By Laura Cunningham, STAFF WRITER
Tuesday, August 31, 2004 - PALO ALTO -- THE 2004 Summer Olympic Games have come and gone, but the games are far from over in Greece.

The United States Paralympics Judo Team has been training at Stanford University and at Cahill's Judo Academy in Daly City over the past couple of weeks, preparing to leave Sept. 8 for the Paralympic Games in Athens.

"It's going to be a great learning experience," said competitor Emmanuel Brannon, 19, of Largo, Fla., attending the Games for the first time this year. "I expect to get the gold," he said. "I'm my biggest challenge. Going from beginner to a higher level, I have to work a lot harder."

The Paralympic Games is an international competition which takes place two weeks after the closing of the regular Olympics. Competitors are among the most outstanding disabled athletes in the world.

"My family knows I do this, and I have their support," said competitor Marlon Lopez, 28, of San Jose, "but they don't know how serious it is. They know I'm a black belt, and I could hurt somebody if I had to."

While the Paralympic Judo Team members are each blind or visually impaired, several have won gold medals in Games past.

"You can do it sighted or unsighted," said Lori Pierce, 19, the first female ever to compete in Paralympic judo. "It's a level playing field, but for the unsighted, more technique is required, because it's all by touch," she said.

Pierce, of Arvada, Colo., won the World Games Judo competition in Italy two years ago at age 17.

"In a lot of ways, they have to work harder," said Raul Tamayo, assistant U.S. Paralympic judo coach and head judo coach at Stanford.

According to Tamayo, sighted athletes in competition have the option to break away from each other and re-engage. Blind judo matches stop each time the opponents break apart.

Training for the Games is rigorous. Each day members of the team practice an average of four hours. Their routine consists of perfecting judo techniques, running laps and bleachers, sit-ups, push-ups, playing basketball and lifting weights, among other things.

The practice of judo, however, is not just about the physical elements. Judo is also a method of self-defense deeply rooted in philosophy and history. First developed in feudal Japan, it focuses on a number of throwing, grappling, choke-hold and arm-lock techniques, and is practiced as a form of physical and spiritual development.

"Life sometimes knocks you down," said Scott Jones, 30, a first-time Paralympic competitor from Little Rock, Ark. "You have to get up," he said. "It takes mental strength and fortitude."

Jones' teammates agreed.

"A lot of spiritual aspects go into it, especially for a blind athlete," Lopez said. "Any martial art can be spiritual when you tap into yourself. With Judo you flow and feel the movement of your opponent."

Lopez has been practicing judo for 13 years and will be attending the Paralympics for his third time this year. He received bronze medals twice before and has high hopes for the upcoming competition in Athens.

Competitors Scott Moore, 34, of Denver and Kevin Szott, 38, of Clifton, N.Y. were both gold-medal winners in the 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney, Australia.

The team hopes the outcome of this year's games will be just as fruitful.

"Anybody competes different on any given day," said Lopez, "but if you play flawless, you'll come out on top."

The Paralympic Games opening ceremony takes place Sept. 17. The games run through Sept. 28.

Staff writer Laura Cunningham can be reached at (650) 348-4329 or by e-mail at lcunningham@sanmateocountytimes.com .