Sensei Dave Wanta, who trained at the Olympic Training Center, was recently the guest coach for the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and the Stevens Point Judo Club Tuesday, Oct. 25. He instructed 30 judo students on the mat.

Wanta is a Shodan (first-degree black belt) and is an assistant instructor at Four Season Martial Arts in Tell City, Ind., with Lee Holloway. He also assisted Tom Kuhne and Russ Little at Kirkwood Judo Club, St. Louis, Mo. His competition experience includes participating in many U.S. Open, U.S. National Judo Tournaments, mixed martial arts events, Chinese Kung-Fu and Brazilian ju-jitsu.

As part of his demonstration, Wanta covered the strategy of a shoulder throw, turn-overs and an escape.

He also demonstrated small scissors steps versus big steps. The difference between big spacious steps and small tight steps is the differences of escape or a throw. Taking tight steps and making contact with no space between the thrower and receiver of throw will make for an excellent throw, worthy of the win.

For his second stage of instruction, Wanta shared a few secrets about escapes with the youth. He said practicing the techniques of turnovers and escapes is important for successful self-defense and escapes.

Stevens Point Judo Club coach Tom Gustin ended the clinic with the presentation of a hand-carved style of Native American flute to Wanta.