Dr. Rhadi Ferguson

https://youtube.com/shorts/TLi8JrS4RpQ?is=LXPUVoGvYnKj4EvH

Coach’s Corner

One of the greatest gifts judo gives us isn’t a medal.

It’s people.

The athletes who become lifelong friends.
The coaches who become trusted mentors.
The parents who become family.
The rivals who make us better.
The conversations that shape us long after the tournament is over.

Judo teaches us Jita Kyoei—mutual welfare and mutual benefit. We all rise higher when we invest in one another.

Years from now, you probably won’t remember every match you won or lost.

You’ll remember the people who stood beside you.

That’s the real victory.

Two athletes. Two medals. One unforgettable summer.

This past weekend, Sy Zambrano (9) and Jackson Morales (15) represented Tampa Florida Judo at the 2026 U.S. Open, one of the toughest judo tournaments in North America.

After completing our demanding four-week Summer Training Camp, both athletes stepped onto one of the biggest stages in American judo—and both came home with hardware. 🥋🥇

The medals are incredible, but they tell only part of the story.

Behind every young athlete is a family making sacrifices that most people never see.

The early mornings.
The late nights.
The countless miles on the road.
The tournament fees.
The hotel stays.
The meals on the go.
The missed weekends.

Parents invest not just money, but time, energy, and unwavering belief in their children. They trust us with something priceless: the opportunity to help shape their sons and daughters into stronger athletes and even stronger people.

And then there are the kids.

They show up when they’re tired.
They train when it’s hard.
They compete knowing there are no guarantees.

That takes courage.

As a coach, I couldn’t be prouder of Sy and Jackson. Not simply because they won medals, but because they were willing to test themselves against some of the best young judoka in North America.

Champions aren’t built on the podium.

They’re built every day in practice, one repetition, one lesson, one sacrifice at a time.

Congratulations to Sy, Jackson, and their amazing families. Your hard work is paying off, and this is only the beginning.

Coach’s Corner

Everybody wants to win.

Everybody wants the medal.
The promotion.
The championship.
The recognition.

But very few people want the process that produces those things.

They don’t want the early mornings.
They don’t want the aching muscles.
They don’t want the failed reps, the failed throws, or the failed tournaments.
They don’t want to be uncomfortable long enough to become uncommon.

As the old saying goes:

“Everybody wan go to heaven, but nobody wan dead.”

Success works the same way.

Everyone wants the destination.
Very few are willing to pay the price of admission.

Fall in love with the work that nobody applauds.
Because one day, everyone will applaud the results they never saw you earn.

Coach’s Corner | Preparation

Fearlessness is rarely taught with words. It is built through years of consistent guidance, correction, encouragement, and trust.

Children do not become brave because we tell them to be brave. They become brave because they repeatedly face difficult situations with someone beside them who refuses to let them quit.

As coaches, parents, and mentors, our greatest responsibility is not to remove adversity. It is to prepare them to meet it with confidence, knowing they are never alone.

That is how courage is developed.
That is how confidence is earned.
That is how champions are made.

“Children don’t become fearless because you tell them to be brave. They become fearless because they spend years standing beside someone who never lets them face hard things alone.”

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” — Hebrews 12:11

USA goes 10-for-10 with Golds today at U20 Pan Ams! 🇺🇸🇺🇸

🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇