New Judo Academy Focuses On The 'Women's Side' Of The Dojo
Moraine Valley Judo Academy for Women is open and looking for students to sweat while learning a new skill at Round 4 in Palos Hills. The Moraine Valley Judo Academy, a new women's judo academy in Palos Hills, Illinois, is located in the Round 4 MMA, Boxing and Fitness Gym, 8082 W. 111th St. The academy, all female, is led by Francisco Soto, a male judo sensei (teacher) with a black belt in judo and a personal trainer, who aims to teach 20 or 30 women enough to earn a blackbelt and start their own club. Classes are held from noon to 1 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday at Round 4, and costs $79 per month for membership, which includes kickboxing, boxing, group fitness and strength training in addition to the women-only judo classes.
Published : a month ago by Lorraine Swanson in Sports Lifestyle
PALOS HILLS, IL — A new women’s judo academy is starting in Palos Hills across the street from Stagg High School and is looking for students. The Moraine Valley Judo Academy is located in the Round 4 MMA, Boxing and Fitness Gym, 8082 W. 111th St., itself in a soft opening, teaches the martial art and sport of judo from a personal trainer perspective.
While the academy is all female, the instructor is male, Francisco Soto, 50, who started the dojo (practice space) when his 19-year-old daughter told him the real reason why she didn’t join her university’s judo club. “She said it was all guys and didn’t want to be the only girl in the space,” Soto said. “I get it. I decided then to someday create dojo for women,”
Soto, a judo sensei (teacher) with a black belt in judo and a personal trainer, created his curriculum over the summer with an eye toward fitness, community and culture in a non-competitive environment. “I want to have a class that focuses on fitness while learning a skill,” Soto explained. “I’ve dissected movements and approached them from the perspective of a personal trainer where you’re always moving around and working up a sweat.”
He wants the women’s side of the dojo to help each other and grow together as a community. “If we’re talking about people who are older or trying to get into shape and using seldom used muscles, it can be dangerous,” Soto said. “As a personal trainer, we have the knowledge to build up fitness and strength. Judo is what you make of it and safety is one of my highest priorities.”
Classes are from noon to 1 p.m. Monday and Wednesday at Round 4, and costs $79 per month, which gives members access to Round 4’s kickboxing, boxing, group fitness and strength training in addition to the women-only judo academy. To participate in the women-only judo classes, register in person at Round 4, 8082 W. 111th St. Soto hopes to take the Moraine Valley Judo Academy concept to other local venues and park districts.
“My goal is to teach 20 or 30 women enough to earn a black belt and start their own club,” Soto said. Keep up with MVJA happenings on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. For more information, contact Francisco Soto at [email protected] or call 708-514-3858.