Sure: Mathematics, History, English, Science are in the curriculum at Japanese Childrens Society.
BUT: extracurricular Double-Dutch jump roping - brings championship and trophy to local youngsters!
Under the guidance of head coach Yoshitaka Kato and assistant Haruka Uchida, The Ikuei Samurai Jumpers ended 2013 by winning a trophy almost taller than the Jumpers - at the Double-Dutch Championships.
Kato-sensei, physical education teacher at the school competed in Double Dutch in his school days in Japan. When he joined The Japanese Childrens Society, in Englewood Cliffs, he brought the sport from Japan back to the country of its origin.
When New York was still New Amsterdam, local kids played by jumping with two ropes. Newer immigrants from gave the sport, which they had not seen in their European homelands "Double-Dutch."
A popular schoolyard game well into the 20th century, a New York City police detective, David Walker, revitalized it as a competitive team sport over thirty years ago.
Special sneakers with very flat soles, enable jumpers to jump evenly for the compulsory round and the very acrobatic fusion and freestyle events,
says their coach.
Teams from Brooklyn to North Carolina to Connecticut as well as Japan, competed beneath the grand crystal chandelier on the very stage where Michael Jackson, Count Basie, Diahann Carroll and other fabled entertainers whose photos grace the lobby, have appeared and thrilled audiences for decades.
Although the 2020 Olympics will be in Tokyo, Coach Kato says Double Dutch has not yet been adopted by the IOCC.
Meantime, there is December 2014 championships to practice for, Kato says.
GREAT PHOTOS TO FOLLOW!
