienced martial artists.
Petrosino works from the basics of Olympic-style judo - falling and body motion and conditioning to the katas.
Over the years, Petrosino has taught at numerous schools, including Cortland, Cornell and Oswego, as well as CCC. He has developed a strong reputation for his approach, the quality of the instruction and the knowledge he offers along with his fellow instructors, like former national junior champion Louis Palomeque.
But to a larger degree he defers to the discipline of judo itself.
“It is a universal lifelong thing,” Petrosino said. “It isn't like other sports; it is something that anyone can do all their lives. It is a good physical activity that has a lot to offer.”
Petrosino points to the mix of students that have attended the CCC program over the years as proof that judo truly is a journey.
“We have a good mix of students here,” Petrosino said. “We get people that are just starting out and we get students that started 20 or 30 years ago and are coming back this semester to pick it back up.”
This continuing interested has allowed Petrosino to keep the club going for nearly four decades and also to branch out into other areas of instruction at CCC.
Petrosino said that from the judo club, programs focusing on self defense have been created, programs that offer instruction in self defense for the average person as well as for students majoring in criminal justice, where this kind of knowledge and discipline are necessary.
Over the next few weeks, Petrosino and many of his students will be busy.
May 24 and 25, Petrosino and several of his students will be attending the AM-CAN International Judo Challenge in Buffalo and then return home to the Empire Games trials for the 31st year.
“Across the state there have been low numbers for enrollment in martial arts (for the games),” Petrosino said. “But we've had great success with our program here and with the criminal justice program. And hopefully I'll be able to get a few students interested and get them to go out for the games this year and we have some competing at the AM-CAN on the master level. So we are doing pretty well here with our program.”
The most recent session of the club began Thursday night and will run through August.
For more information or to join, visit the CCC gym from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays or Thursdays.
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