Lake Country residents seek Olympic glory

MUNDELEIN – When you talk to brothers Irwin and Steve Cohen about what it takes to be an Olympic athlete in judo, they will talk a lot about commitment.

A commitment to training. A commitment to traveling to competitions and workouts. A commitment to judo.

"It's a sacrifice and a commitment," Irwin Cohen said of making the Olympic team in judo. "These guys butt heads every day training."

Those endless hours of commitment could ultimately pay off in a big way for four Olympic hopefuls under the tutelage of the pair of brothers.

Richard Jason Cohen, 30, of Glenview; Aaron Cohen, 27, of Buffalo Grove; Josh O'Neil, 23, of Franklin, Wis.; and Max Golembo, 15, of Vernon Hills; all have dreams of making the U.S. Olympic team in judo for the 2012 Olympics in London, England.

All four train and workout at Cohen's Judo Club in Mundelein, which is co-owned by the Cohen brothers.

The dream of competing at the Olympic level is one shared by all judo athletes who train and compete at an elite level, Aaron Cohen said. It also takes at least a bit of an ego, he said.

"Everybody wants to go to the Olympics," Aaron Cohen said. "You want to rise and shine."

Irwin Cohen – who is the father of Richard Jason and Aaron – said the best judo athletes will start training at age 5 or 6. Early on, it is up to the parents how involved their children will get in judo, he said. But at some point, each athlete must make his own decision to put in the sacrifice that comes with a shot at the Olympics.

"Until they can drive, then it's up to [the parents,]" Cohen said. "Then it's up to the kid how good he wants to be."

The brothers boast their own long resumes of success in coaching and competing in judo. Steve Cohen competed for the U.S. Olympic judo team in the 1988 games in Seoul, South Korea. The Grayslake resident said making the Olympic team is, without-a-doubt, a life-changing experience.

"Once you're an Olympian, you're an Olympian for the rest of your life," Steve Cohen said. "People look at you as if you've reached a pinnacle that is so highly respected."

Not always fun and games
Even as judo training progressed to a higher, more intense level, O'Neil said, he knew he wanted to continue his commitment to the sport. Although the workouts were not always all fun and games, he was improving.

"Why not keep doing something you're getting better at?" O'Neil said. "I always liked the one-on-one competitive aspect."

Like the other Olympic hopefuls he trains with, O'Neil thinks his chances of making the 2012 games are better than most.

"I think [my chances] are very good as long as I keep my head on straight and keep training hard," he said.

Golembo said the individual aspect of the sport has kept him interested, even when practices got rough.

"I never thought about stopping or quitting," Golembo said. "Judo is kind of everything on you. You win or you lose. Your mistakes are magnified if you're alone."

Richard Jason Cohen said the balancing act between family, work and training is not an easy one. He even lost a job at one point because of the amount of time he spent on judo.

But the sport had become a pastime for him, Richard Jason Cohen said, and not something to easily toss aside.

"I thought it was a beautiful sport," he said. "When I'm just having fun, that's when I do my best."

Training at Cohen's Judo Club where making the Olympics is not just a pipe dream has helped him stay focused on the goal, Golembo said. Making the Olympics is always a topic of conversation around the club, he said.

"I see that it's possible. It's not just some idea out there. I see what you have to put forth to achieve that goal," Golembo said.

Aaron Cohen said he remembers attending the 1996 games in Atlanta and the 2000 games in Sydney, Australia, since their father and uncle were both coaches for the U.S. Olympic judo teams. Growing up surrounded by the sport certainly had an impact on both brothers, Aaron Cohen said.

"As the years go by, you kind of fall in love with the sport," he said.

Paying their own way
The commitment to competing at the Olympic level is not just paid in time and sweat. There also is a significant financial commitment.

All the Olympic hopefuls must travel the globe to attend various tournaments in order to qualify for the Olympic games. Since all the judo players are amateurs with limited sponsorship money, getting the resources required for world travel can be difficult, Richard Jason Cohen said.

"We raise our own money," he said. "We support ourselves."
 
But the commitment to helping the Olympic hopefuls reach their dream does not waver from their supporters.

Irwin Cohen said as long as the students continue their training and work hard each time they come to the club, he will match their commitment with a commitment to his duty to teach them.

"We made our commitment to judo," Irwin Cohen said of he and his brother. "We were blessed with great technique and finesse. We were able to pass it on to kids."

Want to help?

To make a contribution in support of judo players at Cohen's Judo Club, send a donation to Elite Training Center 108 Terrace Drive, Mundelein IL 60060. Visit www.cohens-judo.com for more information.