Left, Stevens Point Judo Club instructors Tom Weidner and Tom Gustin with Guest Coach Osmil Millan. (Contributed Photo)

By Tom Gustin

The Stevens Point Judo Club continues with its Guest Coach Program and this year Sensei (teacher), Osmil (Os) Millan, Judo Hachidan (8th Degree Black Belt), also holds a Black belt in Ju Jitsu and Tae-Kwon-Do,  was the guest coach Tuesday, October 22 at UWSP Physical Education Building. 

Sensei Millan, 67, started Judo in 1956 in his home country of Cuba.  He was Cuba’s National Junior Champion, in 1958, 1959, 1960, and 1961.  In 1961 he was selected to the Junior National Judo Team.  He was five time AAU State Senior Judo Champion for Minnesota, studied Judo and Tae-kwon-do in Seoul, South Korea and Judo at the Kodokan, Tokyo, Japan.

He was President of Minnesota Judo Association from 1975-1985, taught Judo at the Duluth, MN YMCA from 1966-1974, also Kenora-Keewatin School of Judo in Kenora, Canada from 1980-1985.  Currently he is the head Sensei at the Judo-Gym Madison in Madison, WI.

Sensei Millan spent many hours taping Judo matches at the 1976 Montreal and 1988 Seoul Olympics.

At the 1980 Olympics in Russia (boycotted) he was sent as a scout.  Sensei Millan is a National Competition Coach.  He has taught at the National Judo Institute (USJA) and Camp Bushido, 1984 -1987.  He has also coached at the Olympic Training Center, Colorado, Springs, CO. 1983-1984.  Mr. Millan from 1985-1987 was a member of the USJA Referee Committee.  He is an International Judo Referee, and officiated in Japan, Mexico, Canada, France and USA as well as an International Coach.  He is a Life Member of the United States Judo Association (USJA), United States Judo Federation (USJF), International Judo Federation (IJF), United States Martial Arts Association (USMA), and a member of the United States Judo Incorporated (USJI).

Sensei Millan talked to the Stevens Point Judo students about the element of surprise that throws everyone.  Along those lines he demonstrated going against the grain with a technique. Judo techniques can be done with many types of grips either left or right handed.  He demonstrated two types of grips, either going with your opponent or in reverse direction.  The reverse direction was the emphasis of the clinic.

Many of the national and world competitors train this way.   The clinic was keeping Judo students current with how elite competitors train.  As you progress with your Judo techniques, learn to refine weaker skills and apply some plyometric workouts to the drills.  By concentrating on these elements you develop “speed and power which equals explosiveness.”  Here is where the surprise comes from in performing winning techniques.

He leaves the students thinking about success, “Do not force your techniques on your opponent, take advantage of your opponents’ action and make your opponents’ body one with yours.”

Tom Gustin

Coach, Stevens Point Judo Club