ABOUT US
South Hills Judo Academy is a non-profit Social Club that was created with the specific purpose of:
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Promoting health, wellness and athletics among its members
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Promoting Judo as a sport and martial art
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Creating a venue for members to practice the sport and participate in a constructively competitive environment
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Keeping youth active and off the streets in partnership with other organizations
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Provide self-defense, hand to hand combats, disarming, anti-bullying and anti-harassment classes for our members
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Promote Judo virtues: leadership, confidence, teamwork
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Promote good nutrition
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We are committed to touch as many lives as we can and mentor youth, leaders of tomorrow.
M: 6:30 pm-7:45 pm
W: 6:30 pm-7:45 pm
Extended for Adults until 8:30 pm
Every Saturday:
-Open Mat 11:30 AM- 1:30 PM
-Self-defense/hand to hand combat training
We also come to you click for more info
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PRINCIPLES OF OUR ACADEMY
Respect
Self-Discipline
Self-Confidence
Fitness
Leadership
Team work
Self- Esteem
Discipline
MEET OUR STAFF
Rick Brown grew up in Clairton and was introduced to Judo by the great "father of Pittsburgh judo", Nick Zaffuto. Rick started training for competition at the age 16, before leaving Pittsburgh to train at the US Olympic Training Center. Rick trained at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs in Colorado from 1998 to 2005. He was selected as an alternate for the 2004 Olympic team, but a knee injury, a torn anterior cruciate ligament, put an end to his Olympic dreams.
Rick has become since then a nationally regarded judo coach and a great mentor to so many. Rick has also been the coordinator of our partner Allegheny Youth Development (AYD) judo program.
Rick Brown
Instructor
Originally from the Republic Democratic of the Congo, Ben was bullied as a kid. To regain confidence and self-esteem, he explored various martial arts and self-defense programs such as Taekwondo. Ultimately he found Judo, which means “the gentle way” in Japanese that helped him to self-discipline. Ben has been a member of the United States Judo Federation and a Black Belt since 2005.
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Ben enjoys giving back to the community by giving free Judo and self-defense classes through South Hills Judo Academy. Ben believes that most of his accomplishments in both his education and professional life are due to his dedication in Judo, which gives him the confidence to know how to get up when he falls down.
Head Instructor
Benoit Kihumbu (Ben)
Romeo Kihumbu
Assistant Instructor
Romeo was introduced to martials arts at a very young age. Along with his brother Ben, Romeo also has learned various martial arts among which Taekwondo and judo from Congolese national coaches. He considers Judo as a way of life governed by the quote: “It is not important to be better than someone else, but to be better than yesterday"- Jigoro Kano
CONTACT US
(412)-287-5272 | southHillsjudoacademy@gmail.com
2620 Brownsville Rd, Pittsburgh, PA15227
ACADEMY