Competition Clinic with Olympian inspires Alaska's youth!
Olympian, Sensei Ryan Reser, inspired Alaska's youth while teaching them how hard work and dedication can make your dreams come true. While the techniques Sensei Reser taught were specifically applicable to Judo, the message he taught was about life, and achieving whatever goal you set out to achieve.
The clinics covered drills, games, and techniques to help improve the Judo of all of the participants. The games included challenges like climbing around your partner's torso without touching the ground, which proved challenging for both the person trying to remain stationary with their arms out stretched and the person trying to make the laps. Techniques for turning an opponent over into a pin were a staple for the children's ground work. For, the adults, the same techniques were extended to allow them to work into submission holds. As the participants work on standing techniques, they learned how to control an opponent with gripping techniques, multiple ways to off balance their opponent, and how to cleanly execute multiple throws after off balancing their opponent.
While these physical techniques were being taught, Sensei Reser taught the more general techniques of setting goals and working hard to accomplish those goals. He related how he used all of these elements together realize his dream of representing the United States as an Olympic athlete.
From the USA Judo website:Personal: Ryan was introduced to judo at the age of five by parents who were looking to keep Ryan and his siblings out of trouble. By age 7 Ryan was competing in national events and ultimately chose to narrow his sports away from other sports and toward judo with the ultimate goal of competing in the Olympic Games. "My experiences have given me the goal of being America's first Olympic gold medalist in judo. This is what has driven me to the place that I am today," Ryan says. "I love judo and even though I sacrificed a lot to chase my dream, I have also gained a lot and wouldn't give that up for the world."
Olympic Teams: 2008, Alternate in 2004 and 2000
World Championship Teams: 2007, 2005
Pan American Games Teams: 2007 (Gold)
Pan American Championships Teams: 2008 (Fifth), 2007 (Gold), 2006, 2005 (Gold)
2008:
Gold - U.S. Open
Silver - Olympic Zone Cup
Fifth - Pan American Championships
2007:
Gold - Pan American Games
Gold - Pan American Championships
Gold - II Copa Yanira Ramos Vigil
Gold - FEDOJUDO International Cup
Gold - U.S. Open Silver - Swiss Open
Bronze - Tre-Torri International
Bronze - Jose Ramon Rodriguez Championships
Bronze - Puerto Rico Open
2006:
Silver - Rotterdam World Cup
Silver - Boras World Cup
Bronze - Rendez-Vous Canada
Bronze - Belgium Open
Bronze - U.S. Open
2005:
Gold - Puerto Rico Open
Gold - Pan American Championships
Gold - World Team Trials
Gold - Rendez-Vous Canada
Silver - U.S. Open
Silver - National Championships
Bronze - British Open
Fifth - Belgium Open