1996_04 Insight April 1996

              Sports
APRIL 24,1996
Snake-quick moves
unleash judo power
Insight photo by Ryan McKee
Andrew Keenan fends off Robert Austin during an intense judo workout.
I Timing and technique
turn opponents' energy
against them
by Derek Togerson
Staff Writer
Combining the power of a gorilla with lhc
relieves ol a rattlesnake, the judo master subdues his assailant.
Judo is an art lhat combines impeccable
liming wiih perfect technique, turning an
opponent's own energy against them. It can
be beautiful one moment, devastating the
The Judo Club at California Slate University. Fresno has developed a team that combines ihe besi of many aggressors.
The leam has never finished worse than
second in the nation and has captured two
national championships in the lasl  I I
Despite these accomplishments, lew know
about the Judo Club. A leam of martial artists in Fresno has enjoyed incredible success
the past two decades, bul the universit) has
not recognized its accomplishments.
"Judo is a minor sport, and it's not very
popular in America." said llaruo Im.imura.
who founded the club in 1976 with former
Fresno Slate professor Izumi Tanaguchi.
The 62-year-old Imamura. who has been
invoh ed w ith judo since age 10. said thc anonymity of the club may be attributed to the
NCAA, which docs not recognize judo as a
sport under its jurisdiction.
However, more than 200 junior colleges.
colleges and universities make up ihe National Collegiate Judo Association.
Since judo is not a sanctioned sport, it receives no funding from ihe university. Willi
no scholarships, it can be difficult lo find
quality players.
"Judo is not a professional sport ir.
America, so there's no money in it." Imamura
said.    "Kids    want
money, so they play
basketball and football.
nol   |participate
judo."
Recruiting for lhc
club is a major burden
with a lack of scholarships. But financial
hardships     haven't
slopped Imamura from
molding Fresno State
into one of the top two
programs in the United
States.
The leam consistenly
battles San Jose Slate
for ihe lop spot. Insight photo by Ryan McKee
In addition lo being   Mental preparation before a practice session contributes
ihe  head  coach  in   to each individual's performance.
Fresno. Imamura coach
for thc U.S. National Team. Always on thc    are both expected to make a run at the Olym-
lix>kout lor fresh lalcnt. he leaches local kids     pic team.
in an attempt to prime them for collegiate        "I expect to win." Camarillo said.
and Olympic competition. Sunahara and Camarillo bolh practice with
"I train grammar |school | and high school Fresno Stale but attend Fresno City College.
Each was a 1996 National Junior College
champion in his respective weight class. Both
plan to later transfer to Fresno State.
When Sunahara and Camarillo arrive, they
will help to fill oui a squad that is critically
undermanned. Only six of ihe 10 possible
weight classes in team competition arc taken
this year.
Rodney and Haruo Imamura hope to in-
the
kids, then try to recruit them her
said. "Judo lakes years of practice lo be good.
so you have to start young, about 5 or 6 years
Since findi
difficult. Ii
to fill his re
His four
athletes interested in judo is
relied on his family
Now. the trophy case is filled.
. have all competed 81 Fresno
Slate and all have been national champions.
The most successful was Rodney     crease lhc popularity of judo and ine
Imamura. who won four consecutive titles     number of powerful programs across the na-
from 1984-88. under his father's
"I went to thc Olympic Trials il
didn't make the team." Rodney
said. "That's (he closest anyone fr
has come lo making it though."
With the Summer Games set In
in Atlanta. Olympic gold is onci
the mind of some Valley players
Sunahara (132) and David Camarilli
lion. Each believes that developing stronger
judo schools will spark interest in the sport.
1992 but     allowing thc United Stales to betler compete
Imamura     in international events.
in Fresno "It's odd we developed judo in Fresno."
Rodney Imamura said. "Mv dad's hard work
this year     has really made it happen, il we could win
again on a couple of Olympic medals or other big
lilies. I think more people will become involved."
Sideline razzing
a lively tradition
in baseball lore
HEALTH FAIR  ^
¥
by Tyler A. Takeda
Staff Writer
"Wake them up. Benny!"
"Go get a splinter!"
Call it chatter. Call it heckling. Bui
such phrases arc as much a pan of
baseball as thc bat and ball.
Don "Sugar Bear" Kostrub and his
wife. Herlinda. mainstays at California State University. Fresno baseball
games for thc past 11 years, lead a
group of a doz.en spectators who yell
out chants to support the team.
"Wake them up. Benny" is the rallying cry for Bulldog leadolT batter
Ben Reynoso. It's his job as the lead-
off batter to start rallies.
"Go get a splinter" is shouted when
the opposing batter has two strikes on
him. Gelling a splinter refers to taking a seat on the bench after a strike
out.
Sugar Bear, 48. yells because he
feels it rallies the players. Sugar Bear
takes aim at opposing players and
umpires.
"Your nine lives are up!" Sugar
Bear bellowed in a game against San
Diego State, when a struggling Aztec
pitcher was promptly taken out of the
game for a relief pitcher.
While some phrases arc obvious to
all, some require minimum baseball
knowledge such as "plenty of stick."
"no stick" and "double dip."
"Plenty of stick" is shouted at batters needing a boost while "no stick"
is yelled at opposing batters who
don't hit very well.
"Double dip" is chanted when a
runner is on first with one out. Sugar
Bear yelled this in the top of the sixth
inning, and the San Diego Aztec hitter promptly hit into a double play.
"I like the club," Sugar Bear said
from his seat on the third-base line.
"We come out, relax and have a good
time.
"I feel that the ball players hear it,
and it psyches them up." he said. "I
think I can pull ihem.out. just like
Inman Perkins does."
Perkins is another of Beidcn Field's
cheerleaders.
Between innings, Perkins gets on
top of the dugout and leads the crowd
in Bulldog cheers.
This season is Sugar Bear's first as
a season-ticket holder, but he has attended many games in the past, in-
straight Pepsi-Johnny
ics. Fresno Stale's own
eluding 11
Quik Class
One of Sugar Bear's favorite sayings is "leave him in. lake him out."
Sugar Bear yells "leave him in"
while the rest of thc stands shout
"take him out" to the opposing
coach heading out of the dugout to
talk to his pitcher.
Sugar Bear not only shouts at ihe
games, he sings. Sugar Bear's favorite song comes from thc TV show
"Cops."
"Whatcha gonna do. whatcha
gonna do. whatcha gonna do when
they come for you."
Sugar Bear and the rest of his buddies will be at the next Fresno Slate
baseball game at Beiden Field against
Long Beach State on April 30.
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