Garnering national attention, the Penn State Judo Club currently owns a No. 3 national ranking.

In fact, it's this kind of prominence that attracted current team member Shinta-ro Taniguichi (freshman-aerospace engineering) away from his home state and the University of Michigan.

Along with Guido Lang (senior-finance) and Simon Bai (junior-mechanical engineering), the Judo Club will attempt to bring home victories at the National Collegiate Judo Championships, held today and tomorrow at San Jose State University, in San Jose, Ca.

Lang, who will compete at 220 pounds, won last year's title at the same weight in addition to the 1998 German National Competition under-21 division, the 2000-2001 East Coast Championship and the 2002 Ontario Open.

The victory that means the most to him, however, is a third-place finish in the Under-18 division in the 1995 German Nationals.

"It was my first competition at a national level," said Lang. "Although I got beat up very hard, I was able to establish myself and win third place."

Taniguichi will compete at 133 pounds at Nationals, while Bai, at 178 pounds, is entering his first national competition.

"I'd like to leave PSU not only with an engineering degree, but also with the title of National Champion written on my resume," said Bai. "It gives me motivation to strive for everything else."

Recently, the team competed in the Eastern Collegiate Judo Championships at Slippery Rock University on Feb. 16. Penn State's five-man team garnered first place honors while amassing a record of 3-0.

In its first-round match against host Slippery Rock, the team won three of five matches to move on to the semifinals.

In the following round against West Point Team 1, the club won four of five matches to advance to the finals. Facing West Point Team 2 for the title, the team swept all five matches for the victory.

Penn State's head coach, Hachiro Oishi, has been involved with judo for 45 years, is a former Sambo World Champion and assisted in coaching the wrestling program at Penn State for 17 years.

"Hachiro Oishi is an integral part in everything I do right now," said Bai. "He gives me incentive to not only excel in judo, but in my studies as well."

Other assistants for the program are Frank Driscoll, Phil Devan and Chuck Lowry.

The Judo Club only gained official club status recently, and is open to anyone who wishes to attend.

"If you can take it for a month, then you can take it," said John Cirrinicione (junior-business administration), the captain of the Judo Club.

The workout schedule some members follow is a daunting one.

"I do regular judo practices on Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday and run about three times a week," Lang said. "In addition, I set up individual workouts with one or two guys from the club about two times a week. Depending on my schedule, I throw in swimming once or twice as well."

The first few weeks are spent learning to adjust to the sport.

"Judo is a big part of my life in terms of time and effort requirements, but it also relates because it teaches you self-discipline, confidence and thoroughness," Lang said. "Judo teaches you a certain way of treating your opponent with a lot of respect but still fight aggressively."

The club will return to competition following the National Collegiate Judo Championships on April 20 and 21 at the Liberty Bell Championships in Philadelphia.

Anyone interested in the Judo Club should attend Tuesdays or Thursdays in the IM Wrestling Room from 6:30-8:30 p.m., or e-mail John Cirrinicione at jdc248@psu.edu.