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Meet McCluer North’s Solomon Jackson: #1 in World Cadet Judo in the U.S.
By Elaine Steinborn
Unless you follow judo closely, you may not recognize the name Solomon Jackson yet, but this young man from Florissant is making a splash in judo competitions across the world.
In early August he was only person from St. Louis on the team representing the United States at the World Championships Cadets and Teams in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina. He is currently ranked as #1 in the United States for his age and weight division. Sixty-nine countries were represented at Sarajevo, making the competition nearly at an Olympic level.
Jackson is otherwise a normal McCluer North student in his junior year. His grades are high and his character has been described as focused and thoughtful. Nancy Schnell, a former faculty sponsor of the Judo Club at McCluer North where Jackson trained, is impressed not just by Jackson’s judo prowess but also by what a good person he is.
Jackson has been training in judo since he was five years old and currently trains at the James J. Eagan Center under the watchful eye of his sensei or instructor, Eiko Saito Shepherd. Shepherd is a renowned judo instructor who was the first woman to compete in Japan against men. She is in high demand as an instructor for judo clinics.
Shepherd pointed out that many people helped her and inspired her over the course of her career. She teaches with an eye to developing role models such as Jackson who can inspire the next generation in the same way. As a result, her approach to judo focuses on the whole person rather than just the physical sport of judo. In addition to character, grades are also emphasized, with a report card ceremony held with Mayor Schneider to stress the importance of education as part of judo training.
Shepherd pointed out that when Jackson began training at age 5, she didn’t think he would make a good judo student. However, as he persevered in judo, the training changed his approach to life. At 16, she believes that he is an excellent role model for what judo can do to build character. She also mentioned a young woman at St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley, where Shepherd teaches, who may become a role model for judo to girls, perhaps reaching the international level.
Denise Jackson, Solomon’s mother, has had to send her son off to international competitions in the care of his sensei. “The cost of travel is so high that I can’t come,” she explained. “We’re hoping that he can find a sponsor so he can make it to the competitions he needs to qualify for the 2020 Olympics.”
His next competition will be the 2015 America’s Cup Judo Championship in Pendleton, Indiana, Sept. 12.
Solomon Jackson (right) and competitor Koga from Japan at Sarajevo World Cadet Judo Championships Aug. 5 – 9.
