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North Star Judo
Throwing, Grappling, Chokes and Elbow
Locks!
New Judo Classes In Burnsville Warrior's Cove!
Judo
Schedule
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Schools are only open during class hours. |
Class
Times
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Mon
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Tue
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Wed
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Thu
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Fri
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Sat
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Sun
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4:30 - 5:30
pm
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Judo
Burnsville |
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Judo
Burnsville
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5 - 6
pm |
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Judo
Saint
Louis
Park
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6 - 7
pm
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Judo
Saint
Paul
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Judo
Saint
Louis
Park
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Judo
Saint
Paul |
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North Star
North Star Martial Arts Academy of
Minnesota was founded in 1985 by Michelle Holtze (currently a 6th Degree Black
Belt) and Tom Crone (currently a 7th Degree Black Belt), both of
whom are currently instructing classes at the Warrior's Cove. North Star has had
successful judo competitors up through the Pan American and Olympic
levels. Many of our students train purely for the tremendous
recreational benefits. Both are welcome.
North Star strives to offer
students a lifelong opportunity for self challenge and growth. We
foster those opportunities in a positive, friendly, and encouraging
atmosphere. North Star subscribes to the judo principles: 1.
"Maximum efficiency through minimum effort" and 2. "Mutual benefit
and welfare" as guidelines for teaching and in helping students meet
their objectives for growth and achievement.
Judo
Judo is a martial art which
evolved from jiu-jitsu in Japan at the end of the 1800's. Its
techniques include throws, hold-downs, and chokes and arm-locks for
submission purposes. It has been an Olympic sport since 1964. Judo
is a grappling art, great for wrestlers and excellent cross-training
for all athletes.
Whether you are looking for
self-defense, fitness, focus, or fun, judo is a life sport that
offers all of those things.
Getting
Started in Judo
The most challenging aspect of
learning a martial art is getting up the courage to walk in the
door. The uncertainty of what awaits you inside can be extremely
daunting.
At North Star Judo we strive to
treat all visitors and beginners with the utmost respect. Judo is a
rough and tumble grappling sport, and we realize that it can take
weeks, or even months to become fully conditioned for regular Judo
practice.
Given such conditioning
requirements, our beginner's program emphasizes endurance building
exercises and essential falling skills that will enable you to
practice judo without injury. Strict safety rules are followed, and
dangerous or disrespectful behavior is not tolerated.
Beginners are welcome to attend
any of our scheduled practice times. You do not need to call ahead, simply
show up! Visitors are always welcome to
stop by and watch as well.
A Typical Judo Class
After changing into our practice
uniform, we bow-in together and announce any club news or
events. Then we usually spend 15 minutes warming up, which might
include falling practice, conditioning exercises, or ground fighting
drills.
When we are fully warmed up we
begin class by demonstrating one or two techniques for that night.
Usually this will consist of one standing technique and one ground
fighting technique. Both will be practiced through drills with
different partners under supervision. The drills often consist of
using the techniques as a counter to another technique, or in
combination with another technique. This practice constitutes the
bulk of a regular class period.
Near the end of a class we will
often practice randori (free grappling) or fast-paced throwing
drills using a crash-pad for safety. Beginners will never be
required to randori until they are ready.
Finally we end class with
cool-down exercises and then bow-out.
After attending class several
times a week, for a period of several months, you may be eligible
for promotion. Like other Japanese martial arts, Judo uses different
colored belts to designate rank. Beginners all start with a white
belt. The rank of first degree black belt requires several years of
regular practice and participation in other Judo events such as
seminars or tournaments.
Instructor Credentials
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Tom Crone
Tom Crone began his
judo training n 1960 as a freshman at Mankato State
College, Mankato, Minnesota. He rose to the rank of
shodan (1st degree black belt) in three years,
having won successive state championships and placing in
the First Collegiate National Championships in Colorado
Springs, CO, in 1962.
In 1985, he and
Michelle Holtze founded North Star Martial Arts Academy.
Since, he has trained at the Kodokan Judo Institute,
served five years on the National Junior Olympic
Coaching Staff, served Judo Minnesota as its Development
Chair for 10 years, one term as President, and in 2002
became its Collegiate Committee Chair. He is a member of
its Standards Committee. In 2003 he also became the
Midwest Coordinator for the United States Judo
Association's Collegiate Committee, and its Chair in
2004.
Crone sensei
became the first home-grown Minnesota judoka to
reach the ranks of 6th and 7th degree black belt awarded
by a nationally accredited judo organization.
He has been the
instructor for the University of Minnesota's academic
credit course since 1995. He is Sensei Emeritus
of North Star Judo. |
Michelle Holtze
Michelle Holtze
started judo as a teenager in 1969. She began teaching
judo while a student at Mankato State. Upon returning to
the Minneapolis are, she eventually took over teaching
at her instructor’s school, West Bank Judokan. This
evolved into her becoming the co-founder of North Star
Martial Arts Academy.
Michelle served as the
Standards Committee Chair (Promotion Committee) for Judo
Minnesota for several years, and held a variety of other
JMI positions.
She and her partner,
Kathy Buys, were the first kata competitors to step foot
onto the mat for the Pan American Judo Competitions, and
won a silver in ju no kata that day in 2000. In
the new millennium, Michelle has won numerous national
and international kata medals, including the one shown
in the photo which is a 1st place for nage no kata
at the 2003 World Masters Judo Championships, at the
Kodokan in Tokyo.
Michelle is the first
Home-grown Minnesota woman to be awarded the rank of 6th
dan. She also holds coaching certification with all
three accredited national judo organizations. In 2005,
she was elected to the Board of Directors of the United
States Judo Association. She continues to be the owner
and Head Instructor of North Star Judo.
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Mike Norton
Mike started Judo in
1973 in New York City. His first dojo was in a local
school where the mats needed to be set up and taken down
for every practice. Mike also frequented other Judo
Schools in the area for extra practice with a wider
array of judoka. This helped him to hone his skills and
place well in local and regional competition. While in
New York he also trained at Waseda Judo Club in Baldwin
Long Island and Nisei Judo Club in the Bronx.
After leaving New York
for Minnesota to accept a position for work Mike found
North Star Martial Arts Academy. His judo career
continued under the expert training of both Tom Crone
and Michelle Holtze. He attained his shodan (1st degree
black belt) in 1991. His enjoyment for the sport has
taken him as far away as Russia where he and several
other United States Judo players spent 14 days training
and exchanging ideas and techniques with Russian judoka.
Mike took a brief
hiatus to concentrate on raising his two children Frank
and Katherine who now also train with him in judo in
Burnsville.
Judo has become more
than just a fun way to stay in shape and Mike expects to
be both teaching and participating in judo for a long
time to come. |
Christina O'Brien
Christina O’Brien
began Judo in 1987 at age eleven with North Star Martial
Arts Academy under the instruction of Tom Crone and
Michelle Holtze. With Tom and Michelle as coach, she
placed 1st in the State Championships in 1989 and 1991,
received 2nd place in the High School Nationals in 1992
and 1st Place in the Chicago Open in 1990 as well as
placing in numerous local tournaments. She continues to
compete as an adult and recently placed 3rd in the Land
O’ Lakes Open.
Christina achieved the
rank of 1st degree black belt at age seventeen, making
her one of the youngest women in Minnesota to attain
this rank. Prior to teaching Judo at the Burnsville
location she had over two years of teaching experience.
She was assistant instructor at a program at Rosevelt
High School for one year and also assisted for a time at
North Star Martial Arts Academy for Senseis Crone and
Holtze. Her rank is certified through USA Judo.
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Click Here For Price & Payment Options
If you are
interested in taking one or more classes at the Warrior's Cove, we
suggest you visit during the class you are interested in. We have a
seating area for visitors. You may stop by as many times as you like to
watch classes. You may also participate in one free class in each
program that we offer. You will find both our instructors and the
other members to be friendly, informative, and supportive.
If you have any
questions that are not answered at this website, please call or email
the office nearest you.
Click
Here For Contact Information
Main Warrior's Cove Page
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