Celita Shutz - USA Judo

It would be difficult to find anyone who has been more adept than Celita Schutz at matching the mental and physical elements of Judo.

The Westwood, New Jersey, native has over 35 years of experience in Judo including three times at the Olympics - 1996 in Atlanta, 2000 in Sydney and 2004 in Athens. Schutz is now President of Kokushikai, Inc. and is camp director of Kokushikai Judo Camp. She is training the next generation the physical moves and mental discipline that earned her an accolade-filled career in the U.S. and abroad.

“Judo is an individual full contact combative sport,” she said, “and because it is that the nature of it requires that you be very focused and aware of your body and your opponent’s body more so than in other sports that I’ve participated in. If you make a mistake you are the one responsible.”

Schutz took her first lesson at age 6 and was placing in national competition by 14. In 1993, Schutz took home her first major U.S. title. She won her first national championship two years later and added four more between 1997 and 2000.

But she holds her Olympic performances of highest regard.

“There really is nothing that compares to competing in the Olympic Games,” Schultz said. “There is a definite sense of patriotism, because you do want top do the best you can to represent your team and your country. Your family and friends, everybody’s rooting for you.”