Athlete of the Week: Donna Judge

Sarasota’s Donna Judge is the coach of the U.S. Southeastern Regional Martial Arts team, which comprises martial arts students from all over the state. Judge coaches the team out of Suncoast Karate Dojo in Sarasota, as well as Sarasota High School. The team is in good hands with Judge, who is a retired 13-time world champion, eighth-degree black belt. Each year, the team travels to the World Martial Arts Games, the current equivalent of the Olympics.

How did you get started in martial arts?
When I was young, I saw a demonstration. I come from kind of an abusive background, and I liked the idea of being able to protect myself. My first thought was that no one would be able to hurt me again, but as it went on, I realized how much I respected the discipline and way of life that went along with martial arts. There are a lot of character and moral values that go along with it.

What kind of values do you instill in your students?
I teach my students that they are never to hurt someone unless it’s absolutely necessary. They know that they are only allowed to use their training outside of the dojo to defend their life, their family or their country. Otherwise, if they’re caught fighting outside of the dojo, they’ll be kicked out. To learn the skills, you don’t have to hurt anyone. It’s all light touch. A lot of parents are nervous to let their kids join because they see things on TV that give them the wrong idea.

What are some common misconceptions about karate?
A lot of the MMA (mixed martial arts) that’s become popular on TV is giving people the wrong impression about karate. Our intention is never to hurt people. We also aren’t doing this for glory or money. It’s about the mind, body and spirit and building moral character. A lot of my students go on to do really great things. I have three of my black belts who have joined the FBI. A lot of them gravitate toward law enforcement-type jobs.

You’ve had a very impressive career. What have been your proudest moments?
I retired in 1992. Four years ago, I went to Sydney as a coach. When I was there, I thought, “You know what? I think I want to compete.” So I asked if it would be alright if I competed. I’d had my shoulder replaced, and they said, “Your doctor will kill you.” But I ended up competing, and I took two gold medals. So, that made 13 for me. It’s nice to be recognized for all the hard work you put into something, but honestly, the medals and things are just kind of icing on the cake.

What has been the most rewarding aspect of your career?
The biggest thing for me is how proud I am of my students. I’m proud of my awards, but the students are what keep me going. I see a lot of the things teenagers can get themselves into, and I see the positive effect this is having on their lives. My students stay in touch with me for years after they leave, and my biggest accomplishment is being able to touch the lives of people.

HOW TO HELP
Anyone interested in making a donation to fund the team’s trip to the World Games should call the Suncoast Karate Dojo, 923-6013.