Judo at Columbia University


Judo has had a presence on the Columbia campus since 1904.

We encourage all levels of participation from the recreational player to the competitor.

Our mission as a Judo program is to impart to our students not only the physical skills of Judo, but its philosophy and traditions. Many students seek us out for self-defense training, and that is definitely one of the things Judo provides--not just through concrete skills, but through increased confidence and awareness.

We try to introduce students to Judo as a lifetime pursuit, a skilled art requiring infinite perfecting. By introducing traditional Judo etiquette and teaching the Japanese names of the techniques we also introduce our members to the sports cultural roots.

Our coaches always include philosophical explanations for the traditions and ethics. For many of us, a Judo Dojo is a place of stability and community, where people watch out for you, in and out of the practice hall.

For more information about Judo at Columbia email Connie Halporn at chalporn@pipeline.com, or call Frank Colonnese (718) 522-6120.


Physical Education Voluntary Non-Credit Judo

A 10-week physical education voluntary non-credit judo course will be offered during the Spring 2008 semester by the Department of Athletics:

A sport of unarmed combat derived from jujitsu and intended to train the body and the mind. This course will emphasize physical conditioning, building of cardiorespiratory endurance and the techniques applied in judo. The class will also include flexibility exercises and some applications of judo as self-defense.

InstructorTimeLocationFee
Frank Colonnese, 5th DanMondays 8-10pmAerobics Room 3$90

The course will run from February 11, 2008 through April 21, 2008. (No class on March 17--Spring Break.) Current Dodge Physical Fitness Center membership is required. Registration will continue throughout the semester, space permitting, in room 336 Dodge Fitness Center, Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., beginning February 11th. See here for detailed registration information. For more information call 212-854-3439.

Physical Education Judo Classes

Two sections of Physical Education C1002 in Spring 2008 will be judo:

SectionInstructorTimeLocation
002Yoichiro Matsumura, 8th DanMon/Wed 10:00-10:50amAerobics Room 3
010Yoichiro Matsumura, 8th DanMon/Wed 11:00-11:50amAerobics Room 3

Judo Club

At present Columbia no longer has a Judo Club. If you are interested in forming a Judo Club under the University's Club Sports organization, please contact the Club Sports Governing Board at clubsports@columbia.edu.

For more information on Judo see:

  • The Judo Information Site
  • USA JUDO
  • United States Judo Association
  • United States Judo Federation