Maureen Braziel was one of the pioneers of Women's Judo

Judo

is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...

 competition. http://archive.poly.edu/news/fullNews.php?id=866. She has been thought of as being one the top Judoka in the United States. http://books.google.com/books?id=GtQDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA48&lpg=PA48&dq=Maureen+Braziel&source=bl&ots=coxPkQGPca&sig=5fmcIkO-KjEHMHRfoVg6XYYQK9w&hl=en&ei=udeJTYvVNczAtgf92d3hDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CDkQ6AEwBzgK#v=onepage&q=Maureen%20Braziel&f=false, and within the 1970s. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1064627/8/index.htm. She won the silver medal heavyweight in the 1971 British Open, and bronze in the open division. http://books.google.com/books?id=E1nPKuOF5KUC&pg=PA170&lpg=PA170&dq=Maureen+Braziel&source=bl&ots=Dfa_0gvFrj&sig=fRDCxukwofyLaieGp9LARq7EcHc&hl=en&ei=udeJTYvVNczAtgf92d3hDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CBkQ6AEwATgK#v=onepage&q=Maureen%20Braziel&f=false. She was the first female to place in international competition in Judo. http://books.google.com/books?id=E1nPKuOF5KUC&pg=PA170&lpg=PA170&dq=Maureen+Braziel&source=bl&ots=Dfa_0gvFrj&sig=fRDCxukwofyLaieGp9LARq7EcHc&hl=en&ei=udeJTYvVNczAtgf92d3hDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CBkQ6AEwATgK#v=onepage&q=Maureen%20Braziel&f=false. As a result helped to make women's Judo a sport under the Amateur Athletic Union

Amateur Athletic Union

The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...

  . http://archive.poly.edu/news/fullNews.php?id=866 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. http://www.usjudo.org/U.S.NationalHeavyweightWomensChampionships.asp. At a competition weight of 180 lbs, Maureen was strong enough to compete with men. http://books.google.com/books?id=btgDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA44&lpg=PA44&dq=Maureen+Braziel&source=bl&ots=RZcdP4lBpP&sig=-1SvZkmDkrezbhNWQviYG2crR6c&hl=en&ei=4tCJTY6AHpSWtwf5nLDgDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CEQQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=Maureen%20Braziel&f=false. She defeated Diane Pierce in 1974 for the National Championship. http://books.google.com/books?id=btgDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA44&lpg=PA44&dq=Maureen+Braziel&source=bl&ots=RZcdP4lBpP&sig=-1SvZkmDkrezbhNWQviYG2crR6c&hl=en&ei=4tCJTY6AHpSWtwf5nLDgDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CEQQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=Maureen%20Braziel&f=false Diane Pierce would later appear on the show To Tell The Truth claiming to be the 1974 National Judo Champion. http://books.google.com/books?id=btgDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA44&lpg=PA44&dq=Maureen+Braziel&source=bl&ots=RZcdP4lBpP&sig=-1SvZkmDkrezbhNWQviYG2crR6c&hl=en&ei=4tCJTY6AHpSWtwf5nLDgDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CEQQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=Maureen%20Braziel&f=false. Maureen won the gold medal in the 1975 Judo International championship for the heavyweight division in Switzerland. http://books.google.com/books?id=E1nPKuOF5KUC&pg=PA170&lpg=PA170&dq=Maureen+Braziel&source=bl&ots=Dfa_0gvFrj&sig=fRDCxukwofyLaieGp9LARq7EcHc&hl=en&ei=udeJTYvVNczAtgf92d3hDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CBkQ6AEwATgK#v=onepage&q=Maureen%20Braziel&f=false She was the undisputed US Heavyweight Champion on the East Coast from 1967 to 1977. http://blogs.poly.edu/ebriefs/2008/02/28/maureen-braziel-a-pioneer-for-women-in-sports/ . In 1976 she was part of the US Women's National Team under teach coach Rusty Kanokogi http://books.google.com/books?id=E1nPKuOF5KUC&pg=PA170&lpg=PA170&dq=Maureen+Braziel&source=bl&ots=Dfa_0gvFrj&sig=fRDCxukwofyLaieGp9LARq7EcHc&hl=en&ei=udeJTYvVNczAtgf92d3hDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CBkQ6AEwATgK#v=onepage&q=Maureen%20Braziel&f=false She placed second in 1977, 1979 and 1980 for the Women's US Nationals http://www.usjudo.org/U.S.NationalHeavyweightWomensChampionships.asp. She was the Amateur Athletic Union

Amateur Athletic Union

The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...

Most Outstanding Player Award in 1974 http://archive.poly.edu/news/fullNews.php?id=866 Following competition she founded the PolyTech Judo Club. http://blogs.poly.edu/ebriefs/2008/02/28/maureen-braziel-a-pioneer-for-women-in-sports/ She served as the secretary for NYS Judo (circa 2009). http://www.nysjudo.org/NYSJI%20Minutes%2002072009.pdf