Sports

PAL Coach Earns 5th-Degree Black Belt

Marisa Hernandez uses her great skill to teach Judo to youth through the Police Activities League.

A Watsonville Police Activities League Judo instructor earned her fifth-degree black belt this month, one of few females who rank as Godans in the United States, the Watsonville Police Department announced.

Marisa Hernandez has been a PAL Judo instructor since 2007, teaching classes in the PAL gym 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Her students include children as young as 7 years old on up to adults.

Hernandez's promotion on Jan. 11 came after years of training and winning three World Masters Judo Championships in France, Belgium and Canada in the women's heavyweight division (over 171 pounds).

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In 2010, she beat the Canadian Heavyweight Champion who weighed 265 pounds. In that competition, Hernandez defeated all three of her opponents by submission techniques and pins. Her lightest opponent weighed 220 pounds, seriously outweighing Hernandez, who weighed in at 176 pounds.

Ron Tate of Tate Development has sponsored Hernandez in her competitions, sending she and her Sensei, Ferd Tihista, all over the world to represent the United States.

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Editor's Note: Watsoville Patch Editor Jennifer Squires is a member of the Police Activities League Board of Directors.


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