The greatest thing about studying judo has always been the wonderful, dedicated and inspiring people one meets along the way. Wherever one steps into a judo dojo, there is an immediate “family” connection and lifelong friendships are created through trusting each other while working through obstacles and fears together towards a common goal. My path through judo has been long and varied and I have been fortunate to have trained or instructed in a number of great programs during my travels. At each phase, I have met so many people who have impacted my life in immeasurable ways. While I have often been the instructor, coach or sensei, I have always been a student, constantly learning from those around me. I humbly share some of their thoughts about our training experiences below. - Joe Y.
COLLEEN R.
Joe Yungwirth teaches the technical and tactical aspects of judo which enable his students to develop from beginners to advanced athletes and advanced athletes into elite athletes. He uses ethical coaching practices with proven methodology in the development of the total judoka. In my experience with Joe, we were training under Steve and Irwin Cohen near Chicago while I was preparing to represent the United States at the 2000 Olympic Games - Steve was the Olympic team coach that year. Joe was a great training partner because of his knowledge, skills, and enthusiasm. More importantly, his work ethic and positive attitude made the pursuit of higher goals and aspirations appear readily obtainable. He made me a better judoka and more importantly a better person for having the opportunity to train with him. He has my utmost gratitude, trust, and respect always.
Colleen Rosensteel MESS, CSCS, OLY
USA Olympic Judo Team 1992, 1996, 2000
RICK Q.
Head Sensei, Fayetteville/Ft. Bragg Judo
I'm a veteran athlete who has been practicing judo for over 16 years. I run my own club in Fayetteville, NC and I can confidently say that the training I receive from Joe is the best I've ever had. Joe and his team have welcomed me and my students with open arms and I am honored to say we are sister clubs. Joe uses a great mix of traditional judo and the most up to date training methods and through his coaching and training, I have personally gone on to win multiple national level titles in judo and BJJ. I always look forward to training with Joe and I am proud to call his students my teammates and Joe my coach.
JOHN L.
My name is John Louis Larsen, and this is a testimonial pertaining to Joe Yungwirth who I consider to be a master judo instructor. I have known Joe since 2000 as a fellow Special Agent in the FBI, self-defense training partner, coach, and friend. He is an unbelievably talented coach/instructor not only in Judo but also in the field of martial arts. I am an instructor in Hapkido and, as such, I invited Joe into my class to expose my students to throwing and grappling techniques as taught in Judo. It was a transformative experience not only for my students but also for me. He instructed us in history, inner spirit, concept and execution of the Art of Judo. My students and I were won over as Joe became our coach and mentor. His style of coaching is very hands-on and personalized. Not only did he teach us technique, but we learned what the spirit was behind the Art. He introduced us to Olympians who were his training partners at the Cohen’s Judo Academy who sometimes provided guest instruction for our classes. It appeared to me that he could see each student's weakness and strength both on and off the mat. He worked and trained not just in technique but also in the mental aspects. At our class, the student backgrounds were varied between federal law enforcement agents, police officers and businessmen. We all walked away from class better men and women. Joe is a true Renaissance man who I have great trust in due to his trustworthiness, courage, and integrity.
MARK T.
Prior to joining Yungwirth Judo, I had practiced judo for about 13 years. At various points in my judo life I trained with casual players, professional athletes, Olympians, and judoka of all shapes and sizes. However, training under Joe provided me for the first time a blueprint to put all of the various pieces together. I came to realize that even though there were techniques I had practiced for years and I felt highly proficient with, I was not very successful executing because I didn’t have a game plan to get me into a position to be successful. Everything we do at Yungwirth Judo is designed with a specific procedure and goal in mind. From stepping on the mat, moving toward our opponent, gripping, and executing, every movement has an objective. With clear objectives building towards an overall strategy, every practice and workout feels purposeful and rewarding. My judo has improved incredibly in the short amount of time I have spent with Joe and I would recommend his dojo to everyone from the seasoned judoka to those just becoming interested in martial arts.
BILL S.
We first became associated with Joe Yungwirth while living in Virginia when my young son wanted to explore Judo and therefore decided to train under him. Little did we know that years later Judo would be a centerpiece for our family. We have since left Virginia and joined the Yungwirth Judo Academy in North Carolina. As an Aerospace engineer, retired military officer and former national-class powerlifter, I recognize the importance of consistency and the discipline required to compete and operate at high levels. Yungwirth Judo Academy provides these aspects along with an effective, repeatable methodology, all of which are necessary for creating a learning environment conducive to developing and training elite athletes. Under the guidance and tutelage of Joe Yungwirth, my son has developed into a nationally ranked judoka and has won matches at international level competitions. Additionally, he is also excelling in his college studies based upon the self-discipline, focus and work ethic he has learned through the study of judo.
Al S.
Al Shoats Jr., MBA
Pacific Grove Judo Academy, Dojo Sensei
USJF Yodan
In 1998, Joe Yungwirth was a black belt and active duty Green Beret who came to study at the prestigious Defense Language Institute (DLI) in Monterey, California. In those days, Pacific Grove Judo Academy was just about a mile down the hill from DLI. Joe quickly found us, immediately hit it off with our founder and dojo sensei, Prof. B.E. Baptiste, and began training with us. Prof. Baptiste was an old-school, competition-focused, classic Japanese technique-teaching judo coach, who had produced over 30 national judo champions and two judo Olympians. He recognized Joe’s judo acumen, and Joe quickly became a great coach for us; even taking over Prof. Baptiste’s practices for a time. I had been competing and training at Pacific Grove Judo Academy since early childhood, benefitting from the excellent coaches there, but none had been as well-rounded as Joe. Joe brought such balanced leadership qualities to coaching. I always felt a lightness around him without ever forgetting that I was training hard to become a better competitive judo athlete. I was ikkyu then, and still working on the last requirements for shodan. As many know, this is a tough time for long-term judo athletes who are first breaking into and competing in black-belt divisions. It feels like you’re a salmon getting beat up while fighting upstream. Joe couldn’t have come at a better time, and coached me mat-side when I was a brown belt “fighting up” and struggling in my first black belt divisions. I’ve trained with multiple Olympians, even World Champions, but Joe was the most engaging and approachable judo instructor I have met. His ability to properly convey technical concepts allows his students to absorb information and progress quickly. I still remember how easily Joe was able to get buy-in from me, and how comfortable I was pushing myself harder and further in my training as a result. That was 22 years ago, and Joe and I still remain in regular contact, even though we are on opposite coasts. Now I am the dojo sensei at Pacific Grove Judo Academy, and we still incorporate several training methods that Joe brought to our dojo. I highly recommend Joe to anyone, beginner or Olympian, wishing to improve at the sport of judo.
LES T.
Forty-seven, out of shape and overweight I walked into a martial arts school wanting to learn Gracie BJJ. As luck would have it, I visited on a night when the judo team was training and was warmly welcomed by one of Joe’s students. I was not prepared to stay for practice and was invited to come back on Saturday and try Judo out for a couple weeks before deciding.
Their coach (Joe) was away on assignment those first couple weeks, but the way class was run and the numerous mentions of his name throughout the practices you’d think he was there. Because he was, perhaps not in the flesh but he had instilled something in these Judoka, a significant reverence yet something more, something deeper. They spoke of him in an intriguing manner I was unaccustomed to. Those first two weeks created an aura of mystique regarding their coach.
At practice, I quickly learned that any semblance I had of being able to defend myself was completely ridiculous as Joe’s students, big, small and even smaller respectfully beat me with ease, all 260 pounds of me. What was it that this mysterious Joe was teaching these tiny women that they could destroy me at will? I needed to know more, I attended every practice trying to understand this Judo thing that all these other students knew and would discuss “Joe said..”, “Joe does it this way …”, “Joe said not to …”.
JENNIFER S.
Having trained and competed for years in other martial arts including Kickboxing and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, I always considered myself a well-rounded high-level athlete. But it was not until I met Joe and started training and studying Judo, that I learned the true meaning of confidence, mental toughness, and being “well-rounded”. Although at the time, if you would have asked me what was happening, I would have simply said “I’m getting in an awesome workout, I’m learning some amazing techniques and most of all I’m having fun with some incredible people.”
Joe is a coach who truly understands what it means to build every aspect of an athlete physically and mentally. Being the only 110lb female on the team at the time, I had many doubts cross my mind during training. Joe taught me the importance of technique and using what I thought was my weakness to my advantage. I learned quickly that Judo is truly an art for everyone regardless of size or ability. Any fears I had of being “too small to do this technique” or “too short to do that throw” were eliminated within the first few classes.
The discipline and lessons I learned in Judo, carry through with me today. As a true friend and mentor, Joe taught me that whether you are training, competing, learning a new technique, or simply going through life, challenges and setbacks are inevitable. But when you learn to focus, those setbacks can become opportunities for growth. And when you shift your thoughts and never give up, one’s likelihood of success is not far off. Studying Judo and learning from Joe has undoubtedly been one of the best decisions I have made.
- Jennifer Sutingco