Shinsato didn’t always love judo, but it grew with her

At first, Haylie Shinsato saw judo only through red, tear-filled eyes.

Now, she views the sport from an intensely focused perspective, and, usually, from a medalist’s vantage point.

This week the prize in the Mililani High senior-to-be’s eyes is the fifth annual Grassroots Judo Junior, Youth, Team and Kata National Championships that open Friday at Blaisdell Center. 

The Hawaii State High School Athletic Association 115-pound champion is among the top Hawaii hopefuls in the three-day event that, including the U.S. Judo Federation Senior National Championships, has drawn more than 800 competitors from 18 states and five countries. 

Time was, however, when Shinsato couldn’t wait to hang up her dogi and go kick a soccer ball. 

"I started playing both sports when I was about 6," Shinsato said.  "I was kind of thrown into it, but I never liked (judo). I used to cry when I had to go."

In time, as she said she became accustomed to the training regimen and as the techniques became more familiar, her competitive drive kicked in.

"I didn’t like losing, so every time I lost I’d go back, look at it and push myself to get better because I never wanted to feel like that again," Shinsato said.

She has placed all three years in the HHSAA state championships and, with each appearance, has grown beyond her 5-foot, 3-inch height, coaches say, not only as a judoka but as a team leader. This while juggling two varsity sports, competing in a state science fair and managing a B-plus average.

"Surprisingly, even when soccer is going on, she comes out to help out her teammates (with judo)," Mililani coach Alex Kikuyama said. "That’s the kind of work ethic she has."

But she took it further after losing in the HHSAA 115-pound finals in 2013. She had barely gotten on the mat when she was downed for the maximum, ippon, in 6 seconds on a swiftly executed counter by Roosevelt’s Kristen Kojima. 

"I was proud of her for the way she handled it," said Kalani Takase, one of her coaches at the time. "She got right up, looked the other girl in the eye, congratulated her, held her head high and then came back to help root for her teammates even though you knew it was hurting her inside because of the competitor she is."

"That hit me hard," Shinsato acknowledged. "I was disappointed (because) I knew I could do better and I didn’t show it. So, right after that, even before judo season started again, I began training every day (at the Mililani Hongwanji Judo Club)."

Along the way a nickname was born: "Shin-sanity." It is, her coaches say, testament to a painstaking dedication to training and the strength and resolve she has gained from it.

Two months ago, in the 2014 HHSAA championships, Shinsato prevailed for the 115-pound title.

In the meantime, while Shinsato said she hopes soccer will help propel her to a college education, she has come to refer to judo, "as my fun sport."

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@staradvertiser.com or 529-4820.