Crime & Safety

For National Champion, Judo and Dojo Provide Support

Davon Johnson continues in the sport his father, Daniell Johnson, introduced him to, while Ippon Judo Dojo in Lakewood fills an important role.

Judo is more than a sport for student Davon Johnson. It ties him to his father, who set him on the path toward pursuing a second consecutive junior national championship this year.

Davon's most recent national contest, in Grand Rapids, MI, earned him the No. 1 spot in the country in the 116-pound division, according to the USA Judo sanctioning organization. His father, Daniell Johnson, got him to explore judo after trying other sports such as basketball and football as a young boy.

"When I was younger, he tried to convince me to do judo and I said no," Davon said. "He kept saying 'Davon, do judo.' It took him a week to convince me. He kept saying, ‘try judo.’"

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His father’s persistence paid off. Davon, 14, has talent and a bright future in the sport.

He trains with Ippon Judo Dojo, which practices inside the Lakewood YMCA, and was part of the team that captured four gold medals and five others during the nationwide contest April 2-3.

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But Davon’s win, this time, came without the usual phone call of support from his dad.

"I’m pretty sure my father would be proud of me," Davon said. "If he was there, he'd be screaming around and going crazy saying, ‘My son won the title.’"

Davon’s father was killed in a during a domestic violence incident between his recently divorced parents outside the family’s front yard Feb. 8.

Family turbulence

Caught between a turbulent and sometimes physically abusive relationship, Davon used judo to escape from problems at home, said Jason Harai, lead sensei for Ippon Judo Dojo. Daniell spent considerable time with his sons as a member of Ippon Judo Dojo, and Harai coached Davon since joining seven years ago.

The judo dojo had always been a place of solace but it has since transformed into the family’s dominant support unit. The nonprofit club started a trust fund for the Johnson family to help raise funds to help offset national tournament costs for Davon and younger brother Tyriq, 12, who also participates in judo.

Davon’s mother, Jane Johnson, said Daniell worked as a government military contractor with General Dynamics, traveling to Iraq repairing Stryker convoys as a mechanic. She said he saw the aftermath of combat, and the deployments affected their relationship.

They ended up divorcing, but she said their relationship improved and Daniell was making a stronger commitment to the family.

"As time went by he started to return and become that family man," Jane Johnson said.

Much of Daniell’s relationship with his two older sons was based on judo, and it became the one subject they could relate to.

"It (judo) was a common interest for all three of them," she said.

Staying focused

Harai tells his students they can’t control a lot that goes on in life, including what their parents and friends do. Davon has learned—since his father's death—that he does control the situation when he steps on the mat.

Winning the national title validated that.

"One thing they can control is make it to practice on time, work out as hard as you can and at every competition give everything you have," Harai said. "Davon knows his dad would’ve wanted him to continue and do well."

"I just try to stay focused," Davon said. "Sometimes I think about him and it kind of messes up my judo. My sensei understands. I just try to stay focused and move forward."

Fighting for his father. Fighting for his passion for judo. And fighting to keep a positive spin on life. That is a difficult task, but Davon isn’t giving up.


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