Daniel, Chrissy and Mindy Chow all qualified for next weekend's 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Judo Trials, which means the Las Vegas getaway officially qualifies as a family reunion.

Father Greg Chow, an orthopedic surgeon, is the kids' coach along with mother Robin, a two-time national judo champion who met her husband through the gentlest of martial arts. Derrick Kerr, from Hawai'i Tokai College, also helps.

Apparently the family that fights together stays together, which is particularly true for Chrissy and Mindy, who compete in the same division (52 kilograms or 115 pounds).

"I hesitate to say this, but we're already happy," Greg said. "This was a goal. You see it with kids of all ages — they find out they won a medal or trophy and stop fighting. That's why I hesitate to say we're already happy and reached our goal. Obviously we'd like more."

Daniel just graduated from Punahou with six state championships in judo and wrestling. He is heading to Boston University and is the only Chow with a chance to go to Beijing. American women have qualified for the Olympics in only three of their seven weight divisions. That doesn't include 52 kg or 78-plus, where Melinda Swanson is ranked No. 2 in the United States. Swanson has worked with the Chows at Hawai'i Tenri since arriving from Minnesota three years ago to pursue her master's degree in oceanography.

"Hawai'i is really well known for judo," said Swanson, who quit judo at 15 only to start again when she moved here. "I wanted something to get me back into shape. I'm still a heavyweight, but now I'm an in-shape heavyweight."

Daniel competes in the same weight division (66 kg/146 pounds) as 'Iolani graduate Taylor Takata, who is among the seven Hawai'i judokas at trials. Takata, who trains in Colorado Springs, Colo., took fifth at this year's Pan Am Championships.

To find three from the same family at the same trials is mind-boggling, but the Chows are hardly made out of the same cookie-cutter judo mold. Daniel and Mindy have relatively "long bodies" compared to Chrissy and the youngest plays "left-sided" despite being right-handed like her siblings.

There are other quirks.

Daniel, who got into the trials by finishing fifth at senior nationals, has always competed against older, heavier players to prepare for this. That has led to a somewhat unorthodox style that combines creativity and multiple techniques. Or, as 13-year-old Mindy — the youngest judoka at trials — would say, "He's not normal, it's more wrestling."

Chrissy, a Punahou freshman, still loves the ballet she used to study. That background translates into a more traditional, upright judo style. She is working on attacking and moving more.

"She likes that the sport is gentle," Greg Chow said. "She still does her body like dance, she wants it to look right. That's how she ends up fighting her matches — more traditional Japanese technique always looking for big throws. It's unusual for her to win the long, drawn-out grueling match."

Mindy, in her first year of adult competition, was so dominant in age-group judo that her assortment of throws is limited, simply because she rarely needed many. Now she will and the trials might be most illuminating for her, or vice-versa: Like her sister, she won bronze at her first senior nationals to qualify for trials.

Their parents started them in the sport about the time they started school because of the discipline judo demanded. Helping at Hawai'i Tenri has demanded even more in terms of commitment and comportment. Beyond the physical work and cross-training with wrestling, they are required to do visualization training every night before they go to bed.

It has all come together now, more quickly than even the Chows expected. Mindy and Chrissy should have their best shot at going to the 2012 or 2016 Olympics. Daniel will be at what his father calls "prime judo age" for the next Games in London.

"A lot of blessings and fortunate occurrences have all kind of come together for our success," Greg said.

The Chows rarely discuss that success, focusing instead on setting goals as high as possible and achieving them. Winning trials is a monumental task for someone as young as Mindy Chow, but not impossible.

"It would take a lot of determination," she said. "I would really need to believe in myself and get a lot of support from my family."

Fortunately, they will all be close by.

NOTES

Greg Chow believes Taylor Ibera might be the most successful international judoka at Hawai'i Tenri, but she won't be at trials. At 97 pounds, Ibera does not weigh enough. The lightest Olympic weight is 48 kg/106 pounds.

Men's judo started at the 1964 Tokyo Games. Women were added in 1992 at Barcelona.

The oldest judoka at trials is James "Brewster" Thompson, 54, a "professional entertainer" from Las Vegas. Brewster has been on the David Letterman Show.

U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS

WRESTLING

Hawai'i competitors

Clarissa Chun, women, 105.5 lbs. — attended Roosevelt High School

Shyla Iokia, women, 121 lbs. — lives in Wailuku, attended Baldwin High School

Sadie Kaneda, women, 105.5 lbs. — lives in Honolulu, attended Roosevelt High School

Stephany Lee, women, 158.75 lbs. — attended Moanalua High School

Cherae Pascua, women, 121 lbs. — attended Mililani High School

Grant Nakamura, men's freestyle, 121 lbs. — attended Baldwin High School

JUDO

Hawai'i competitors

Christian Aarona, men, 220 lbs. — lives in Waimanalo, attended Kamehameha Schools

Chrissy Chow, women, 115 lbs. — lives in Honolulu, attends Punahou School

Daniel Chow, men, 145.5 lbs. — lives in Honolulu, attended Punahou School

Mindy Chow, women, 115 lbs. — lives in Honolulu, attends Punahou School

Andrew Hung, men, 178.5 lbs. — attended Pearl City High School

Melinda Swanson, women, heavyweight (171.75 lbs.-over) — lives in Honolulu

Taylor Takata, men, 145.5 pounds — attended 'Iolani School