Kicking It With Eve Nadel Catarevas, Author of RENA GLICKMAN, QUEEN OF JUDO

Rena Glickman identified professionally as Rusty Kanokogi was a Jewish girl from Coney Island who grew up to turn into a judo master at a time when the sport was strictly for males. Disguised as a man she entered and won the 1959 YMCA Judo Championship but was forced to give back her medal when it was found that she was a lady. By no means wanting that to take place to one more female she set out to make women’s judo a well-liked sport about the planet. Her fight for equality resulted in the very first Women’s Judo Planet Championship and turning women’s judo into an Olympic sport.
Considering that Eve Nadel Catarevas is one particular of my critique partners I was fortunate sufficient to be an early reader of this project and so thrilled to see her challenging operate spend off with her debut book. One particular fearless determined lady writing about one more fearless determined lady! These days Eve and I go over the accurate story RENA GLICKMAN QUEEN OF JUDO:
Was there one particular thing—a precise scene quote or image from Rena’s Glickman’s life—that guided you all through the writing course of action?
It was a quote. Rusty (I’ve often made use of Rena’s nickname) often stated “In life you are either the hammer or the nail. Be the hammer.” It does not get additional simple than that!
Though researching this book which reality shocked you?
Rusty was so committed to holding the very first Women’s Judo Planet Championships (at Madison Square Garden) that she mortgaged her personal property.
Why do you feel little ones can relate to Rusty?
Girls these days are taught to go just after what they want. That wasn’t a common precept in the 1950s but that is specifically what Rusty did. Obstacles did not deter her. Rusty forged ahead.
Which sources have been significant in building this biography?
There have been no books on Rusty. I made use of each magazine newspaper and on the net short article I could uncover. Fortunately I discovered Rusty’s daughter. She was invaluable.
How did you pick the timeframe for your book?
Rusty’s childhood was so rife with drama (a lot of it did not make it into the book – as well dark) I knew I had to commence there. The culmination of the story was women’s judo becoming at extended final an Olympic sport.
How did you ascertain if details need to be incorporated in the story or the back matter?
Ooh that is a very good query Karlin. I cannot inform you how usually I place in and take out details throughout the writing course of action. In one particular draft it is element of back matter subsequent draft it is element of the text and ultimately it is out altogether. But not definitely mainly because I will have a alter of heart and back it goes just written differently. Back matter is exactly where I place components that are relevant to the subject’s life story but never serve the story. It is exactly where I property statistics or inroads produced beyond my subject’s lifetime.
If you could choose the best location for a storywalk for this book exactly where would it be?
The streets of Coney Island exactly where Rusty grew up the location that helped her turn into an independent powerful-willed lady who would cease at nothing at all to realize her dream – and to encourage other people to do the identical.
What is your #1 tip for writing accurate stories?
Ferret out as considerably supply material as you can. Dig dig then dig some additional. You never ever know when you are going to come across that cease-you-in-your-tracks quote or anecdote—the one particular that pulls the complete story with each other.
What other books would you advocate to readers who like Rena Glickman Queen of Judo?
HER FEARLESS RUN: Kathrine Switzer’s Historic Run by Kim Chaffee & Ellen Rooney and BILLIE JEAN!: How Tennis Star Billie Jean King Changed Women’s Sports by Mara Rockliff & Elizabeth Baddeley.
Thank you Eve for getting the hammer (wink!) and for taking the time to chat about this kick-butt biography!
Correct STORY TIDBITS:
Spirited and empowering this book (with its “Kapow!” cover) is on 4 shelves in my TrueStory Bookshop:
*Women’s History
*Athletes
*Activists
*Jewish Heritage Stories
Each and every day is a very good day for a accurate story! But right here are some particular tie-in dates for RENA GLICKMAN QUEEN OF JUDO.
*February (very first Wednesday in February): National Girls and Females in Sports Day raises awareness about the constructive elements of sports and the continued have to have to market gender equality in each way.
*June 23 (1972): The day Title IX was signed into law. Title IX prohibits sex-primarily based discrimination in any college or any other education system that receives funding from the federal government.
*July 30 (1935): Rena Glickman’s birthday.
*August 21 (2009): YMCA provides Rusty back the medal she was stripped of 50 years earlier.
*September 25 (1988): Initial Olympic Women’s Judo competitors (This was a demonstration tournament with no medals. Following that Women’s Judo became a complete medal Olympic sport.)
*October 28: Planet Judo Day celebrates the martial art and the birthday of its founder Kanō Jigorō.
Eve Nadel Catarevas is also the author of Fantastic HAIR: The Beauty of Annie Malone illustrated by Felicia Marshall and published by Creston Books.