Starrett Judo Club’s 35-year Legacy
By Amanda Moses
For more than three decades, the Starrett Judo Club has built a legacy rooted in discipline, perseverance, and community, producing champions while shaping generations of young people both on and off the mat.
At the center of the program’s success is Sensei Parnel Legros, whose philosophy extends far beyond martial arts. Guided by the belief that “it takes a village to raise a child,” Legros has helped students grow academically, emotionally, and socially while instilling the values of respect, focus, and resilience.
The program began in 1992 when Earl Williams and Margaret Novak of the Community Affairs and Public Relations Department at Spring Creek Towers, formerly known as Starrett City, sought to expand youth programming within the community. While visiting the Pool Club, now known as the Brooklyn Sports Club, they spotted Legros intensely training for the 1992 Summer Olympics.
Legros, who began practicing judo at age 8, was performing plyometric exercises when Novak approached him after learning he was a world champion preparing for the Olympics. She encouraged him to introduce judo to the youth of Spring Creek Towers.
At the time, Legros had already been teaching physical education at Gateway Intermediate School (I.S. 364) since 1989. After competing in the Olympics, he agreed to teach locally, unknowingly laying out the foundation for one of the community’s most influential youth programs.
Born in Haiti, Legros immigrated to the United States at 13. A lifelong athlete, he soon discovered sports could also serve as a pathway for mentorship and education.
For 37 years, Legros taught physical education while also earning a Ph.D. in physiology and nutrition. During the pandemic, he expanded his teachings through virtual wellness lessons that taught students and their families how to prepare healthy meals. In 2018, he retired from I.S. 364 and became an adjunct professor at a university.
“I firmly believed my purpose was to educate children through sports,” Legros said. “A plant needs nutrients, water, and sun. I incorporate nutrition into this aspect as well.”
Comparing children to seedlings, Legros views his role as helping students develop into confident and capable adults.
What separates the Starrett Judo Club from other programs, he says, is love.
“I love what I do, and that’s what I’m trying to teach the judokas, to love what they choose to do,” Legros said.
Over the years, the club’s reputation has spread throughout the martial arts community. Starrett Judokas consistently earned medals and trophies in city, state, regional, and international competitions, with accolades once overflowing from trophy cases inside the former Community Affairs office on Pennsylvania Avenue.
But the club’s impact extends well beyond competition. Many former students have gone on to become lawyers, doctors, educators, and professionals, carrying the lessons learned through judo into adulthood.
Training under Legros is rigorous. Whether during summer sessions or throughout the school year, students sprint up stairwells, run laps around the G Section lawn, and participate in conditioning drills and technical instruction designed to build both physical and mental endurance.
The demanding routine reflects Legros’ philosophy that success is built through discipline and resilience.
That philosophy was evident when JJ Billups became the first Starrett Judo Club student in nearly 17 years to earn a black belt during a February 2026 ceremony at the Brooklyn Sports Club. JJ and his twin sister, Kelsey Billups, have trained under Legros since childhood. “When you receive your black belt, that’s when you really start to learn judo,” Legros told him.
A former Olympian and United States Judo Federation Coach of the Year, Legros teaches that judo is more than combat. Rooted in the philosophy of the “gentle way,” the sport emphasizes discipline, respect, perseverance, and self-control.
“Every defensive movement is designed to protect both the judoka and their opponent,” Legros explained. “Students learn how to fall properly and rise stronger every time.”
The club’s success continued during the 33rd Annual Starrett Cup, where the Starrett Judo team earned first place against competitors from multiple dojos. According to Legros, both JJ and Kelsey Billups are on a path toward future Olympic qualifications.
The club has also endured tragedy. In 2020, Assistant Coach Tyrick Smith-Carter died after being struck by a vehicle, devastating the judo community. His legacy lives through the club’s annual memorial tournament, held each year at the Brooklyn Sports Club in his honor.
Today, the Starrett Judo Club remains a pillar of the community, continuing to shape young lives through mentorship, discipline, and the enduring lessons of judo. Residents interested in registering can visit the Brooklyn Sports Club front desk for more information.
Photos by Amanda Moses