Sensei Barry Friedberg

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My journey in Japanese culture started as an athlete. I began to train Judo in at the Brooklyn dojo Japan Judo. Under the auspices of Mr. Shiina, my talents improved. I worked with other judokas and fighters of other disciplines. I came there looking for a training regime going into college where I was continuing to wrestle. In the ensuing years I began to take it very seriously and my goal was to represent the United States in the Olympics. I took 3rd place twice in the US Nationals.  While I never made it to the Olympics, I was able to keep judo in my life and now as a Sensei I am spreading the philosophy of the gentle way.

 

So in a way, I’ve been a student and teacher my whole life.  Judo teaches us to be humble and strong at the same time. The quest is to find balance between these two elements.  Judo has opened many doors in my life, exposure to food and culture and language are part of judo and judo is part of Japan.

 

In addition to teaching judo, I have a degree in Sports Science, and have been able to train and guide athletes at all levels through the physical demands and mental rigors of sports. Training athletes and individuals to achieve their goals in sports,fitness,weight loss , muscle gain as well as  injury prehab and rehab.

 

I am a native Brooklynite, and am currently training my son in the joys of judo @Brooklynjudoacademy.

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"Sensei Oscar Lahoud began judo in France when he was barely seven years old, under the teaching of national champions, among them Stephane Fremont, who later became the French Judo National and Olympic team coach.

Oscar has competed at the national and international level in both France and the US, participating at the Cadet European Championships, the US Open, reaching 2nd place at the USJA Junior National Championship and quarter finalist at the 2011 Senior National Championship.

He also has experience coaching Judo both in France and the US, having led the Ann Arbor YMCA Judo team to the Michigan State Team Champions, while gaining multiple individual 1st place titles, including his own.

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Currently competing as part of USA judo veterans and national team . He will be representing the US in the judo veterans world championships in November 2024.

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When he's not wearing a gi on the tatami, Sensei Oscar Lahoud puts on a white coat as a bone marrow transplant physician and section chief of hematology at NYU Brooklyn.

Sensei Oscar has transmitted his passion for judo to his children, with his 3 daughters and son already showing great potential as part of the Brooklyn Judo Academy Youth Judoka program."