So I've been getting a little uneasy with what my current school is doing marketing wise. (Focusing way too much on money IMO) I've been looking into nearby schools that I can train at.
There's a BJJ blackbelt teaching nearby, I'm checking that school out tonight.
I just found this website (http://optimistjudo.org/) by randomly searching "judo" in Google.

Opinions on the website?
Also, I'm planning on visiting the school in person. What should I look for in a good Judo school/club?

PS I did read the other thread about things to look for in a Judo club.

LOL...would you like me to close this thread now that Coach Josh sent you that link?

Well... They're not going to rip you off charging $3 a session.

Skimming through the photos the mat area looks decent sized and well maintained. Good spread of adult ranks and a decent core of dan grade. Photos are 3 years old though...

Dan grade instructors look in decent shape.

Website comes across as friendly and welcoming.

They require NGB membership to participate long term

So those are all positive things.

Quality of instruction?

No idea. Could be anywhere from abysmal to a hidden gem, nothing to help either way from the website. One of the people is wearing the weird red and black American 4th dan belt, but given the rank selling that went on in US Judo who knows what rank really means.

I suggest you ring and tell them you'd like to observe a lesson, adult not kids, make sure. Kids lessons won't help you make a decision.

See if the atmosphere feels good to you, do the higher grades look smooth fluid and controlled, are people smiling or looking around bored, do they breakfall like Judoka or like dropped sacks of wet **** etc....

If that all seems good then do a few lessons and see. For cross reference check out the BJJ club and compare and contrast your feelings, atmosphere, technical competency etc...

Then make your own choice.

EDIT:
Still typing whilst Omega posted.

That Judo club has been around since 1957. If they have a decent winning record at something other than strictly local or in-house tournaments, the Judo there is most likely acceptable. On the club history page, it mentions the initial core members traveling the state to attend various tournaments. That's a good sign.

If I were looking to spend money train BJJ in Denton, I would train with Kirk Gibson.

While it has been many, many Moons since I last saw Vince Tamura, Ace Sukigari, or Dale Lehman if they had anything to do with that club it is probably in good hands now. Wow, that brings back memories of the good old days. Ace and I were in the same weight class and we fought on many occasions back in the 1960's. Good people.

I went to their Friday night class. It was composed of the older more advanced students who were very fluid and smooth. I'm definitely going back.

They have students competing, and judging by the trophies, doing well.

Denton Jr. Optimist is a decent judo club.

My nephews were studying there and had some complaints about how the jr classes were run (too much randori and not enough technical training), but they had left a club where the opposite was probably true. No idea about the adult classes. I can say that qualified people are teaching and running the club.

I used to compete in their shiai back in the 80s. Had some real battles, but finally beat all the smart ass purple belt teenagers who enjoyed beating up adult beginners.

Good times, glad to see they are still alive and a going concern.

Ben

A photo some old Judo buddy sent to me of the old Texas gang:
http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/o544/dustymars/Texas_Judo.jpg

Ace on the right. To his right is Jerry Reid, an old friend who passed away shortly after this photo.

I said to myself "self." Here are some old photos, some of old friends and one of me and Robby playing around.

http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/o544/dustymars/1963ArmedForcesTrainingCamp.jpg

http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/o544/dustymars/Jarvis_Seino_Joe_Coffee_etc_pic.jpg

http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/o544/dustymars/me_tired.jpg

A photo some old Judo buddy sent to me of the old Texas gang:
http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/o544/dustymars/Texas_Judo.jpg

Ace on the right. To his right is Jerry Reid, an old friend who passed away shortly after this photo.

When I was coming up in Judo, Ace no longer practiced much if any, and Dale wasn't either. I always regretted that Ace had stopped training somewhat before I started doing Judo. He and Dale had some real battles from what my sensei told me.

I did train with one of the Turchiano's for a long time. For some reason I can't remember if it were Pete or Joe. I'm thinking Joe at the old Ft. Worth Judo Academy. I never, ever threw him, even for a koka, and I tried so hard I puked more than once out the back door of the dojo in the attempts. He was in his late 40s and I was 20 and training 6 days a week.

Good times, sorry to hear passed away.

Ben

Yeah, both Joe and Pete were great Judo guys and fierce shiai’ers. I took over Jerry Reid’s Judoclass at Carswell in 1967 just before he retired from the AF. However, I was gone so much TDY on the mobile simulator the class did not last and I sent all the calls to Ace’s club. Ace and Dale did fight, but only in open class– Ace was my weight then (140) and Dale was at least a ton J As was Jerry,both heavy open weight guys.



Nelson Cross, a huge guy larger than Geesink. He passed away some years back. A nicer person you could not meet. In the photo were some of my Okinawa Judo buds; Robey Reed, Rich Witcher, Bob Coffey, Jimmy Jarvis, Dean Tower, Paul Schaeffer, Tosh Seino and more I can’t place now. The good old days in the late 1950’s and 1960’s. Hum,those Turchiano's brothers never seemed to bother me. We were cut from the same sensei’s. Not to worry, at our age most of those guys in that photo are at room temperature.


You mentioned the Ft. Worth Judo Academy; was that Ace’s club? When were youthere?

Yeah, both Joe and Pete were great Judo guys and fierce shiai’ers. I took over Jerry Reid’s Judoclass at Carswell in 1967 just before he retired from the AF. However, I was gone so much TDY on the mobile simulator the class did not last and I sent all the calls to Ace’s club. Ace and Dale did fight, but only in open class– Ace was my weight then (140) and Dale was at least a ton J As was Jerry,both heavy open weight guys.



Nelson Cross, a huge guy larger than Geesink. He passed away some years back. A nicer person you could not meet. In the photo were some of my Okinawa Judo buds; Robey Reed, Rich Witcher, Bob Coffey, Jimmy Jarvis, Dean Tower, Paul Schaeffer, Tosh Seino and more I can’t place now. The good old days in the late 1950’s and 1960’s. Hum,those Turchiano's brothers never seemed to bother me. We were cut from the same sensei’s. Not to worry, at our age most of those guys inthat photo are at room temperature.

I knew that Dale and Ace fought in open only, Ace was a little guy like me.

Of that list I know/have met Robey Reed down in Florida, years ago, at a shiai he used to hold.

Ben

Sometimes when I see those old photos it nearly brings a tear to my eyes. We were close friends thru thick and thin. I hear Robey is now in bad health. We used to call him "Mr Fancy Pants Judo." He was especially amenable to breaking the rules; like flying arm bars, flipping chokes and other weird stuff.

I got an e-mail from Seino a few months back inviting me to the old folks Judo luncheon! We yakked a little about the time I signed up for his weight class just to see an up close uchimata. He accommodated me :) Wow, that was either 1960 or 61.......

Several of us still keep in touch. My old bud, Robby Robinson who lives in Pensacola drove down to spend Christmas with us and we ended up as usual BS'ing about all those old friends. He will be 77, I'm not that far behind him......

Here two photos that you may recognize some Judo guys: First with Matt Ozaki, Tosh Seino, Chuck Neuendorf and Jerry Hays, the second needs no caption:

http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/o544/dustymars/Seino-GJC-Mar06-1.jpg
http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/o544/dustymars/IMG_1240_1.jpg

Oops! I be OT; spankie, spankie on my hand.