Instructors

Scott Moore began judo in 1988 under Sensei Connie Lavergne in Lafayette, Louisiana

Scott Moore

Scott Moore

and currently holds the rank of rokudan, or 6th degree black belt. Over the course of his competitive career, Scott had tremendous success, becoming the first American to win a gold medal in the Paralympic Games in 2000. He also won bronze medals in the 1996 and 2004 Paralympic Games. In addition, he was the IBSA World Judo Champion in 1998 and won a pair of World Championship bronze medals in 1995 and 2002. In 2007 Scott retired from competition and was selected as the assistant coach for the 2008 Paralympic Team. In 2009 he became the head coach for the national visually impaired program and served as the head coach for the US Paralympic Judo team at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London, England,  2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and the 2020ne Paralympics in Tokyo, Japan. In 2009, Scott was selected by the US Olympic Committee as the Paralympic Coach of the Year.

Scott became the head coach of Denver Judo in 1999 and he and Heidi have worked diligently to make the program one of the most successful in Colorado. Expanding the club to include classes for children, beginners and competitive players, and opening classes to the visually impaired on a fully integrated basis, Scott has lead Denver Judo students to multiple medals at the national and international level.

Scott is also a certified coach with USA Judo at the International “A” Level.

 

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Heidi Moore, LAT, ATC started judo in 1986 in Santa Monica, California.
She currently holds the rank of rokudan, or 6th degree black belt. Heidi has had competitive success at every stage of her career, medaling multiple times at national tournaments at the junior, high school, collegiate, senior, and masters levels. She has won 11 medals at the USA Judo Senior National Championships. She represented the United States at the 2005 and 2007 World Championships and at the 2005, 2007 and 2008 Pan American Championships. She finished the 2007 Pan American Championships with a bronze medal.

Heidi moved to Denver in 1999 and took over Denver Judo with her husband Scott. Through Scott, Heidi became involved in the US Paralympic judo program and has served as a coach for the national team many times, including serving as the assistant coach at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London, 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, and the 2020ne Paralympics in Tokyo, Japan. Heidi serves as head instructor and executive director of Denver Judo and enjoys teaching the youth and senior competitive classes.

Heidi is a Certified Athletic Trainer and an International “A” level coach with USA Judo, as well as current President of the Colorado Judo League.

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Keith

Keith Lewis, yodan

I started Judo in 1992 at Southwestern Oregon Community College under Sensei Rich Petherbridge and have been hooked ever since. I moved back to Colorado in 1993 where I continued his Judo training at
Hyland Hills Judo School under Sensei Dennis Mercer and Sensei Grace Jividen. While training under Sensei Grace Jividen I had the privilege to train with a number of top Athletes at the Olympic Training
Center in Colorado Springs. In 1996 I entered the Law Enforcement profession where I continue to teach Defensive Tactics, and arrest control. In 1998 I was promoted to the rank of Shodan (1st degree black
belt). In 2002 I started training with Denver Judo under Senseis Scott and Heidi Moore. Since joining Denver Judo, I have had the privilege to train under two of the best coaches in the U.S. After 31 years of
dedication to Judo, I continue to train, teach and Coach under Scott and Heidi Moore where I am blessed to teach, Coach and train with a very highly qualified and dedicated Coaching staff. I currently hold the
rank of Yodan (4th Degree Black Belt) and continue to teach, Coach, Referee and train in my beloved sport of Judo.
USA Judo certified Continental Coach.
Colorado Judo League Promotions Board member.
Colorado Judo League Referee.
Law Enforcement Krav Maga Defensive Tactics Instructor.
2022 Senior Nationals Assistant Team Coach.
2022 Denver Judo Fall Classic Gold medalist Veterans -90kg.
2019 USA Judo Senior Nationals 5th Place Veterans -90kg.
2018 USA Judo Senior Nationals Silver Medalist Veterans -90kg
2018 Denver Judo Judo Fall Classic Silver Medalist Veterans -90kg.
2017 USA Judo Senior Nationals Silver Medalist Veterans -90kg
2015 USA Judo Presidents Cup Silver Medalist Veterans -81kg
2015 Denver Judo Fall Classic Bronze Medalist Veterans -90kg
2015 Northglenn 47th Annual Silver Medalist Veterans -90kg
2015 OTC Classic Bronze Medalist Veterans -90kg
2015 Denver Buddhist Temple Silver Medalist Veterans -90kg
2015 World Police and Fire Games -90kg 5th Place.
2013 Colorado State Judo Championship Bronze Medalist Masters -90kg
2013 Rocky Mountain State Games Silver Medalist Masters 90kg.
2013 Denver Judo Fall Classic Bronze Medalist Masters -90kg
2012 Denver Judo Fall Classic Bronze Medalist Masters -90kg.
2011 World Police and Fire games -90kg 5th Place.
2009 World Police and Fire Games -90kg 4thPlace.
2008 USA Judo U.S. Open Masters -90kg Silver Medalist.

Alyssa Zawack, sandan
Alyssa Gilkey Zawack is a USA Judo Internationally Certified and an International Judo Federation Internationally Certified coach. She currently holds the rank of Sandan, and has been actively competing since 2010. She began her judo journey at Iowa State University under Grand Master Yon Chin Pak, and currently trains and coaches at Denver Judo under Heidi and Scott Moore. As an athlete, she is a 4x Senior National Medalist, 5x President’s Cup Medalist, 4x Collegiate National Medalist, and has placed in the top 7 in multiple international Opens. She has maintained a US ranking in the top 10 of -78kg for over 8 years. As a coach, she has co-facilitated the Foundations Class for 8 years, supported no-gi athletes through Factory X in 2014, and served as an assistant coach for the Team USA at the IBSA Paralympic World Games in 2023.
Top Career Highlights include:
2023 PanAmerican Veteran Games Silver Medalist
2018 Colorado State Champion (gold)
2017 US Open Champion (gold)
2015 Senior National Champion (gold)

Kedge Zawack, sandan
USA Judo Certified National Level Coach
Competitive Highlights:
2023 USA Judo President’s Cup – silver medal, -100kg
2023 USA Judo President’s Cup – bronze medal, open division
2023 USA Judo Senior National Championships – silver medal, -100kg
2023 USA Judo Senior National Championships – silver medal, open division
2022 USA Judo National Championships – bronze medal
2021 USA Judo President’s Cup – Gold Medal
2021 USA Judo National Championship – Silver Medal
2019 USA Judo President’s Cup – Bronze Medal
2017 US Senior National Championship – Bronze Medal
2017 USA Judo President’s Cup – Gold Medal
2016 USA Judo President’s Cup – Gold Medal
2015 USA Judo President’s Cup – Silver Medal
2014 US Senior National Champioship – Bronze Medal
2012 US Senior National Championhip – Bronze Medal


Sophia Tiessler, nidan
2022 US Open Championship – Bronze Medal
2019 USA Judo National Championship – Bronze Medal
2019 Dallas Invitational Championship – Bronze Medal
2019 USA Judo President’s Cup – Bronze Medal
2018 USA Judo President’s Cup – Bronze Medal
2017 USA Judo National Championship – Silver Medal

Smokey Adams, shodan

Youth Instructors:


Matthew Gilmartin, shodan
USA Judo certified instructor

 

Other Yudansha:
Jim Carmer, godan
Tracy Crawford, godan
Jessica Lockfeld, yodan
Megan Post, sandan
Ryan Jones, sandan
Nikki Jones, sandan
Jayson Oldfather, sandan
Nobuo Yagai, nidan
Dave Wise, nidan
Jason Falcone, nidan
Steeve Alvaro, nidan
Richard Johnson, nidan
Avtandili Bogveradze, nidan
Jayson Oldfather, nidan
Dan Le, shodan
Kenneth Schroeder, shodan
Hisashi Araya-Kjeseth, shodan
Sean Montoya, shodan
Jeremy Goodwin, shodan
Daniel Weng, shodan

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Visitors are always welcome and we encourage you to try a free introductory class before you join!

For more information contact us at 303.621.6976 or info@denverjudo.com.