About Judo Link

Judo Link was founded to spread the benefits of practicing judo and judo lifestyle. The way we approach judo is not limited to just the sport or martial art aspect, but a holistic approach. Our goal is to promote good martial and cultural learning through judo. Our goal is to help people to learn solid technical fundamentals of judo; develop a fit body with the agility, strength and conditioning required to perform graceful techniques; and realize the mental benefits of long-term practice of judo by reducing stress, increase life satisfaction, forge meaningful social relationships, and improve self-confidence and realization.

To understand Judo Link, you have to understand that it had two births. The first one, as an American military community judo program, and the second one, born from the ashes of the destruction of the covid-19 pandemic and the fire of passion for judo which a new life was forged.

While training and teaching competition judo in a local club in Caserta, Italy, founder Lincoln Han realized there is an underserved U. S. military community around Caserta and Naples area where many service members and their families could benefit from learning and practicing judo. After retiring from full time training for competition, he decided to pursue the process to establish a judo program at the Naval Support Site in Gricignano D'Aversa (province of Caserta). What began as an idea met with strong community interest to have this program. After getting approval from the base, the first official club under the Judo Link brand was founded and we had our first class in February 2015.

Things were going well as we accomplished several historic feats with our American team, we organized the first British Royal Air Force (RAF) vs US Navy team competition on April 5, 2017. In autumn 2019, our team took first place in an invitational master team tournament in Mede, Italy, beating all other teams by surprise.

A match between US Navy (Judo Link) and Royal Air Force judo
A match between US Navy (Judo Link) and Royal Air Force judo

When the covid-19 pandemic arrived in 2020, Italy was one of first and hardest-hit European countries. On Sunday, March 1, We had the fortune to organize the last judo tournament in Italy before the pandemic restrictions became effective against all public gatherings. This Gladiator Challenge Judo Tournament was held at the Spartacus Arena (Amphitheater of Santa Maria Capua Vetere), in an outdoor setting. We made history by organizing the first combat tournament at this coliseum since the Roman time!

A match between Lorenzo Garcia and Justin Brown at the Spartacus Arena in Santa Maria Capua Vetere, Italy
A match between Lorenzo Garcia and Justin Brown at the Spartacus Arena in Santa Maria Capua Vetere, Italy

Unfortunate, because of the covid pandemic situation, we had to suspend our judo program at the U. S. navy base starting that month. Little did we know that we would have to wait until October 2022 to be ready to restart at the base again. For the first two months of the pandemic people were not allowed to go out except for essential duties. In the meantime, we tried to keep our members engaged using on-line group video exercise session. Finally, when the restrictions began to ease, certain sports were permitted when practiced certain ways outdoor.

It was the mutual desire to keep in shape and practicing judo that kept our students together, forming a strong bond to get through this difficult and unprecedented period. For a brief time in 2020 (between June and October), indoor sports were also allowed for those who need to train for national competitions. We were able to continue at the borrowed space of a gym to practice in-door for the first time since the national quarantine ended, on July 7th, 2020.

On July 7th, 2020, our first time practicing judo indoor since the national quarantine ended, Caserta Italy
On July 7th, 2020, our first time practicing judo indoor since the national quarantine ended, Caserta Italy

Practicing judo outdoor in 2020 at Casertavecchia hill during the covid-19 pandemic, Italy
August 1st, 2020, Practicing judo outdoor in 2020 at Casertavecchia hill during the covid-19 pandemic, Italy

When Italy increased the restriction again around the end of October 2020, we could no longer practice indoor. Hence we had to find a way to continue outdoor, which was made difficult by the cold and rainy season. However, where there is a will, there is a way. While we were at the mercy of the weather and had very limited schedule (because the practice had to be finished by sunset or the condesation from the dew would form on the mats), we were still able to organize few ourdoor practices, with the last one being January 16th 2021.

Practicing judo outdoor in 2020 at Casertavecchia hill during the covid-19 pandemic, Italy
January 16th, 2021, Practicing judo outdoor in 6C degrees weather at a football field during the covid-19 pandemic, Italy

During the pandemic, many businesses closed, including martial art schools and gyms. Since many martial art programs were based in a gym, when the gym closed down, there was no alternative. This made our founder Lincoln Han realize that in order to really keep judo alive in the community, a dedicated judo school is needed. He began looking for commerical properties to find a suitable location to create a home for Judo Link. Finally after several months of searching, he found a place on the edge of Caserta city center in a residential area. Keeping in mind that this still was the middle of the pandemic, and Lincoln made a big personal risk to invest most of his savings into opening a new judo school. People thought it was crazy risky thing to do! Although his own funding was not enough to do this, thanks to the generous financial support of family, friends and students, the project began in May 2021. We had our first class around end of July 2021!

Practicing judo at Judo Link new dojo August 26, 2020
Practicing judo at Judo Link new dojo August 26, 2020

Certainly it was hard to get new students in the middle of a pandemic where many people are still uncertain and afraid. However, we had a strong core adult group already. Then for the younger groups, it began with few new students from both the American and local communities. Slowly, by fall 2022, we start to have a small steady group of students in all age groups.

November 5, 2022, youth group practicing at Judo Link's new home
November 5, 2022, youth group practicing at Judo Link's new home

With Judo Link's new school, we continue to make impact on the local community and beyond. We hosted guests from different parts of the world in the last few years from Asia to South America who came to train, teach and experience judo with us. In late June 2024, we were ready to expand our dojo by taking over the space next door. It was a quick project, again with the help of family, friends and students in both financial, material and labor contributions. Just ten days later we were able to restart training in our expanded dojo. Now it is the best private judo school in Campania! Our judo club's decade-long journey from 2014 to 2024 shows what can be achieved with a single-minded determination and perseverance mixed with passion for doing what one loves!

August 20, 2024, interclub practice at Judo Link's expanded dojo
August 20, 2024, interclub practice at Judo Link's expanded dojo

Under our system, we believe in a balanced and holistic approach to develop effective judo in action and in philosophy. Learning just the techniques is not enough, as they are just the actionable part of the martial art. Techniques alone do not make the martial art or the martial artists, however they are the foundation of any martial art.

To perform techniques effectively and gracefully, a person needs a fundamental physical combination of strength, balance, agility, and fitness. With a certain base level of these fundamental factors, one could learn to perform judo techniques with more effectiveness and efficiency. However, many techniques can help the student to develop those fundamental physical requirement by doing many correct repetitions. Combined with some important exercises and drills, one will construct a solid base to do judo well.

Judo Link team tops the podium at Mede Master Team Judo Tournament (October 26, 2019)
Judo Link team tops the podium at Mede Master Team Judo Tournament (October 26, 2019) in Mede, Italy

What differentiates judo from the traditional jujutsu (jiu-jitsu) as intended by Dr. Jigoro Kano, the founder of judo, is the fact judo focuses on principles behind the techniques, whereas the traditional jujutsu (jiu-jitsu) focused on the techniques themselves. Hence, apart from the mechanical repetition of learning a technique, it is important to understand the principles in judo. By understanding the principles correctly, together with a collection of techniques, one could improvise and adapt as the situation needs. Like in life, in combat a person cannot always predict what the other will do, and often the ability to improvise a solution or reaction in a split second is needed.

Learning the techniques and principles are not enough. In order to make one's technique effective, consistent and intelligent practice are necessary. Through consistent practice, one could improve not only the effectiveness of techniques, but through the focus and effort to improve the effectiveness of techniques, one could also develop better self-discipline, self-awareness, focus, more fitness, better social relationship, mental toughness, and perseverance.

The physical nature of judo is to fall and get up again, to submit to a submission technique and try again. It overwhelmingly favors the resilient mind. The mental aspect, or the psychological aspect of judo is equally important as one needs a healthy mind to guide his body. Judo is not an easy activity, and the higher one reaches, the harder it gets. With each progression of skill and expectation, the mental and physical aspect of training become tougher. Disappointments, slump in development, injuries, setbacks, limitations can all impede one's motivation to practice and continue, hence it is the perseverance and resilience that will carry one through these tough times.

We believe in intelligent training. We like to train hard, but not foolishly hard. Up to a certain point, more is better; but beyond that, we recognize there is a point of diminished return. We believe a rested and healthy body and mind perform better, and would not encourage anyone to train through a serious injury just for the sake of "toughness". At the same time, we believe maintaining certain pressure and intensity is essential to maintain mental, technical and physical fitness; and we will try to organize each class to achieve this goal in way suitable for the students' level. Most importantly, we believe in keeping concise instruction during class, and leaving the students to practice. We prefer to keep talking to a minimum, just enough to convey the ideas, but not too much to make students' attention drift.

The social aspect of judo is also very important. True respect and care of one's partner is essential to everyone. While judo is an individual activity, one could not go far without training partners. You are also other people's partner. In this sense, it is a group activity as well. As a result of regular practice, it is inevitable that some friendships will forge inside and outside the club. When people can respectfully fight each other with full resistance and not let their ego get in the way, it makes a healthy competitive environment to encourage mutual growth. For children the social aspect it is even more pronounced as it helps shy and insecure children to make friends and develop more confidence, and helps the children who have excess energy to redirect their energy on an productive outlet.

As its name suggests, Judo Link wants to link people and culture through judo, as judo has done for the founder and many other judo players. Judo Link has affiliates around the world where its member could practice during travel visit or long term stay. These affiliate clubs are headed by people who are passionate about judo and whom the founder has forged strong working relationships. For our members, belonging to Judo Link and to judo opens a life-long of rewarding activities and connections.

Italy main phone: +39 340 299 4300 (Call, SMS, Telegram or WhatsApp)

Main judo school: via Gaetano Salvemini 15 / 17, Caserta, Italy (Open to everyone)

Secondary location: U. S. Naval Support Site, Gricignano D'Aversa, Italy (Open only to authorized people)

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Web design ©2014 Lincoln Han. Judo Link and its logo are trademark properties of Lincoln Han.