Maureen Braziel

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Maureen Braziel
Residence Brooklyn, New York, USA
Style Judo

Maureen Braziel was one of the pioneers of Women's Judo competition. [1]. She has been thought of as being one of the top Judoka in the United States. [2], and within the 1970s. [3].


She won the silver medal heavyweight in the 1971 British Open, and bronze in the open division. [4]. She was the first female to place in international competition in Judo. [5]. As a result helped to make women's Judo a sport under the Amateur Athletic Union . [6] Maureen was the women's US National 1st place winner for the heavyweight division and the grand champion for the years 1974, 1975, and 1976. [7].
At a competition weight of 180 lbs, Maureen was strong enough to compete with men. [8]. She defeated Diane Pierce in 1974 for the National Championship. [9] Diane Pierce would later appear on the show To Tell The Truth claiming to be the 1974 National Judo Champion. [10]. Maureen won the gold medal in the 1975 Judo International championship for the heavyweight division in Switzerland. [11] She was the undisputed US Heavyweight Champion on the East Coast from 1967 to 1977. [12] . In 1976 she was part of the US Women's National Team under teach coach Rusty Kanokogi [13] She placed second in 1977, 1979 and 1980 for the Women's US Nationals [14]. She was the Amateur Athletic Union Most Outstanding Player Award in 1974 [15]

Personal life[edit]

Following competition she founded the PolyTech Judo Club. [16]. She served as the head coach for the Poly Tech Judo Club. [17] She would later serve as Athletic Director at Poly Tech. [18]. Even later she would serve as the athletic director for NYU-Poly. [19]. She would later retire after 30 years at NYU. [20] She served as the secretary for NYS Judo (circa 2009). [21]