NICHOLE CAVADA
STAFF WRITER
As a grappling art, Judo is distinctive in that it urges a natural upright posture over a crouching stance. Judo supports the self-defense condition in which the pressure of encountering a physical confrontation does not enable one to think about self-defense techniques and thus making them simply react and execute. The sport has been part of Moanalua High School’s colorful history for many years, as a way to push students to gain courage through competition. Moanalua High School’s Girls Judo assuredly has many outstanding players in their team, however there is one player whose dedication to the sport has been motivational to her peers.
Jazmyn Lazo, Moanalua High School sophomore, achieved first place in the 2018 OIA East Division Girl Judo championship in her weight division, followed by her teammate Caitlyn Yap in 2nd place. Lazo has also achieved second place in Hawaii High School Athletic Association’s 2016 Girls Judo Championships, with her teammates Amanda Higa and Nicole Shimizu achieving 1st and 3rd place respectively in their weight divisions.
With the help of her coach Derron Maki, Lazo has astounded people with the way she persisted through the peaks and valleys in her time as a judoka(judo practitioner). Her achievements have become an image of the fact that the time and dedication she placed into the sport had not gone to waste and will not be forgotten. With this in mind, students and the rest of the members of the Girls Judo team hope to see her succeed further as a judoka in her future endeavors.