Welcome to Pocono Mountain Judo Club. Please, take a minute to look around and learn more about us, and if you should have any questions afterwards, don’t hesitate to contact our webmaster for further info.

What is Judo?

     Judo is a relatively modern martial art that was derived from a number of older, warrior martial arts known as Jujutsu. Jujutsu (also written as “Jujitsu”, “Jiu-Jitsu, etc), is one of the oldest martial arts in the world and has long been used as a deadly method of hand-to-hand combat, in which any means would be used in order to defeat an opponent and to ensure survival. Jujutsu, while actually an all-encompassing fighting system, is most generally characterized by its close range fighting methods, which include countless striking, grappling, strangling, restraining, and small weapons techniques.

What does Jujutsu have to do with Judo?

     By 1868, the Japanese Shogunate (Japan’s controlling government figure at the time) had been overthrown, and many of the country’s past traditions began to fall by the wayside. Of the many things that were no longer needed in a modernized Japan, were the services of the Samurai, who were the chief practitioners of Jujutsu. It was this time period that marked the decline of Jujutsu.

     In 1882, Dr. Jigoro Kano, of Japan, who was himself an experienced practitioner in the arts of Jujutsu, officially founded the system of Judo. Dr. Kano, a Japanese educator, had begun to synthesize the most effective techniques he had learned throughout his Jujutsu training into a system of his own, and began to form a curriculum based upon them that would not only act as a self defense style, but also something that could be practiced as a form of physical fitness, as well. In the ensuing years, Judo would overtake Jujutsu in popularity, and became widely practiced, even to the point of becoming a regular physical education subject in Japanese schools.

     In 1964, Judo was introduced to the Olympic Games (women’s Judo became an official part of the games in 1992), in which it is still competed in to this day, practiced by millions worldwide. In fact, Judo is the most widely practiced martial art in the world.

Judo at Pocono Mountain Judo Club

     Founded in 2006 by Chris Costello, Pocono Mountain Judo Club (or PMJC), is a club dedicated to the competitive sport of Judo, as it is currently practiced. In our short existence, we have produced countless medals and awards in many tournaments, both local and beyond. PMJC is home to three Pennsylvania State Championship gold medalists, East Coast Judo Championship medalists, and USA Nationals hopefuls, to name just a few. Many of our students hold legitimate experience in arts other than Judo, including Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Wrestling, Boxing, and Muay Thai Kickboxing. Judo is an excellent activity for off-season wrestlers, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu players looking to improve their game, self-defense enthusiasts looking to gain different perspectives, or anyone who is looking for a new, challenging activity. Regardless of the level of any visitor who wishes to stop by, or student who wishes to sign up, we feel confident that ANYONE can maximize their time of the mat and get a great, challenging workout in. Simply put, we like to relax, have fun, and train hard.

Training at Pocono Mountain Judo Club

     PMJC is a smaller-sized club that is very informal, and runs intense workouts that have been taught to us and performed by the best players the sport of Judo has to offer. Students who are new to PMJC will learn the basics of rolling and falling, footwork, conditioning, grip fighting, grappling, and throwing techniques. In Judo, a match can be won by throwing an opponent on his or her back with full force and clean technique (“Ippon”), by pinning them to the ground for 25 seconds, by forcing them to submit via arm bar (a lock applied to the elbow joint), submitting them via choke, or by way of points or disqualification. More information about Judo’s competitive rules and scoring can be found here: http://judoinfo.com/competition.htm

     While learning new techniques and drilling certain scenarios is without a doubt an important part of Judo training, our specialty here at PMJC lies within the Randori component of the art. “Randori”, or “free fighting”, is an exercise that allows two students to practice their techniques against each other with 100% intensity, in any way they see fit (within the rules of Judo, of course). Randori tests and develops physical and mental toughness by putting students in a position where they must utilize their techniques against an unwilling, uncooperative opponent, which is something that is lacking in most other martial arts. By eliminating the most dangerous techniques of Jujutsu, but allowing students to practice the “safer” ones of Judo at 100% speed and intensity, perhaps Dr. Kano actually made Judo a more effective self defense system than Jujutsu because of the way it could be applied.

     In addition to practicing Judo in its regular form, we also routinely hold no-gi classes, which allow students to learn and practice their Judo techniques without the aid of a uniform.  The obstacles posed by performing Judo and other grappling arts without the aid of a uniform are extremely unique and constantly challenge students to adapt their techniques and strategies to become more effective in all types of situations.  PMJC's no-gi Judo classes are an excellent, comprehensive mix of styles that will no doubt be of benefit to any martial artist who is looking to improve their clinch grappling, throwing, takedowns, and submission game.  Whether it's on the street, in a tournament, an MMA fight, or anywhere else, being able to understand and apply these principles effectively is an absolute necessity.

     PMJC also regularly practices for, and competes in, tournaments all around Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Maryland. We are always updating our approach to keep up with the latest training methods being employed throughout the world of Judo.  The art of combat is as old as humans themselves, and while some things change, some things don't....Judo is still as effective as ever.

     PMJC is a proud member of the Hudson Valley Yudanshakai (NJ/NY), and is under the general guidance of Clyde Worthen, 6th Degree Black Belt and head instructor of Tech Judo Club, North Bergen, New Jersey. For more information of Tech Judo, please visit their website at http://www.techjudo.com

     If you should have any further questions about Judo or would like to know more about our club, you may contact our webmaster.

 Current Judo Schedule:

For more  information on Judo please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call Rich at 570-460-4216