The Quiet Power of Mastery: My Encounter with Sensei Scott at the U.S. Olympic Training Center By Dr. Garfield Johnson, 3rd Dan USA Judo In the winter of 1992, I found myself on the tatami at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs--an environment saturated with the relentless spirit of Olympic ambition. At that time, I was not just a judoka; I was a struggling, unhoused athlete clinging to the fading edge of a dream. The do (path) of judo is often austere, demanding total commitment--physical, mental, and spiritual--and I had given all three, with little to shield me from life's harsher throws. It was in this crucible that I first encountered Sensei Scott. We met during randori, that beautiful, unscripted form of sparring that reveals both technical fluency and psychological resilience. Randori is where the art of judo is laid bare--where kuzushi (balance breaking), tsukuri (fitting in), and kake (execution) fuse into an expression of pure will and refined technique. It was amid this flow that I felt, rather than saw, the unmistakable presence of mastery. What struck me most wasn't the precision of his nage-waza (throwing techniques) or the seamless transitions into ne-waza (ground techniques)--though they were impeccable. It was the revelation, only later confirmed, that Sensei Scott was visually impaired. Here stood a blind judoka not merely participating but teaching and leading at an elite level. This, in itself, was a profound kuzushi--a breaking of assumptions. In judo, we are trained to seek advantage through the redirection of force, to use our opponent's strengths against them. But what Sensei Scott embodied was a redirection of perceived limitation into undeniable strength. His condition was not a deficit--it was, in judo terms, a shinten (progressive transformation), a turning of adversity into mastery. Sensei Scott's approach to instruction was steeped in kihon (fundamentals), but also adaptive, deeply intuitive, and intellectually rigorous. His command of tai-sabaki (body movement), his sensitivity to tactile feedback, and his ability to perceive tempo, rhythm, and intent in randori placed him within the upper echelons of judo pedagogy. He was, and is, a shihan in the truest sense--not merely a master of technique, but a cultivator of character, resilience, and possibility. For any prospective judoka considering where to train or whom to emulate, understand this: elite judo is not solely defined by podium finishes or belt ranks. It is measured in seiryoku zen'yō (maximum efficiency with minimum effort) and jita kyōei (mutual welfare and benefit). The Denver Judo team coaches, and Sensei Scott embodies these principles with every grip, every word, and every correction. He is not just a coach--he is a living testament that the randori of life, with all its unpredictable attacks and falls, can still be navigated with grace, adaptability, and unwavering resolve. It is without hesitation that I place Sensei Scott and the Denver Judo coaching staff among the most elite and proficient judo coaches in North America. His kata may be unconventional, but his ippon seoi nage, tokui-waza--his specialty technique--is his unshakable spirit and transformative mentorship. To step onto the tatami with Sensei Scott is not merely to train. It is to keiko (engage in reflective practice) with a master whose vision transcends sight--and whose judo transcends limitation. read more

Came down to Denver Judo and was largely disappointed. I had previous judo experience and the reviews for this place was overwhelmingly positive, so it really caught me by surprise by what I saw. Firstly, it was disturbing how many lower belts were coaching. This concerning because 1) inexperienced judoka teaching other inexperienced judoka could be a safety concern- yellow and green belts have no business coaching , yet that's exactly what I saw... and secondly 2)There is a very high level of aggressive behavior within the club itself with the members, almost like a military hazing mindset- this has it's place, but what it turns into is anyone who isn't instantly 'popluar' gets ran off. God forbid if I let my kids come to a place like this. Save the competitive aggression for competition, not instruction, and keep the coaching to experienced sensei- not just anyone with a higher rank than the next guy. The curriculum is fairly basic. Sadly, it needs to be said that this school really caters to the "PARA-lympic" judo community, which is a different competition pool from college, nation and olympic level competitors.There is no nice way of saying this, but this is a primer judo club for people with disabilities. while there are a good number non disabled athletes... the roots of this club are the Paralympics.. and I'll let you draw your own conclusions if this club will suit your needs. Lastly, I notice many injured competitors. Too many. This place is a firm believer in overtraining to build toughness, which is probably accounts for the very high injury rate. All that being said, I do think the 'punch card' is an excellent idea and I wish more judo and martial arts clubs in general had something like that. I hope that was helpful for anyone wondering about Denver judo. I'd love to be more positive, but they charged me money and I have certain exceptions with 'for profit' judo clubs. I paid money, this is my opinion based on attending several classes, and they can take that as they will. read more

The instruction is Excellent!! This club is filled with top level player's. I set out to do BJJ at first, but found this school/club. They are very welcoming and have the best attitude toward new students. A lot of BJJ school's I went to were not as warm. Judo is very competitive and a very good work out. I roll with wrestler's and BJJ students all the time and have had no problem's keeping up with either. Another great thing is they are not out to get your money, unlike other martial arts schools these day's. They stay very true to the heart of Judo. I am proud to be apart of this. MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY MINIMUM EFFORT. read more