Summer Olympic sports for kids around Chicago

By Elizabeth Diffin

We all know swimming, diving, gymnastics, and track and field. But what about those little-known sports that only get their moment in the sun when the Olympics roll around every four years?

As you watch the torch head to London, it may be time for your kids to explore some of the more obscure summer Olympic offerings, all right here in Chicago. The next thing you know, they could be the ones on the podium.

3 of 9

Judo in Chicago

Even if you don't know the difference between your hiza and your hiji, you can still learn this ancient Japanese sport, one of the most widely practiced martial arts in the world. POW! Kids offers Olympic Youth Judo classes and camps for kids 4-12, taught by an actual 2012 Olympic hopeful, Aaron Cohen, and his brother, RJ. And kids with special needs don't have to be left out of the fun. Menomonee Judo Club offers one-on-one, individualized instruction and camps for kids of all abilities. Nearly 150 members have visual, physical or intellectual disabilities, making the club one of the the most accessible dojos in the country.