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Sock It to Me, Judo Jill!
Detroit American Sunday Magazine
Saturday-Sunday, July 20-21, 1968
Expert Offers Free Course As Way of Checking Crime
by Phil Loranger, Staff Writer
John Osako is one fellow who can really "sock it to you."
Osako is the chief instructor at the Detroit Judo Club, which is the largest Judo Club in the country, boasting a membership of more than 700 judokas. He is the holder of the 6th degree black belt (you just can’t get any better than that) and, in addition to winning nearly every Judo championship possible, he is one of only two certified Judo officials in North and South America.
Osako is also a man who is seriously concerned with the unchecked crime on this city’s streets. In fact, it was this concern that led him up to the American’s offices the other day.
Flashing a smile that comes from always being in top physical shape (I don’t smile that way anymore), Osako shook hands with me, leaving me in mild pain, and sat down in a chair. I don’t know whether he has muscles in the lower part of his anatomy, but the chair broke.
Thumbing through several copies of the American which he had brought along, Osako expressed his dismay over the number of innocent victims of robbings, muggings, beatings and rapes.
"I read about these crimes with a feeling of frustration," said Osako. "I’m especially concerned with the attacks on young girls and women. They always seem to be helpless and at the mercy of the attacker. There is no need for this. If these women knew some simple self-defense tricks, they wouldn’t be in nearly as much danger and it might discourage muggers and purse-snatchers from continuing their unethical profession. There’s nothing more discouraging than being whipped by a lady."
The mild-mannered giant has decided to fight crime in the one way he knows best. Osako is offering instructions to mothers and their teenage daughters in the art of self-defense and attention-getting.
"Not only do I want to show women how to react if they happen to fall victim to one of these thugs but I want to show them that it may be possible to prevent it from happening in the first place," said Osako. "If women could attract attention when they are attacked, they might be able to scare the characters off."
Osako will conduct the self-defense courses on July 23 and again on July 26 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Detroit Judo Club, 15351 Livernois, near the Lodge Freeway. The course will be free of charge.
"Any woman or teenage girl who wants to attend these courses is welcome," said Osako, who has coached at the World Championships in Brazil and the Pan American championships in Guatemala. "The courses are open to women of any race, color or creed. All I want to do is help guarantee the safety of all women on Detroit’s streets."
He gave me a description of some of his self-defense techniques and said that anyone could learn them. Being a game guy who is always ready for a challenge, I decided to find out more about the course and let Osako try his tricks out. I did the thing any honorable gentleman would do. I volunteered my wife Joanie, and set the date for a judo session.
The Detroit Judo Club has to be one of the best such facilities anywhere. It has 550 square feet of mat area, which is uncluttered and well-lighted. It is spotlessly clean. In the club’s basement Osako has assembled a weight-training section complete with vibrator, rowing machine, slant board, wall weights, barbells and practice areas. And there is no parking problem for those who plan on attending the self-defense courses. The club has a 400-car paved parking lot at the rear of the building.
Osako greeted me and my protege in his neatly-kept office. After telling us about the background of judo and self-defense, Osako changed into his outfit and escorted us to the tatami mat for Joanie’s first lessons.
"These women who come for the course should wear a baggy sweatshirt and either sweatpants or stretch slacks," said Osako. "Although this is not the normal outfit that women would wear on the street, it makes the movements here in practice much easier. Let’s begin."
I massaged Joanie’s shoulders, gave her some last-minute advice and moved to the side. I felt a tinge of nervous pride as she stepped nimbly onto the mat to face her instructor. She appeared remarkably calm.
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John Osako grimaces as his self-defense student jabs her index finger into his throat, making him lose his tight grip |
"Although a woman’s strength lies in her legs, there are many ways she can hurt an attacker by using other parts of her body, like her head, fists, fingers and elbows," said Osako. "She must react instinctively and very fast."
Osako has divided his courses into seven categories, all of which stress simplicity.
To combat the pursesnatcher or the attacker who grabs your wrist, Osako has developed a counter-movement which is most effective.
"When a street-attacker grabs your purse or your wrist, you still have one arm free," he said, while demonstrating the grab on my wife’s wrist. "Your best move is to swing an open hand into his face with all the energy you can muster. Or, you can hit him in the ear. This is simple but it stings and might free you enough to get away. In some cases, a powerful swing may knock out the thug."
He allowed Joanie to swing at him, stopping the blow just before it landed. "Harder! Harder!" he exhorted. "Your aim is to smash him." Joanie swung hard. It was a real smasher. This pleased Osako no end.
"When an attacker grabs you from the front and attempts to choke you, the time has come to use your fists and fingers," he continued. "If he has you by the throat, strike him in the stomach with clenched fists or jab him in the small of the throat with your index finger."
Once again he turned to Joanie, first playing the role of the attacker and then that of the attacked. When she jabbed him in the throat, he coughed and his eyes filled with tears. A stiff jab will floor your opponent, even one as tough as John Osako.
"He really is sincere about this instruction," said my wife as she took a breather. "He is as strong as a bull but it’s amazing to find out that even a small woman can defend herself if she knows what she is doing."
She seemed quite eager to return to battle.
"Kicking is a great defensive move," said Osako, who was now lying on the mat. "If you’re down, kick, kick, kick. If you catch your thug in the knee, you can break his leg. You can also kick toward the groin area."
"Because a woman’s leg reach is much greater than her arm reach, her chances of striking the opponent are very good," he said. "If you hook one foot behind a leg and kick the knee with the other, I don’t care how big the guy is, down he goes."
He demonstrated the technique of kicking and his feet and legs moved like lightning. He motioned me over. I tugged at my belt (I don’t know why) and strolled over to the mat. Osako locked his legs on mine and applied pressure.
"Gee," I said. Osako had made his point. "Gosh that’s just great."
The scene was set for Osako’s final demonstration, the foot-arm-hip-throw. Once again showing my wife the correct way to perform the movement, he allowed her a few clumsy attempts before he became slightly irritated.
"The correct way to hip-throw a man is to step in behind the man with your left foot and leg, swing your right leg behind him until he rests on the hip, grab him around the neck or shoulders, and throw him down," he said. "It’s simple and any girl can do it."
He asked Joanie to try again, harder this time. She eyed her instructor, set her jaw, growled something low beneath her breath and waited for him to make his move. Osako grabbed Joanie. In a flash she had thrown her right leg behind him. A thunderous crash sounded as Osako hit the mat. Goliath had met his David once again. Osako was ecstatic over her strong show of force.
He gave Joanie a judo sweat cloth to wipe her perspiring brow and we removed ourselves from the area and into his office. It had been a highly invigorating and interesting session. I lit a cigarette and found some comfort in knowing that I shared something with this man of muscle - he also smoked.
"I said earlier that a woman can sometimes avoid trouble by attracting attention," he said. "It can be accomplished in numerous ways.
"Most women carry a purse when they are out shopping or walking. If they are attacked, it would be wise to use this item," he continued. "Throw it through a glass window. You know darn well that if you were watching TV and a purse came crashing through your front window, you would be angry enough to rush out and find out where it came from. It’s a real attention-getter."
He also pointed out that the purse could be thrown at a passing car. In addition to the purse, he noted other items that woman carry such as, pins, needles, combs or almost any article which, in case of attack, can be used as a handy weapon.
"Yelling is always a good defense," said Osako. "Yelling and screaming and making a real scene attracts attention and can scare off cowardly thugs."
It is Osako’s belief that these free courses in self-defense will help many Detroit-area women. The only things he asks in return for his instruction is co-operation.
"I request that mothers do not bring along infants or girls so young that they would not profit from the courses," he said. "The only requirement for enrollment is that you must sign a waiver agreeing to release the Detroit judo Club and the instructors from any claims which may arise from participation in the courses."
"I don’t know whether or not I can remember all the tricks that John showed me, but some of the simple ones will surely stick in my mind," said Joanie. "There are some things that seem difficult at first but are really easy. From a woman’s and a personal point of view, I think the course would not only prove interesting but would also be a lot of fun."
The demonstration was over and we prepared to leave. However, Osako had a parting shot for me (I think he thought I had a pretty easy day).
"Let me show you a little wristlock that no college wrestling coach ever taught you," he said referring to my earlier bragging about my Notre Dame wrestling days. Locking his wrist and hand around mine and holding his grip locked with one finger, he twisted ever so gently. It hurt.
"Gee," I said. "That’s just great, John."
We said our goodbyes and left. As I reached for the car door to let my wife in, she said no thanks. She could get it herself. I think I saw her muscles bulge as she opened the door.
She has had a funny, confident gleam in her eyes ever since her training.
Osako is a civic-minded and capable individual. His intentions are the best. The course he is offering next Tuesday and Friday afternoons may be an effective weapon against thugs who prey on women. In any case, the classes can only benefit the young girls and women of Detroit who choose to attend them.
Believe me (you can take it from my wife), John Osako can really "sock it to you" and, if you want to learn how, sign up for his course.
This was a full newspaper page with 7 large photos.