By Lee Cataluna
Advertiser Columnist

One of the parents leaned over to share this observation:

"Cute, yeah, the kids? They look like they're from the 1950s or something. So clean-cut. No nose rings or tattoos. No funny-colored hair. Well, not too much."

The students of the Hodokan Judo Club filed into the Cabinet room of City Hall and reverently took chairs at the conference table to wait for Mayor Jeremy Harris to arrive.

As they waited, they discussed what they might want to ask the mayor. One of the most popular suggestions:

"Let's ask for cheaper paintball prices!"

Mayoral proclamations are like hugs from your auntie or the MTV movie awards— nice to get, but they don't exactly change your life.

But when you're on the receiving end of the large piece of paper with the fancy seal, it's a big deal, and you dress nice, comb your hair and take lots of pictures.

Mayor Harris proclaimed June 29, 2004, "Hodokan Judo Club Day" in Honolulu.

One kid wanted to know: "Will it be our day every year or just 2004?"

Just 2004. But one whole day is pretty good.

The proclamation was the result of the efforts of a grateful parent, Kerwin Chong, whose son Braxton, 6, has flourished under Hodokan's head instructor, Sensei George Tsubota. Braxton suffered from acute anxiety but worked his way through panic attacks thanks to the patience and perseverance of the Hodokan instructors.

"Judo is more than self-defense. Judo is a sport," says Hodokan instructor Ernest Miyamasu. "It has a lot to offer every person like it helped Braxton. Like if somebody comes in with two left feet."

Sensei Tsubota finishes the thought, "If somebody comes in with two left feet, maybe we can work with them to make one side left and one side right."

"We try to teach judo as a way of life," Miyamasu says. "We expect them to do good in school, make time for judo, make time for their other activities. We hope to build their self-confidence so they can do well in everything."

Hodokan is part of the 50th State Judo Association, which is hosting the Junior National Championships tomorrow and Sunday at the Blaisdell.

Though Hodokan students have distinguished themselves at competitions over the years, Sensei Tsubota doesn't put much emphasis on winning matches.

"I hate to see kids win, win, win and then they lose one time and then quit," he says. "You have to learn to lose. You might be a champion today but then lose tomorrow. That's how life is. You have to learn to be a good winner and a good loser and to keep going. That's what makes a person great."

And so he took his proclamation, gathered up his students and went back to the dojo where he led practice until dark.

Lee Cataluna's column runs Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at 535-8172 or lcataluna@honoluluadvertiser.com.