Mike Swain Judo Clinic @ Train For Life (TFL) in Morgan Hill, California

Train For Life (TFL) has really been working hard to serve their community. Since their grand opening in spring '07 they have tons of events to get their members involved and excited about working out. Just last month, they had a weekend clinic taught by Mike Swain, and Olympic gold medalist in judo, to show their members some more grappling and self defense techniques. Well the staff at TFL was able to bring their good friend Mike again this past weekend to offer a free two hours session for the wrestlers.

I arrived at the TFL gym expecting to see a crowd similar to the grapplers that were around for the last clinic. To my surprise, there was the entire GIlroy High School (GHS) wrestling team along with the Junior High School wrestlers and a plethora of kids in grade school that wrestle too. Mike had recruited the renowned San Jose State University Judo team to help with a demonstration about judo. The team began with a typical warm up exercise along with a demonstration of basic techniques and their applications. After the forty five minute demonstration the judo team opened the mat for the wrestlers to come learn new throwing and grappling techniques that they could use in wrestling matches. The GHS coach was extremely thankful for the judo teams time and efforts. He ended the clinic with a demonstration of techniques and a typical practice that the wrestling teams go through.

All in all it was another successful TFL event that really exhibited how dedicated the TFL staff is to the advancement of the community. One of the owners told me that he hopes to get a TFL judo program off the ground by March of 2009. The best part is that it is rumored that they will have Mike Swain teaching it.