Andy Dodd, judo

Maybe Andy Dodd likes that he can swing as hard as he can, and there is no foul called. Maybe it's that he can choke someone dry, and there is no jail time. Or maybe it's that he can tie up someone in an arm lock and not be thrown into the penalty box.

Whatever the reason, Andy Dodd lives for a sport that a lot of people would be afraid to try: judo.

"Its like an addiction, a huge part of my life," Dodd said. "I'll be doing this the rest of my life because I don't think I can ever get out of it. It's probably just the fact that it's different than everything else."

Judo originated in Japan by a teenager in 1882. It started as a fighting technique but now is seen more as a sport.

"It's not what most people think about martial arts," Dodd said. "It emphasizes throws, chokes and arm locks. The methods are restraining techniques rather than techniques to hurt people."

In fact, despite many perceptions of the sport, it's one of the safest considering the precautions taken. Three referees are on duty for every match and, according to Dodd, "really keep it safe."

"There is really nothing to be scared of," he said. "There aren't any moves that could seriously injury someone."

Dodd, 23, started practicing judo when he was 15 and quickly became involved in competition.

"For me, it started with wrestling in high school," Dodd said. "There was a girl on the team who did judo, and she told me about it. I became very interested and got into a class."

Dodd, a sophomore at Southeast Missouri State University, has two children, Drew, 2, and Delaney, 2 months. He and his wife, Holly, are preparing his children for a future in judo.

Dodd also stays busy running the judo club at Southeast. The club consists of 17 members. The university provides a facility for the club to train in, Elite Express Gymnastics, and sponsors most of the club's expenses.

Dodds' travel with the military provided him the opportunity to compete in martial arts all over the world and fight in three televised fights. By gaining that recognition, Dodd was able to achieve his biggest accomplishment: being registered in Kodokan, the world's judo headquarters in Japan.

As for now, Dodd's goal is to spread the word of the sport.

"I want to get athletes involved. It will be tough for a year or two," Dodd said. "It will grow, especially if there are enough people like me out there."

-- David Unterreiner