Welcome Mat Judo: Former Winnetonka grad spreading his knowledge of judo
September 9th, 2009
Originally found at http://suntrib.com
written by Chris Genosky
Judo can mean different things to different people. That becomes obvious walking into any judo class. To some, it’s an art or discipline, or it might be about the sport and competition. It may be about self-defense. To others, it might be something as simple as physical fitness, or a recreational or social activity.
For Kenney Brink, judo has been a way of life. And now Brink is giving back to the sport that has given so much to him.
For the past two years, Brink’s Welcome Mat Judo Club has brought the martial art to Kearney. Not only that, Brink has done it free of charge.
“I’m just giving back to what I did,” Brink said. “There were people who spent a lot of time with me over the years, and I just want to carry on what they did for me.”
Brink estimates the club has about two dozen active members from the Kearney, Liberty and Gladstone areas. No one, regardless of age or skill level, will be turned away from joining the club. Beginners and advanced sessions are offered, and the only requirement is to become an AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) member for insurance purposes.
“That’s what the Welcome Mat name has always been about,” said Brink, the owner of a fifth-degree black belt in judo. “Welcome Mat is one of the most respected clubs in the United States. I want to keep the name alive.”
Founded in 1969, Welcome Mat Judo and Jujitsu Club is recognized as the oldest and largest judo club in the Kansas City area. For the past 40 years, Welcome Mat has been under the direction of Steve Scott, one of the most respected individuals in his craft throughout the country.
Scott still runs his Welcome Mat club out of several classes in the metropolitan area, including North Kansas City. But now his organization is beginning to branch out in the Greater Kansas City area, thanks to former judo pupils such as Brink.
“In the day and age of making a fast buck, it’s rare to find someone teaching the martial arts for free,” Steve Scott said of Brink’s program. “Judo is an Olympic sport. It’s something (that) you can find classes everywhere at YMCAs and community centers. So it’s definitely refreshing to see a guy like Kenney giving back to the sport he loves and passing it along. That’s how to keep this sport alive.”
Brink’s start in judo is one of humble beginnings, as he first enrolled in classes as an 8-year-old to partner up with a cousin who was interested in self-defense. Before long, Brink was hooked.
By time he turned 10, Brink grabbed hold of the competitive side of judo, and only a year later, he scored his first national championship. A 1987 graduate of Winnetonka High, he played football and wrestled in high school, but judo always came first.
Throughout his days as a Griffin, Brink made time to practice judo as often as five or six days a week. He went on to capture 10 various national championships over the years, and eventually moved on to international competition.
Brink finished third in both the World Junior Sambo Championships in Spain, and the Pan American Junior Judo Championships in Ecuador. After graduating from high school, Brink spent two years at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., and competed with the American International Team.
“Kenney is one of the most technically proficient and gifted athletes I’ve ever coached,” Scott said. “You’re talking about a guy that I can’t even tell you how many tournaments he’s won. You’re talking about a guy who has won over 1,000 matches. This guy is the real deal, and now he’s translating through coaching. It’s a rare commodity when someone as good as Kenney is as good of a coach.
“I’m proud of Kenney. He’s done well for himself. He’s an asset to judo, and the sport has missed him while he’s been out. I’m happy to see him carrying on the tradition. He’s a good guy with good intentions. He’s going to make a difference in people’s lives.”
However, judo soon took a back seat to Brink’s family commitments. He retired from the competitive side of the sport and began taking on the role as a father of three boys — Scott, a 2007 Kearney grad; Zach, a 2009 Kearney grad; and Dillon, a KHS senior — and in turn become a youth wrestling and football coach.
But recently he began missing judo, prompting his willingness to pass along his knowledge to all who are interested. For the past two years, Brink has offered a place for his pupils, including his sons, to work out and learn the sport that so positively affected his life.
“Ever since we’ve starting doing this, we’ve definitely become closer as father and son,” Scott Brink said.
“He’s always loved this, and I’m starting to love it, too.”
It’s certainly been a two-way street from that point of view. Judo has enabled the entire Brink family to share another bond, and it’s not often they take a time off.
“Super Bowl Sunday, Mother’s Day, it doesn’t matter,” Kenney Brink said. “We’re going to be working out. If no one else wants to join us, me and (my son) Scott will just work together.
“It’s real special to be doing this with my boys. Scott’s gotten pretty serious about it recently, so he’s the one I spend the most time with at judo. Even though he’s 20, it’s pretty neat to share this with him.”
Brink’s judo club currently practices every Sunday and Wednesday night at the Kearney High wrestling room. Brink also brought the AAU Grand National Judo Championships this summer to Kearney — an event featuring more than 200 competitors from a dozen states.
The newer club brought home 21 top-four finishes at the national competition, highlighted by seven gold-medal performances, including three from his son, Dillon, who’s also one of the top high school wrestlers in Missouri. But Dillon Brink is not the only tie between the judo club and the Kearney High wrestling program.
“There’s a lot of similarities between wrestling and judo, both in the sports and in the athletes,” Kearney High wrestling coach Chad Hopkins said. “We’ve had wrestlers cross-train in judo in the past, and there’s also been some young kids that are brothers of wrestlers. There’s definitely ties there. If we can collaborate and make both programs better, that’s good.
“Sometimes these kids need a break from wrestling. I’d encourage them to keep their bodies active, whether it’s judo, boxing or even MMA (mixed martial arts). Anything to help their footwork, balance and conditioning is going to benefit them. That’s why we’re fortunate to have Kenney doing this right in our own back yard.”
Not only that, but the judo club also provides the athletes with a competitive edge. The club has participated in 10 tournaments to date this year and expects to compete in at least four or five more in 2009.
“This is the part that I really enjoy,” Kenney Brink said. “I want to start going to more national tournaments once we become more advanced. Steve Scott started judo in Kansas City, but sooner or later he’s going to step out. I want to be there to step in.
“This club is open to everyone, people from Kearney, Smithville, Liberty, Kansas City, anywhere. That’s where the Welcome Mat names comes from, because anyone is welcome. That’s why I started this.”
