Instructor Team
Sensei Josh Lehmen
Sensei John McDaniel
Sensei John McDaniel
- Sensei Josh Lehmen began his judo training in 1985 under Sensei Dale Otto earning his Green Belt before taking a break from training in the early 90's. Realizing he missed judo he returned to Jefferson City Judo in 2015 and in 2018 he earned his Shodan rank (1st degree Black Belt). He also began training in Shin-Gi-Tai Jujitsu earning hi
- Sensei Josh Lehmen began his judo training in 1985 under Sensei Dale Otto earning his Green Belt before taking a break from training in the early 90's. Realizing he missed judo he returned to Jefferson City Judo in 2015 and in 2018 he earned his Shodan rank (1st degree Black Belt). He also began training in Shin-Gi-Tai Jujitsu earning his Shodan rank in June 2020. Sensei Lehmen earned his Nidan rank (2nd degree Black Belt) in both Judo and Shin-Gi-Tai Jujitsu in March of 2021. In March 2023, he earned the rank of Sandan (3rd degree Black Belt) in Judo. In June of 2023 he earned the rank of Sandan in Shin-Gi-Tai. As the lead instructor for Jefferson City Judo Sensei Lehmen's enthusiasm for the art shows when he is training and working with the students.
- A LETTER FROM SENSEI JOSH
Sensei John McDaniel
Sensei John McDaniel
Sensei John McDaniel
- Sensei John McDaniel an Instructor for Jefferson City Judo Club began his training in 1971 at the Belleville Judo Club in Belleville, Illinois under Sensei Quentin Thompson. He earned his Shodan (1st degree) black belt in 1985. In 1985 he also opened the Perryville Judo Club. He is proud of the many successes of his students in judo as we
- Sensei John McDaniel an Instructor for Jefferson City Judo Club began his training in 1971 at the Belleville Judo Club in Belleville, Illinois under Sensei Quentin Thompson. He earned his Shodan (1st degree) black belt in 1985. In 1985 he also opened the Perryville Judo Club. He is proud of the many successes of his students in judo as well as their lives over the years. He served as the assistant Sensei at Southeast Missouri State University for 4 years. In May of 2014 he earned his Sandan rank; 3rd degree black belt. In January 2018 he became a National Judo Referee and a National Certified Coach.
Sensei Phil Rumbaoa
Sensei Phil Rumbaoa
Sensei Phil Rumbaoa
- Sensei Phil Rumbaoa an Assistant Instructor for the Jefferson City Judo Club, is a native of Southern California. He began his judo career while attending graduate school at the University of Kansas. From 1982 to 1983, as a member of the KU Jayhawk Judo Club, Sensei Phil advanced from Rokkyu to Gokyu under the guidance of a Japanese gradu
- Sensei Phil Rumbaoa an Assistant Instructor for the Jefferson City Judo Club, is a native of Southern California. He began his judo career while attending graduate school at the University of Kansas. From 1982 to 1983, as a member of the KU Jayhawk Judo Club, Sensei Phil advanced from Rokkyu to Gokyu under the guidance of a Japanese graduate student, Sensei Hikaru Deguchi. Graduation from KU brought Sensei Phil back to the Los Angeles area where, from 1983 to 1984, he continued his judo training at the LA Tenri Judo Dojo. At Tenri, Sensei Phil progressed from Gokyu to Ikkyu under the direction of Senseis Keigo Morishita, Hayward Nishioka, and 1980 US Olympic Judo Team Member Steve Seck. While in LA, Sensei Phil also had the opportunity to randori with the USA, Dutch, Belgium, British, and Japanese Olympic judokas in the month before the start of the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympic Games. He also served as a Sports Information Officer for Judo and Wrestling, at the USC Olympic Village during those Olympic Games. Sensei Phil returned to the Heartland in October 1984 and earned his Shodan from Sensei Steve Scott at the Kansas City Welcome Mat Judo Club on May 30, 1986. From mid-1986 through 2021, Sensei Phil was out of judo because, as he says, “life changes just happen!” In Fall 2021, Sensei Phil returned to the mat by the Grace of God—“at the urging of my adult judoka kids Michaela and David” and “at the very kind invitation from Sensei Josh Lehman!”
Coach Roy Tu'ua
Sensei Phil Rumbaoa
Sensei Phil Rumbaoa
- Biography coming soon.
A letter from sensei josh
Sensei Josh outlines a few key concepts for being successful at judo.
There are a number things a beginner can do at judo that will assist in increasing your skill and overall understanding of judo. Judo is a difficult art and that is why the more you understand judo, the easier it is. Here are a few key concepts that will help improve your judo.
BE COOPERATIVE
As a partner, try to be as cooperative as possible. Being stiff as a board will only result in being thrown extremely hard and having a group of people who do not want to work with you. So, relax and take the time to learn how to be a good partner. If you do not know how, ask your sensei/coach how you should react when your partner is performing a technique.
LEARN PROPER BREAKFALLS
Learning how to break fall is critical for a beginner. If you cannot fall, you will be scared of getting thrown. This will cause you to be stiff and defensive when your opponent or partner throws you.
GET THERE EARLY AND LEAVE LATE
Getting to training early and leaving late is one of the best habits you can do. The more you hang around at judo, the better you become. It’s that simple.
HAVE A JOURNAL
Write down everything you did at practice. Every so often, open up your journal and read over a few sessions you did a few months ago. This will really help you grasp the concepts of judo a lot quicker.
DON’T LOOK AT THE FEET
Looking at your opponent’s feet is common in nearly every beginner judo class. The whole principle of judo is to feel what your opponent is doing not watch. You should always look at your partner’s chest. By looking at their chest, you can see both of their arms as well as keeping your head up and back straight which is crucial to all throwing techniques.
TRY TO FEEL RATHER THAN MUSCLE
Technique, technique, technique. Try to use as much technique as possible. Use little strength each and every time you perform judo. The more you concentrate on technique, the quicker you will improve your judo skills.
MOST IMPORTANT: HAVE FUN!
In the end, you must have fun at judo. Judo is a fantastic sports and an awesome martial art. Have fun at each every practice and session. Don’t be hard on yourself and remember that somewhere around the world, there is someone a little better than you. Setting daily, short and long term goals is the best way to continually have fun at judo.
See you at practice!
Sincerely,
Sensei Josh
