Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Philippe Morotti. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Philippe thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

My father was Italian and my mother was French. I was born and raised in Sweden. I have been an immigrant my whole life.I am multi cultured. The Mediterranean culture versus the Northern European culture. Then, at the age of 29, I came to the USA. I have lived half of my life in California.
There is no school for becoming a parent. I think that most parents learn from their parents, taking in good advice and also trying not to make the same mistakes. Growing up, we look at our parents as role models, while we try to find our own way of life. In my case, my parents instilled in me values and ethics, how to treat others and how to be fair while working hard towards your goals. They were both very hard working immigrants, and they firmly believed in these values.
We travelled often from Sweden to Italy and to France to visit relatives. I was exposed to different cultures and I eventually became fluent in 4 languages. I learned that all people are dealing with the same human conditions, regardless of country and culture. We have more in common than what separates us. My parents gave me that insight. And for this I am eternally grateful.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am the Head Instructor at Hollywood Judo Dojo. We are located at the Japanese Cultural Institute in Hollywood.
At the age of 12, I started practicing judo in the suburbs of Stockholm, Sweden. Judo quickly became a passion. As a young person, I never dreamt that I one day would run a judo club, nor that I would end up living in California. But life is interesting that way.
I ended up leaving Sweden at the age of 26, I then lived in Italy and in France for a few years. When I landed in Los Angeles at age 29, I did not have a clear idea of what I wanted to do. I became a personal fitness trainer at In Training Private Fitness on Beverly Boulevard, where I still work with clients. Fitness is my day job, and I also teach at the judo club 6 days per week.
Hollywood Judo Dojo has grown to be one of the best judo clubs in the country, with 150 members.
We have kids beginners and intermediate classes and adults beginners, intermediate and advanced classes. We host women’s self defense seminars, we compete nationally and internationally, and our members represent some 20 different nationalities and different cultures. Hollywood Judo is like a little United Nations, with the exception that we all get along.
We serve the community and the judo philosophy that we teach instills great values in our members so that they in turn can better our society. I am proud of the fact that we have created a club that includes all kind of people and that we can better their lives through the practice of judo.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

Judo is different from the mainstream sports in this country. We don’t get sponsorships like most sports do.
First, we have a team of great instructors. They all have coaches licenses and background check. This mean that we teach great judo skills in a safe environment.
Last year we became our own 501c3 non profit organization. This allows us to apply for grants. We also have a board, which consist of an outstanding team of individuals, each one an expert in their field. We keep our membership fees very reasonable, since we want our organization to be available to as many as possible.
Since judo as a sport comes with a philosophy built on mutual respect, we feel that this must be one of our corner stones for success. Judo is a martial art and a combat sport, and it’s important that we are welcoming to everyone while teaching that safety comes first. Our house rules are built on respect for our instructors and for our members.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Hollywood Judo was created in 1932. I joined in 2010.
As head instructor, I have a responsibility to maintain the clubs traditional values, and also make sure that it survives. After all, it is one of the oldest judo clubs in the country.
During the pandemic, times were hard for everyone. Judo is a full contact sport, that require a partner. This made it difficult to practice. We had to close for 14 months during this time. Fortunately, we were able to keep paying our rent for the facility, which meant that we had somewhere to go back to after the pandemic. In the meantime, we practiced in parks, while wearing masks. Far from ideal, but it held us over. It was also good for the spirit of our members to maintain a sense of continuity. The future was unclear, and many were depressed. I think that we all learned not to take life for granted while trying to keep doing what we love.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hollywoodjudo.com
• Instagram: hollywoodjudodojo
• Facebook: Hollywood Judo
• Youtube: HollywoodJudoDojo

Image Credits

Philippe Morotti