Jefferson, a San Jose, Calif., native, is ranked #1 nationally and will be one of four men representing the U.S. in Judo at the upcoming Titan Games which will be held next month in San Jose. He also competed in judo as a collegiate at San Jose State; winning national titles in each of his four years there.

Q1: Congratulations on being named November's USOC Male Athlete of the Month. How does winning that award make you feel?

CHUCK JEFFERSON: It makes me feel great. It really came as a big surprise to me. It's nice when an athlete from such a small sport is recognized among athletes from all arenas.

Q2: What got you involved in the sport of Judo?

CHUCK JEFFERSON: I was five-years-old when I started. I started just for fun at a local community center in Barstow, Calif.

Q3: How does Judo differ from other sports such as Taekwondo and Karate?

CHUCK JEFFERSON: Judo is more of a grappling martial art. We don't kick or punch. The object is to throw your opponent onto their back with speed and force. Once on the ground, you can win by either pin or submission (usually with a choke or arm bar).

Q4: What's the hardest and most demanding part of Judo?

CHUCK JEFFERSON: The hardest part of judo is the long years of constant training and dedication. In my experience, judo is one of the most difficult sports in the world to become really good at. No matter how hard you train, no matter how good of shape you are in, with a lack of concentration for one second, you can lose a match. It's a very fast sport.

Q5: Judo is a very global sport, taking its participants all over the world. What are some of the coolest places you've been because of it?

CHUCK JEFFERSON: Japan is the place I spend most of my time. Over the years, I have learned a lot about Japanese people, their culture and some of their language. Aside from Japan and a few other Asian countries, I have been all over Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.

Q6: How are you're eating, sleeping, and training schedules altered when you're traveling to these foreign countries?

CHUCK JEFFERSON: Its hardest to travel for competition because its usually only for a week or two at a time. I usually do pretty well with getting adjusted to time within a couple of days of arriving in Europe or Asia. The diet is little more difficult because everywhere we go there is different food. Some people have a specific pre-game meal they are used to, and sometimes it's impossible to find that comfort zone you're used to. I often times go to Japan for several months at a time, so I feel perfectly comfortable with everything there.

Q7: What are you expecting from the Titan Games in Feb., and how are you getting ready for them?

CHUCK JEFFERSON: I am expecting to have a good performance to get me in tune for the upcoming European Tour that will start in Germany 1 week after the Titan Games. I have been training in Japan for about two months over the winter, so I will expect to be in tip-top shape. My weekly training schedule consists of judo five nights, running three times and weight training two times per week.

Q8: The Titan Games are in your hometown, how do you feel about having the home field advantage?

CHUCK JEFFERSON: It's going to be really nice. I have only had the chance to fight in my hometown a few times during my career. Hometown crowds can also add pressure that an athlete on the road doesn't normally have. As long as I can stay focused, it should be a great time.

Q9: Are you in charge of getting your friends and family tickets for the event, or are they on they're own for this one?

CHUCK JEFFERSON: (Laughing) Well, I haven't really thought about that until now, I guess I better start looking into that!

Q10: If you could be any other type of Olympian, what sport would you participate in?

CHUCK JEFFERSON: Wrestling. I wrestled for Barstow High School for four years. I had some really good times with wrestling. Wrestling and Judo are very similar sports both requiring an amazing amount of skill and determination for success. They are individual sports that put you in the spotlight alone. When you are on the mat facing an opponent one on one, you learn a lot about yourself. There is not another feeling in the world that can compare to the feeling that you get on the mat in a close match as you start to get tired. You start to talk to yourself, some people question weather they can do it or not, others tell themselves to continue to push. This is what separates the top players from the rest of the pack.

Q11: What do you do in your downtime, away from Judo?

CHUCK JEFFERSON: When I find some extra time, I like to go camping, hiking, and snowboarding. On Sundays, I just enjoy going for a long drive, exploring all the scenery in Northern California.