Document text
Higher Degree Mail Tribune/Andrew Kemp Judo instructors Elie Morrell, top, and Richard Andrade mix it up recently at Wayne Owen's Martial Arts facility in Grants Pass. Morrell, who is 76, recently earned his seventh-degree black belt. Andrade, 71, will soon be up for his fourth-degree black belt. Local man, 76, first in state with seventh-degree black belt By KRIS HENRY Seventy-six years young. That's how Elie Morrell describes it, and that's how he lives it. While others may bide their time with more relaxed pursuits, Morrell is among a group of seniors who want nothing to do with a rocking chair. As proof, Morrell has become a seventh-degree black belt - the first Oregonian to complete such a rank in the United States Judo Association, and only the 59th overall. "My philosophy has always been that as long as I'm physically able, I'll put my uniform on and go out there and practice and teach," says Morrell. "If I'm 85, I'll still be doing it." Keeping Morrell company at Wayne Owen Fighting Arts in Grants Pass are friends Lee Frakes (71), Jim Linn (72) and Richard Andrade (71). Frakes and Andrade are head instructors in Grants Pass, with Morrell acting as an associate instructor. Linn, who occasionally rubs shoulders with his peers in Grants Pass, operates his own dojo at Southern Oregon University and also uses Morrell as an associate instructor. Frakes and Linn are both sixth-degree black belts, while Andrade will soon be up for his fourth-degree belt. "It's extremely unusual to have even one sixth-degree black belt in one place," says Frakes. "To have three of them here is almost unheard of." Frakes had been the senior statesman of the group until Morrell's upgrade to seventh-degree status in April. "Somehow he slipped by me," Frakes says with a chuckle. After the first few black belt ranks are met, the process becomes more scrutinized by a USJA promotions board, according to Linn. "Generally, at our level you don't get promoted for doing x, y and z," he says. "Generally, at that level it's more of a promotion for contribution to the sport." And after 46 years of judo training and teaching, Morrell's contributions are vast. He's served as chairman of the promotions board, had several of his judo articles published, acted as a referee for events and put on numerous clinics. Morrell had his own judo class before giving that up five years ago for an associate role in Grants Pass and at SOU. "He's got a very long and distinguished history in judo," says Linn. "That's in addition to raising a family, having a career as an (aerospace) engineer and living in various parts of the country." Morrell's judo pursuits began in 1955 when he was living in San Diego and a co-worker invited Morrell to his judo club. "That was it. I got hooked," says Morrell. "There's so much to it. It's almost a different way of life in some ways once you start studying it. There's a lot more to it than a couple people throwing each other around." The introduction to judo brought forth only one goal for Morrell, and that was to attain a first-degree black belt. Moving to Los Angeles and then to Texas slowed that process, with Morrell officially gaining his first-degree status after 15 years. Over the ensuing 31 years, he managed a quicker pace, but Morrell says his ranking has never been a guiding force. "I didn't give it a thought," he says. "Making seventh-degree was about as far away from my mind as taking a trip to Mars." He has done some traveling, however. He figures it's about 35 miles, or a 45-minute drive, to the Wayne Owen facility in Grants Pass from his house near McKee Bridge. The trip to Ashland is no jaunt around the corner either, but the effort is appreciated by his peers. "Devoted people like that are very fine resources, in addition to his own personality," says Linn. Morrell's strength in teaching judo is his technical knowledge. In a sport consisting of 65 throws and about 10,000 ways to do them, that kind of assistance can be vital. "He's just so good at picking up all those little nuances that take years to acquire," says Andrade. "I really appreciate his help." Judo, Linn says, is a sport that can endure the tests of time - and the aging process. "We can't stop aging but we can sure as hell try to retard it," he says. "Judo's an activity that helps keep you active and healthy. Some guys might go fishing or tinker with automobiles, but we do judo." Reach reporter Kris Henry at 776-4488, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.