Judo team chops down competition

"It was a tremendous honor to be there and compete the way we did," said Mike Buckle, director and coach of the San Mateo P.A.L. judo team. "Judo is our most popular program year-around and sometimes we'll have a waiting list of 100. What people don't realize is judo is the second-most played sport in the world and it's been an Olympic sport since 1964. In terms of participation, it's No. 1 in the Olympics."

Richards, 12, who repeated as champion in the 64-kilo division (140 pounds and under), dominated for the second straight year. She won the gold medal match in 10 seconds when she threw an ippon, which is an equivalent to a knockout.

"We train hard and we all love the sport so winning just makes it more fun," Richards said. "We all watched each other in our matches and it was great because we're all friends and try to help each other out."

Buckle said the program's success is two-fold: First, San Mateo P.A.L. offers certified, quality instructors to teach the finer nuances of the sport. Second, the kids in the program are eager, hard working and diligent in their training. They worked out two times a day, six days a week in the weeks leading up to the championships.

"Kids who come into our program usually stay for at least a year," Buckle said. "Then they make a decision on whether or not to continue. Most of them do (continue)."

Still, one of the best judo teams in the Bay Area will be homeless come September. Soaring rent prices have forced San Mateo to move for the sixth time in six years. San Mateo High School will serve as the interim home base for the P.A.L. squad until it can find a firm replacement, which won't be easy.

"At times it can be very frustrating," Buckle said. "Our property owners allowed no break on the rent and it's just very expensive and difficult to find space. Eventually, if we're left without a home, it will matter. We need to be able to train on specialized mats or we can't practice. You would think someone would want a P.A.L. in the community around their area."

San Mateo's rising stars include Alex Chung, who won the 8-year-old bantamweight division, and Luk, who took the silver in the Juvenile 'B' division, which fielded one of the most competitive classes of the tournament. Buckle said Luk faced competitors training to make the 2008 Olympic team.

"She faced some of the top girls in the country and more than held her own," Buckle said. "Wing has a lot of talent and potential and with hard work, she can do great things in this sport."

Kids ranging from age 6 to 18 participate in the San Mateo P.A.L. program, which charges just $20 a year, Buckle said. Richards shows a precocious side belying her youth. The night before every match, she visualizes her moves, techniques and the surroundings of the arena.

"My sensei Dave (Loobey) taught me this and it puts you in a great state of mind," Richards said. "I'm visualizing the things I'm going to do in the tournament."

Richards is a fast learner. She started judo just three years ago and is already up to a blue belt, the fifth of nine belts in judo. But Richards said color doesn't matter.

"As long as I can do the sport, it doesn't matter what color belt I am," she said. "We're all having fun here at P.A.L., and that's what counts the most."