Star Tani gives birth to boy
(Jan. 1, 2006) The Yomiuri Shimbun
Two-time Olympic judo champion Ryoko Tani rang in the new year with a new addition to her family, a baby boy after giving birth Saturday afternoon at a Hyogo Prefecture hospital.
The as-yet-unnamed boy, born at 5:05 p.m. and weighing in at 2,585 grams, is the first child of Tani and Orix Buffaloes outfielder and husband Yoshitomo Tani. The team made the birth announcement.
Mother and child had no complications during the delivery, the team said.
Tani, the Olympic gold medalist at 48 kilograms, announced her pregnancy last June. Her condition caused her skip the world championships in September, missing a chance for a seventh straight world title.---------------------------------------------------------------
President Putin performs in front of Yasuhiro YamashitaMOSCOW, Dec 24 AFP - Russia's president Vladimir Putin, a judo black belt, put his
passion of Japan's national sport on full display here today under the discerning eye
of Japanese legend Yasuhiro Yamashita.
Putin, who regularly practices judo in his presidential palace and even wrote a book
on the sport in 2003, pulled on his judogi to take a training session involving young
Russian judokas.
Russian television showed the president warming up with around 60 judokas and even
engaging in combat with some of them.
Putin displayed his favourite move - which ends with a leg sweeping motion bringing
the opponent to the floor - on European women's champion Lioudmila Bogdanova.
Putin learned judo while working in the KGB, the former Soviet secret police, where
he reached the rank of lieutenant colonel
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Russia’s Putin Elected Honorary President
of European Judo Union2/12/05 Russian President Vladimir Putin has been elected the honorary president of the European Judo Union (EJU), Reuters reported., The EJU head Marius Vizer will arrive in Moscow on Saturday to give Putin a certificate acknowledging his new title. Vladimir Putin reportedly began judo at the age of 14 and he is the first world leader to move forward in the advanced levels. Currently, Putin is a black belt (6th Degree) and is best known for a “wicked” sweeping leg throw called the Harai goshi. Putin has won competitions in his hometown of Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), including the senior champion of Leningrad. Now he is President of the Yawara Dojo, the same St. Petersburg dojo he studied at as a youth. Putin co-authored a book on his favorite sport, published in English under the title “Judo: History, Theory, Practice”.
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Alejandro Blanco elected president
of the Spanish Olympic CommitteeMADRID, Spain
AP Worldstream has reported that Alejandro Blanco, President of the Spanish Judo Federation. was elected president of the Spanish Olympic Committee on Thursday 29th September.
Blanco defeated the other candidate, Mercedes Coghen, by 101 votes to 84
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Europeans no-show earns Singleton 12 month banLONDON, September 16 - Former European champion Georgina Singleton of Pinewood Judo Club has been banned from representing her country at international level for 12 months following her refusal to take part in the European Championships in May.
Singleton disgraced herself by returning home from the European Championships in Rotterdam this year rather than attending the weigh-in.
Singleton had refused to try to make the -52kg weight limit after being drawn in a tough pool alongside eventual winner Ilse Heylen of Belgium.
The Pinewood fighter left for the airport rather than the weigh-in venue on the morning she would have been competing.
British Judo Association press officer Emma Reed confirmed today that SIngleton has had her world class funding withdrawn and has been suspended from representing Britain in international competition for a year.
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Worlds Day 5 Team EventSouth Korea and France share the spoils in CairoCAIRO, Egypt, September 12 - South Korea and France won the team titles at the World Judo Championships in Cairo to serve a reminder to Japan before next year's World Team Championships that its domination of the sport is a thing of the past.
Japan's eight gold medal haul at the Athens Olympics a year ago was seen as further evidence that the world's most powerful judo nation was starting to put distance between itself and the rest.
But having been restricted to just three gold medals out of a possible 16 at this tournament, Japan was then forced to settle for silver and bronze in the two five-fighter team events.
South Korea won the men's tournament thanks to a crucial victory for deposed 2003 world champion at under 90kg Hwang Hee-tae over the new incumbent Hiroshi Izumi.
Korea had stolen a march on their Asian rivals by winning the under 81kg category through Kim Min-gu who threw Takashi Ono for ippon with osoto-gari.
That gave Korea a 2-1 lead and Hwang's victory sealed the title, although the Egyptian federation angered IJF president Park Yong-sung by playing the North Korean national anthem at the medal ceremony - it was the latest in a long line of gaffs by the host federation.
Brazil beat Egypt to win bronze, alongside Georgia who overcame France surprisingly comfortably, although the French were fighting two fighters in a weight division above their natural weight and both lost.In the women's event, Japan lost to South Korea at the semi-final stage but the winners could not make it a double victory as they were beaten by France in the final.
Korea took the lead as Kim Kyong-ok strangled Annabelle Euranie but France hit straight back through Barbara Harel and Lucie Decosse.
The fourth fight ended in a draw but then Celine Lebrun clinched the gold medal for the Europeans, defeating Jeong Ji-won.
Algeria delighted the home crowd by winning bronze for north Africa, beating a combined Oceania team that required two stringers to make up its full five-player quota, and Japan also won bronze, with a narrow victory over China.
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Worlds Day 4
Fabulous Fallon earns first world titleCAIRO, Egypt, September 11 - Britain's Craig Fallon went one better than two years ago as he claimed a first world title and Britain's first since Graeme Randall achieved the feat in 1999.
Fallon beat his prime European foe, Ludwig Paischer of Austria by a single koka to earn a hard fought victory in a tense final that often required his remarkable powers of avoidance to keep his nose in front.
It was a bitter pill to swallow for Paischer who has won all three Super World Cup events and the European title but cannot make the breakthrough on the world stage.
It was also his fourth defeat in a row to Fallon - his nemesis - but he should great sportsmanship in congratulating the Briton after the battle.
Fallon has become the flag-bearer for men's judo in Britain since making a spectacular impact on the under 60kg category in 2003 when he won the Tournoi de Paris and took silver medals at both the European and World Championships.
He was overshadowed in Cairo, though, by 17-year-old Cuban sensation Yanet Bermoy who upset the experienced and highly fancied Frederique Jossinet of France in the women's under 48kg final.
Bermoy was in sensational form during the day and also beat Kayo Kitada of Japan - a two-time winner in Paris and the replacement for judo legend Ryoko Tani who missed the tournament as she was having a baby.
The men's open was won by Dennis van der Geest of the Netherlands with a brilliant ashi-guruma to beat Russia's Tamerlan Tmenov.
Tmenov was left holding his head in his hands after once again failing to land a gold medal on the biggest stage. He also lost to Japan's Keiji Suzuki in the heavyweight final in Athens last year.
Japan ensured they finished top of the medals table, just ahead of the Netherlands, thanks to Midori Shintani winning the women's open ahead of Britain's Karina Bryant.
It was a close final that Bryant nearly won with a hold and strangled by Shintani escaped the hold and just held out on submitting from the strangle, despite turning purple.
But she threw the Briton for yuko and then caught Bryant for ippon with de-ashi-barai as the Camberley fighter tried desperately to chase the fight in the dying stages.---------------------------------------------------------------
Worlds Day 3Brazilian Derly upsets Olympic champion to win titleCAIRO, Egypt, September 10 - Joao Derly of Brazil put three years of misery behind him to land his country's first ever World title in Judo at the Cairo World Championships.
Derly was in Scintillating form throughout the day, culminating in a 40-second demonlition of Olympic champion Masato Uchishiba in the final.
The former under 60kg fighter has had to come back form a doping suspension in 2002, when he tested positive for a banned diarrhetic after the South American Games.
Following a six month ban he came back but still struggled to make the under 60kg weight and after a dismal Pan-American Games in 2003, the Brazilian team forced him to move up to under 66kg under doctors team orders.
The switch came too late for him to make the Olympic team last year but he proved he was back with a stunning victory over Uchishiba after a brilliant tai-otoshi had downed Georgia's David Margoshvili in the semi-final.
Derly tried morote-gari and kata-guruma before finally flattening the Japanes with te-guruma in the final.
North Korea's Kye Sun-hui retained her world crown at under 57kg after a lightning win over Germany's Yvonne Boenisch - the woman who beat her in last year's Olympic final.
Hungary's Akos Braun completed a stunning year for himself as he added the world title to the European gold medal he won in May, overcoming Italy's Francesco Bruyere in a surprise final.
China's Li Ying won the women's under 52kg category, beating Japan's Yuki Yokosawa, who also lost to a Chinese athlete, Xian Dongmei, in last year's Olympic final.
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Worlds Day 2Dynamic Dutch dominate day twoCAIRO, Egypt, September 9 – Edith Bosch and Guillaume Elmont of the Netherlands ensured the Dutch team finished top of the pile on the day as they both won their categories.
Bosch took advantage of the shock early defeat for Masae Ueno of Japan, the Olympic and twice world champion, to beat surprise finalist Gevriese Emane of France by the narrowest of margins at under 70kg.
Elmont beat and even greater outsider to win his first world title and indeed his first medal at either world or European level in the under 81kg division. He faced Algeria’s Abderaman Benamadi in the final and totally dominated the African before finally throwing him for ippon.
Japan stayed top of the medals table thanks to a brilliant victory for Hiroshi Izumi in the under 90kg category, beating Olympic under 81kg champion Ilias Iliadis of Greece in the final.
Izumi threw him for ippon with ouchi-gari after the former Geogrian committed himself to a big pick-up attack.
The other title went to France as Lucie Decosse added the senior world title to the junior one she won in 2000, throwing Olympic champion Ayumi Tanimoto for ippon in the final with kochiki-taioshi.
There were more reports of organisational chaos, though, as one team submitted their judogis to have their back patches sewn on, only to find them covered in oil when they were returned.
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Worlds Day 1
Stunning finals mask catastrophic Cairo organisation
CAIRO, Egypt, September 8 – The World Judo Championships kicked off with a bang in Cairo as the world’s best fighters produced four stunning finals on the opening day of competition.
But the competition was marred by organisational chaos from the host federation who failed to provide fighters, coaches, officials and press with the conditions necessary to take part in such a major tournament.
The judo, though, was spectacular with Keiji Suzuki of Japan making history after winning the under 100kg category with an uchi-mata to defeat Vitaliy Bubon of Ukraine.
In so doing, Suzuki became the first man in history to win global titles in the sport’s top three weight categories – he also won world open weight gold in Osaka in 2003 and Olympic over 100kg gold last year.
Cuba’s Yurisel Laborde won her first world title at under 78kg, beating Japan’s Sie Nakazawa in the final.
There was gold too for China’s Tong Wen who beat Karina Bryant of Britain in the final of the over 78kg division to repeat the result of their meeting in the open final two years ago.
And Alexander Mikhailine of Russia won his third world crown after throwing Yasuyuki Muneta of Japan for ippon in the over 100kg final.
But the state of cleanliness and organisation in the tournament is an embarrassment to the organisers and the lack of facilities a disgrace.
The hosts failed to send graphics with their television pictures, failed to provide internet access for journalists in the stadium or even sufficient water for the fighters and the start was delayed by an hour because some teams had not had their judogis returned after submitting them for the back patches to be sewn on.
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Six-time champion pulls out of World ChampionshipsTOKYO, Japan - Six-time World Champion Ryoko Tani will not appear in September's World Championships in Cairo because she is pregnant, according to AFP.
The undisputed Queen of judo, who is also the only woman judoka to win two Olympic Gold medals, had already qualified for the Worlds by winning the Japanese national trials at -48kg despite fighting with an injured hand.
But the 29-year-old, who is married to famous Japanese baseball player Yoshitomo Tani, has elected to pull out of her bid to win a record seventh consecutive World title.
Tani, formerly Ryoko Tamura, claimed her second Olympic crown in Athens last year but surprised the judo world by vowing to fight on to Beijing in 2008, despite rumours she would retire. But the news that she is pregnant casts doubt on whether she will have the motivation to come back, or even whether she will be able to reproduce her form of old when she does return. If she does come back, though, she need look no further than one of her great rivals for inspiration. Cuban, Amarilis Savon, who lost two World Championship finals to Tani, took a year away from competition to have a baby in 2001, but two years later became World Champion for the first time after moving up a weight to the - 52kg division when she returned. Driulis Gonzalez, a team-mate fo Savon, also missed the 2001 World Championships to have a baby and stepped up from -57kg to -63kg when she returned in 2003. But she could not replicate Savon's success as she was beaten in final by Argentina's Daniela Kruckower.
---------------------------------------------------------------Mac Abbotts to run specialist judo academy at Wolverhampton
WOLVERHAMPTON, August 12 - Former national men's coach Mac Abbotts is to lead a new specialist judo academy to be set up at Wolverhampton University.
He was appointed by the British Judo Association to be a high performance coach and will take up his new role at the Walsall Sports Centre, part of the university, in September.
He will be responsible for training top judo hopefuls and developing the university's judo academy with the view to producing elite athletes for the 2012 Games in London.---------------------------------------------------------------
African Champion supported on glorious path to victoryLUANDA, Angola (August 12) - African -70kg Champion, Antonia de Fatima, from Angola, has been granted a scholarship to train abroad in the run up to the World Championships in Cairo from September 8-11.
'Faya', as she is known, the new African champion, will train in Coimbra, Portugal for a month before the World Championships.
She has travelled to Europe with national team coach Andre de Sousa and promising young fighter Angelo Fernando Antonio, an -66kg competitor.
Angola's Minister of Youth and Sports, Marcos Barrica expects big things from the country's most celebrated judo star who caused a sensation at the Olympics in Athens last year when she threw Cuba's Anaisis Hernandez for Ippon in the second round.
Mr Barrica said: "We are here on behalf of the government, together with the Judo Federation, to guarantee all the support we can give to our Continental Champion in order for her to continue on the gloriouspath to victory."
Fatima is not among the favourites for a medal in Cairo but that victory in Athens proved she has the potential to succeed at the highest level.
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SALZBURG, Austria - The future is bright for British judo after the cadet squad finished a brilliant second overall in the European Cadet Championships in Salzburg, Austria.
Young stars Jean-Rene Badrick (-66kg) and Laura Haynes (+70kg) both won Gold medals in their weight categories to ensure the team finished second only to Russia in the final medeals table and above traditional heavyweights such as Georgia, France, Germany and Azerbaijan.
Ashley McKenzie (-50kg), Toni Prince (-44kg) and Megan Fletcher (-57kg) also contributed Bronze medals to the final tally, while Scarlett Woolcock (-70kg) finished a credible 5th and Shane Davin (-55kg) a respectable 7th.
These results continue a brilliant year for British judo as it tries to recover from the Olympic debacle of 12 months ago.
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Judo in India to benefit from Japanese exchange programmeNEW DELHI, India, Aug 22 - Volunteers from Japan will coach judo in India after the two countries resumed a bilateral programme that has been suspended since 1978.
Japanese Overseas Cooperation volunteers will now travel to India to contribute to social and economic development in the country in areas such as language and judo.
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USA Judo mourns the loss of former elite junior athleteCOLORADO SPRINGS, USA, Aug 22 - The Judo Wolrd is saddened to learn that former US elite junior fighter Lance Corpral Timothy Bell Jr has been killed in a roadside explosion in Iraq, according to the USA Judo website.
Bell, the 1999 Ohio State Junior Champion, was one of 14 marines killed in the attack in Haditha.
Paying tribute to Bell, USA Judo President Dr Ron Tripp said: ""USA Judo is saddened by the loss of a great athlete. Our deepest sympathies go out to Timothy’s family at this difficult time."
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Rio warming up for Pan-Am Games preparationRIO DE JANEIRO, Brasil, July 15 - Judokas from Argentina, Dominicn Republic, Venezuela and the US will travel to Rio de Janeiro next weekend to take part in the Copa Rio.
The tournament, held from July 23-24, is being administered by the organising committee for the Pan-American Games, due to be held in Rio in 2007.
The competition, which will also include the best Brasilian fighters who have just returned from a European training camp that took in sessions in Spain, Turkey and France, will take place at the Tijuca Tennis Club in the north of the city.
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Former European medallist arrested for extortion
TBILISI, Georgia, July 8 - Former European medallist Georgi Revazishvili has been arrested, along with two other men from Georgian wrestling, after he was accused of attempting to extort $8,000 from a Greek businessman.
Revazishvili's arrest, and those of Aleko Davitashvili, president of the Georgian Wrestling Federation, his brother Davit, led to protests from supporters, mostly wrestlers, in the Georgian capital Tbilisi, according to the Civil Georgia website.
Protestors clashed with police and several were arrested before opposition political figures arrived on the scene and condemned the use of force against the rally.
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Cameroon Reigns In Yaounde International Championships
YAOUNDE, Cameroon, July 7 - Cameroon athletes claimed all the medals at the Yaounde International judo championships according to Africa.com.
More than 80 athletes from Cameroon, Chad and Gabon took part in the championships in the Cameroon capital but it turned out to be a whitewash for the hosts.
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Willesden trio aiming for youth Olympics glory
LONDON, July 7 - Willesden Judo club will be sending three fighters to the eighth European Youth Olympics, fresh off the back of a succesful tilt at the European Cadet Championships.
Jean-Rene Badrick, Ashley McKenzie and Shane Davies will all represent Britain in Venice andf coach Leigh Davies is expecting big things from his trio.
JR Badrick took gold at the Cadets in Austria at under 66kg while McKenzie won bronze at under 50kg.
Davin will fight at under 55kg and the final member of the boy's team is Russell Parker from Ryecroft who competes at under 60kg.
Davies told the Kilburn Times: "I'd expect that they'll be up against a similar bunch to those that they fought at the Europeans, but Ashley and Shane will have learned a lot from their defeats there.
"This is the peak of their careers as under-17s and it really is a once in a lifetime opportunity because they'll all be too old for selection when the next tournament takes place in 2007.
"Their next goal will be to get into the GB under-20 squad at the end of the year and I feel they've got the potential to do that."
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Nepal association vows to recapture lost glory
KATHMANDU, Nepal, July 1 - The newly elected Nepal Judo Association (NJA) has vowed to take the South Asian Games by storm after their election success, according to Kantipur online.
"We are looking for gold medals in the upcoming South Asian Games," said president Deepak Bajacharya.
"But it would be a challenging job for us since senior players are not playing anymore.
Judo will be reintroduced to the Games for the first time since they were held in Madras when the Games take place in Sri Lanka.
"We hope we could do better as we won three silver in three bronze in the South Asian Judo Championship recently in Indore, India," added Bajacharya.
Nepal will also host a national open championships starting on July 8 folowing a seven-day referees seminar that began on July 3.
Japanese Akira Kaneko, who coached the Nepali judo team in the 1988 Seoul Olympics, is conducting the seminar along with technical committee co-ordinator Khadga Bahadur Dahal.
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British Judo Congratulate London 2012 bid team
The British Judo Association is extremely delighted that London has been successful in their bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games, and wish to congratulate the bid team as well as the entire country for supporting them.
Commenting Densign White, British Judo Association Chairman said: “London 2012 will be a huge boost for sport in the UK and will leave a lasting legacy for this country. We believe youngsters will be captivated by the spirit and will be inspired to become participants in the entire spectrum of Olympic sports, including our own. British Judo has foundations in place to make the country proud in 2012, and we now look forward to building our programmes to ensure we have extremely successful Games on home soil".
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Six-time champion pulls out of World ChampionshipsTOKYO, Japan, June 27 (TWoJ) - Six-time world champion Ryoko Tani is to miss September's World Championships in Cairo because she is pregnant, according to AFP.
The undisputed judo queen, who is also the only women to win two Olympic gold medals, had already qualified for the tournament by winning the national trials under 48kg division despite fighting with an injured hand.
But the 29-year-old, who is married to famous Japanese baseball player Yoshitomo Tani, has elected to pull out of her bid to win a record seventh consecutive world title.
Tani, formerly Ryoko Tamura, claimed her second Olympic crown in Athens last year but surprised the judo world by vowing to fight on to Beijing in 2008, despite rumours she would retire.
But the news that she is pregnant casts doubt over whether or not she will have the motivation to come back, or even whether she will be able to reproduce her form of old when she does return.
If she does come back, though, she need look no further than one of her great rivals for inspiration.
Cuban Amarilis Savon, who lost two world championship finals to Tani, took a year away from competition to have a baby in 2001, but two years later she became world champion for the first time after moving up a weight division to under 52kg when she returned.
Driulis Gonzalez, a team-mate fo Savon, also missed the 2001 World Championships to have a baby and stepped up from under 57kg to under 63kg when she returned in 2003.
But she could not replicate Savon's success as she was beaten in final by Argentina's Daniela Kruckower.
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Double gold for Britain in European Cadet Championships
SALZBURG, Austria, June 26 (TWoJ) - The future is bright for British judo after the cadet squad finished a brilliant second in the European Cadet Championships in Salzburg, Austria.
Young stars Jean-Rene Badrick (-66kg) and Laura Haynes (+70kg) both won gold medals in their weight categories to ensure the team finished second only to Russia in the final medeals table and above traditional heavyweights such as Georgia, France, Germany and Azerbaijan.
Ashley McKenzie (-50kg), Toni Prince (-44kg) and Megan Fletcher (-57kg) also weighed in with bronze medals while Scarlett Woolcock (-70kg) finished a credible 5th and Shane Davin (-55kg) a respectable 7th.
These results continue a brilliant year for British judo as it tries to recover from the Olympic debacle of 12 months ago.
Other notable results included a fantastic five bronze medals from the senior team at the prestigious Tournoi de Paris, and a magnificent one gold, two silver and one bronze medal at the senior European Championships in May.
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Philipine city honours its judo stars
BAGUIO, Philippines, June 26 (TWoJ) - Judo stars from the city of Baguio in the Philippines have been honoured by the Mayor after a successful assault on the national championships, according to the Sun Star.
The team won one gold, four silver and four bronze medals during the 2005 Philippine National Individiual Championships in Cebu City in April.
Baguio Mayor Braulio Yaranon was so proud of the city's fighters that he approved a City Council resolution commending the fighters and their coach.
A statement from the Mayor's office said: "Their winning in their respective weight categories has brought pride and honor to the city of Baguio as a whole and has set a good example for the local youth on the importance of sports in one's life."
Those who won gold and silver medals will now take part in the country's final selection process for the upcoming South East Asian Games from November 27 to December 5.
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Willesden quartet head for Europeans
LONDON, June 16 (TWoJ) - The British cadet team will embark on a trip to Austria this weekend to take part in the European under-17 Cadet Championships.
The team is spearheaded by a quartet of young talents from Willesden Judo Club, all hoping to continue their impressive recent form on the continent.
JR Badrick, Shane Davin, Ashley McKenzie and Theo Spalding-McIntosh have spent the last two months trawling the continent for top class foreign opposition to prepare themselves for the Europeans and forthcoming Youth Olympics in Venice.
They have fought in Belgium, Czech, France, Germany, Netherlands and Poland as they sought out eastern European foe who currently dominate the junior ranks in Europe.
Willesden head coach Leigh Davies told the Sudbury Times: "The main competition will come from three countries: Russia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. They're the ones that you hope to avoid until late in the day."
But his fighters are well prepared, having spent seven of the last eight weekends abroad as well as training five days a week, including two weights sessions a week.
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Judo for Mixed Martial Arts
USA, June 11 (TWoJ) - Fans of the mixed martial arts scene will be interested to learn of a new DVD released entitled: 'Judo for Mixed Martial Arts'.
It stars Karo Parisyan, a prominent mixed martial artist who has enjoyed considerable success in the octagon, the ring used for UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) bouts.
Parisyan is quite unique among UFC fighters in that he comes from a judo background, unlike mostfights who tend to come from Brazilian Ju-jitsu or BJJ.
The release includes six DVDs demonstrating a range of judo techniques, specifically adapted for MMA fights where there are no kimonos and where an opponent may be trying to kick or punch the thrower.
It covers osoto-gari, ouchi-gari, drop seoi-nage, uchi-mata, kimura and numerous submission techniques including juji-gatame.
Parisyan claims to have taken judo to an 'all-new level' and having developed judo to be effective in MMA, but beware, Parisyan also claims to be a four-time international judo champion.
He fights at under 81kg for the Jason Morris Judo Club but has yet to make the grade as a US international fighter, so quite where those four international victories came from is anyone's guess!
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US judo centre court Cuban Olympic medallist
BROWNSVILLE, USA, June 7 (TWoJ) - Former Cuban Olympic medallist Israel Hernandez has been approached about heading a new Olympic judo training programme in the Unites States, according to the Brownsville Herald newspaper.
The Olympic bronze emdallist from 1992 and 1996 had a meeting with the Foundation for Brownsville Sports which hopes to provide athletic training in judo, boxing and weight lifting with the view to producing Olympic level athletes among the local youth population.
“I came to visit and to find out about Brownsville’s sports program. I like what I’ve seen,” said Hernandez, 35.
“I believe they are doing it the right way with short- and long-term goals. Unlike other businesses where you create and market a product, here the training and time put into these athletes is the product.”
The post was previously offered to USA women's coach Eddie Liddie, another former Olympian, but he turned it down for family reasons.
He joined Hernandez and Jose Rodriguez in the meeting with the Foundation.
Rodriguez said Brownsville would provide the first Olympic-level judo program in the country, something he hopes will catch on nationwide. “You may begin to see Olympians coming out of this area,” he added.
Hernandez has previously coached in Spain and Puerto Rico where he currently lives.
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Solomon Islands told it can excel in judo
SOLOMON ISLANDS, June 7 (TWoJ) - Solomon Islands judo has been handed a boost by the Oceania Judo Union (OJU) after a visit from development coach Andrew Pragnell, according to the Solomon Star newspaper.
Mr Pragnell told judo leaders that the country has a lot of potential in martial sports such as judo while holding a number of seminars in Honiara.
His visit is part of an OJU development programme aimed at promoting judo in small nations with few resources - Mr Pragnell has also visited American Samoa, Smaoa, Tonga and Papua New Guinea.
“From my observation SI has a huge potential in judo," he said. “The local judo students have techniques and shown interest in the sport.
“They only need to attend judo competitions like the Melanesia championships, Oceania and international competitions in order for their potentials to be realised.
He identified a lack of funding and equipment as major stumbling blocks to developing the sport in the islands.
“I think these are some of the problems really affecting the sport," added the New Zealander, a 2nd dan black belt and former Samoan coach.
“If these problems are sorted out then SI will develop quickly in the sport in the Pacific.”
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Bonus for Israeli medallistsTEL AVIV, Israel, May 31 (TWoJ) - Israeli European medallists Ariel Zeevi, Yoel Razbozov and Adrian Kardon received bonuses from the Israeli Olympic Committee for their feats in Rotterdam earlier this month, according to Haaretz.
Silver medallists Zeevi and Razbozov each received NIS 21,000 while bronze medallist Kordon was given NIS 15,000.
World taekwondo bronze emdallist Ilan Goldschmit also received NIS 25,000 for his achievement.
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New training programme to prepare Algerians
ALGIERS, Algeria, May 31 (TWoJ) - The Algerian national team are being put through a rigorous new training programme to help prepare them for two major upcoming championships, according to Liberte Algerie.
The technical management of the Algerian Judo Federation established the programme to prepare athletes for the Mediterranean Games in Almeira, Spain from June 24 to July 3 and the World Championships in Cairo, Egypt from September 7-12.
The programme includes a number of training camps, to be held in Algeria, as well as several international friendly tournaments against strong teams.
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Dandar Penwar dominate Malaysian ChampionshipsBATU UBAN, Malaysia, May 31 (TWoJ) - Badar Penwar Sports School (BPSS) dominated the men's and women's team titles at the national team championships in Batu Uban, according to the Malaysian press.
The BPSS team, comprising Nik Norbaizura Nik Asman, Ras Aziera Mat Raus, Norshazlina Nasrun and Noor Farhanah Mazlan thrashed opponents Johor in the final, recording three straight wins.
The men's team had to battle much harder to overcome Sarawak, who beat holders Penang in the semi-final.
It completed a great weekend of competition for BPSS who also won the overall individual championships title for the first time in 43 years after winning five gold and four silver medals.
Defending champions Armed Forces came second with four gold and silver medals and hosts Penang were third with two gold and four silver medals.
BPSS team manager Iddie Rafizal Idris revealed his team have been invited to take part in the Thailand Sports Schools championships in Trang in August.
Idris said: "Our girls successfully defended their team title, while the boys rose to the occasion to capture the men's team title.
"Our boys are mostly smaller in size, but they have proved that size does not matter, it is their ability to perform tactically and well."
He also claimed that the Malaysian Judo Federation had picked three men and three women from his squad to take part in the forthcoming Manila South East Asia Games.
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Nigerian president's NOC bid supported
LAGOS, Nigeria, May 31 (TWoJ) - Nigerian Judo Federation president Dr. Orji Kalu's bid for presidency of the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC) has been supported by a fellow sporting leader, according to Vanguard online.
Newly appointed Football Association chairman of Abia State, Chief Emeka Inyama, refuted claims by Chief Olatokunbo Thomas that Dr. Kalu is not qualified to contest the NOC presidency.
Chief Inyama described Chief Thomas' insinuations as balderdash and said that Dr. Kalu, who has also held positions of authority on the executive boards of the African Judo Union and African Kung Fu Federation, was as qualified as anyone to aspire to the position of NOC president.
Chief Inyama said: “Chief Thomas is utterly wrong to say that Dr. Orji Kalu is not qualified to run for the president of the NOC,. Dr. Kalu is a Nigerian and he has the right to aspire to any position including the NOC Presidency.
“Moreover, Governor Kalu has not made up his mind on this issue in spite of the mounting pressure from highly placed Nigerians to run for the NOC top job. But in a short while, the governor will speak on the issue.”
Dr. Kalu also received praise from African Judo Federation president General Lassana Palenfo for being re-elected as Nigeria Judo Federation president for another four-year term.
In a letter signed by Gen. Palenfo, he said Dr. Kalu has done a lot to promote judo in Nigeria, in particular sponsoring the Nigerian team's trip to Port Elizabeth, South Africa, to take part in the African Judo Championships.
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First dedicated Judo Scholarship programme in USSAN JOSE, USA, May 31 (TWoJ) - Former world champion Mike Swain has teamed up with the San Jose State University Judo Team to establish The Swain Scholarship at San Jose State University, according to the Sports Network.
It is the first major state university scholarship in the US specifically created to give financial assistance to judo athletes who want to pursue their education while training in an elite judo programme.
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British team wins four medals at European ChampionshipsROTTERDAM, Netherlands, May 25 (TWoJ) - The British team has return from a successful outing at the European Championships in Rotterdam at which they won four medals.
Karina Bryant took gold in the women's over 78kg division, beating Tea Dongouzashvili in the final, a repeat of the 2003 final which was also won by Bryant.
Sophie Cox won silver in the under 57kg category for the second year in a row as she was thrown for ippon by Russia's Olga Sonina with 90 seconds remaining in the final.
Rachel Wilding secured the best result of her life as she reached the under 78kg final where she was beaten by France's Celine Lebrun who claimed her fifth European title.
Euan Burton also produced the performance of his life in taking bronze in the men's tough under 81kg division.
The Scot defeated world bronze medallist Robert Krawczyk of Poland in the repechage by shime-waza and then dominated former Tournoi de Paris champion Anthony Rodriguez of France in the bronze medal bout.
It was a successful end to a tournament that began in ominous fashion as Georgina Singleton left the team hotel and returned to England before the weigh-in for the under 52kg division.
BJA chief executive Scott McCarthy said: "The exact circumstances surrounding why Georgina didn't compete are still being investigated. We will be able to advise further details of any course of action over the next few days."
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Street star celebrates re-opening of judo clubROCHDALE, May 25 (TWoJ) - Coronation Street actor Sam Aston, who plays Chesney Brown in the popular evening soap, donned a judogi to help celebrate the re-opening of Rochdale Judo Club.
According to the Rochdale Observer, the club has received a grant of £163, 500 from the Sport England Lottery Fund with further funding secured from the Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Township Fund, the Local Community Chest Scheme and the BJA NW Area.
The money was spent on doubling the training area and improving changing and shower facilities, as well as making the club accessable to wheelchair users.
BJA chairman Densign White formally opened the dojo in front of many of the club's former members.
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Malaysian Judoka in preparation for South East Asian GamesKUALA LUMPA, Malaysia, May 24 (TWoJ) - A total of 140 athletes will take part in the 43rd National Judo Championships in Penang this weekend, according to Malaysian news agency Bernama.
Ten membersof the national team due to compete in the South East Asian Games from November 27 to December 5 will be looking to stamp their authroity on domestic competition.
Those ten are Rohaizat Senawi, Jasni Jaila, Marjan Abdullah, Chong Wei Keat, Tan Chee Kong, Ku Su Yin in the men's divisions and Nor Maizura Zainon, Faridah Kamaruddin, Nik Norbaizurah Nik Azman and Ras Azeira Mat Raus in the women's categories.
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Pakistani women take part in first judo training camp
LAHORE, Pakistan, May 24 (TWoJ) - Paksitan's new senior judo champions took part in their first training camp on Monday (May 23), according to the Pakistan Daily Times.
Mahmood Naveed, secretary of the Pakistan Judo Federation, told reporters that national coaches would be explaining some of the finer and basic points of judo competition to aspiring national team athletes.
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Iraq judo benefits from equipment hand-out
by Japanese forces
BAGHDAD, Iraq, May 24 (TWoJ) - Judoka in Iraq have been boosted by a huge donation of equipment and clothing from the Japan Judo Federation and Kodokan Institute, according to the Yomiuri Shimbu.
The Ground Self-Defence Force, which is conducting reconstruction operations in Samawah, delivered 168 tatami and 140 judogis.
The equipment, which consisted of old mats, 100 old juogis and 40 new children's judogi, were donated to help the Iraq Judo Federation replaced equipment that was looted in the aftermath of the occupation by Coalition forces.
Five instructional videos explaining basic judo skills were also sent and handed over by the fifth GSDF unit for reconstruction in Iraq.
Col. Kiyohiko Ota, commander of the fifth GSDF unit, said, "I hope many judo wrestlers will be born among Iraqi children, and the day will come when they and Japanese wrestlers can practice together."
Ota, himself a black belt in judo, practised with children after they received the new equipment. ---
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Disabled Judoka wins top Sports Personality AwardWYCOMBE, May 24 (TWoJ) - Judoka Ian Rose took the top honours at the Wycombe and Marlow Area Sports Council Awards, according to This is Local London website.
Rose, who trains with Micklefield Judo Club won the sports personality of the year and male with a disability prizes.
And there was another winner from his club as nine-year-old Jordan Haughey was the youngest prize winner in recognition of his fine local results in red belt competitions.
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Judoka embarks on epic journey to make national team
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, May 24 (TWoJ) - A Brazilian fighter made her first appearance for the senior national team a year after an incredible 10-day, 5,000km journey to earn a place on the junior squad, reports Reuters.
Lilian Lenzi rook part in the Pan-American Championships in Caucas, Puerto Rico, last week but it was her epic jurney to make the national junior team that was truely remarkable.
Lenzi, who lives in Rondonia in the Amazon, in the west of the country, had to travel to Sau Paulo, in the south east, to fight in a professional team championship to earn enough money to pay for her trip to Teresina in the north east to fight in the national championships.
She won that and earned the right to represent her country at the Junior World Championships in Budapest last October.
“It’s a remarkable story,” said national team coach Rosicleia Campos.
“To fight in the national team she needed to go to the national championships.
“She could not afford to travel to the national championships so first she had to fight in a competition where they paid her so she could earn the money to buy her ticket to the national championships – it took her one week to reach the championships.”
Lenzi did not enjoy a successful Pan-American Championships, though, and finished outside the top eight.
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French Embassy to support development of judo in Tanzania
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania, May 17 (TWoJ) - The French Embassy has pledged its support to the development of judo in Tanzania, according to Guardian newspaper.
The embassy has invited Hassen Ikhlef, coach of the International Centre for African Judo to pay a visit to the country to train local judokas and indulge in discussions with officials about how to promote judo in the country.
A statement issued by the Judo Association of Tanzania president Kashindye Shaaban Bundala said Mr Ikhlef would arrive on June 12 and would meet with the Minister for Youth Development and Sports Athuman Juma Kapuya. He will visit judo clubs and watch the national championships due to take place on June 17 in Dar es Salaam. Mr Ikhlef trains a team of elite African athletes from countries without a lot of support for their judo programmes and the centre is funded by the French Judo Association.
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US Judo names team for Pan-American Championships
COLORADO SPRINGS, USA, May 16 (TWoJ) - USA Judo has announced its team for the Pan-American Judo Championships in Caguas, Puerto Rico due to start on May 19. The 15-member team contains 11fighters that will take part in the World Championships in Cairo, Egypt in September.
The team is as follows:
Men:
55 kg: Aaron Kunihiro, 60 kg: Gerard Cadet, 66 kg: Justin Flores, 73 kg: Ryan Reser
81 kg: Aaron Cohen, 90 kg: Dariusz Mikolajczak, 100kg: No US participant, +100 kg: Kirk HoffmannWomen:
44 kg: Brenna Clark, 48 kg: Sayaka Matsumoto, 52 kg: Carrie Chandler, 57 kg: Valerie Gotay
63 kg: Ronda Rousey, 70 kg: Katie Mocco, 78 kg: Molly O'Rourke, +78 kg: Heidi MooreCoach:Jason Morris, Managers:Humberto Lopez, Devin Cohen, Michael Minton, Parnell Legros
Referees: Kei Narimatsu, Hector Estevez, Barbara Shimizu
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Judo club for blind children celebrates anniversaryVIETNAM, May 11 (TWoJ) - The first judo school dedicated to blind people in Vietnam has celebrated a successful first year, according to the Thanh Nien Daily newspaper.
The class is run by Ly Dai Nghia, a master who trained and studied judo in Japan, where he was first introduced to judo for the blind.
After initially overcoming reluctance from the parents of blind children who were afraid their offspring would get hurt in the tough martial art, Mr Nghia eventually managed to open his new club in May 2004.
Because his new students could not learn through sight and imitation, they absorbed their learning through body contact.
Such was the success of the new club that new members quickly arrived from the HCMC Blind People Association and schools for the visiually impaired.
Mr Nghia is looking to expand to new provinces including Binh Duong, Binh Thuan, Lam Dong and Ba Ria-Vung Tau.
He has also produced two teams to compete in the Southeast Asia Paragames and hopes to introduce new wrestling classes to his charges.
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Cuban instructors to train Angolan refereesLUANDA, Angola, May 9 (TWoJ) - Cuban and Angolan officials have signed a co-operation agreement that will see judo referees in the African country trained by Cuban instructors, according to Prensa Latina.
Judo is one of several sports, including boxing, athletics, chess and wrestling covered by the agreement between Angola's vice minister of youth and sports Albino de la Concepcion and Christian Jimenez, Cuban vice minister of the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation.
The agreement, aimed at strengthening sports links between the countries, was signed on May 4 as Mr Jimenez conducts a tour of African countries with close links to the Caribbean island.
---------------------------------------------------------------Pakistani women take part in inaugural women's championshipsLAHORE, Pakistan, May 9 (TWoJ) - Judo is taking off among women in Pakistan after the country hosted its first national women's championships, according to Geo Sports News.
Pakistan Railways was the best performing team, winning five gold medals and collecting 35 points.
The police took second place with 22 points, followed closely by hosts Punjab with 17 points in the five-team competition.
The gold and silver medal winners are to be invited to take part in the national team's women's training camp later this year.
---------------------------------------------------------------Cuban women defeat Ecuador's menQUITO, Ecuador, May 9 (TWoJ) - Cuba's women have become so strong that they can now beat men, according to Cuban news agency Prensa Latina.
The women's team, including former world champions Driulis Gonzalez (-63kg) and Yurisleidis Lupetey (-57kg), won 28 out of 30 fights against an Ecuadorean men's team at the high performance centre in the Ecuadorian city of Cuenca, coach Ronaldo Veitia Vladivie is quoted as saying.
The team included world and Olympic medallist Yurisel Laborde (-78kg) as well as the new breed of talented young Cuban women, including Dayani Mestre (-44 kg), Yanet Bermoy (-48 kg), Edilia Amoros (-52 kg), Yartiza Abel (-63 kg), Onis Cortes (-70 kg) and Yanelis Castillo (-78 kg).
There was also a place on the team for the experienced understudy to now-retired Daima Beltran, Ibis Dueñas (+78 kg).
They are training for the upcoming Pan-American Championships in Puerto Rico later this month and the team is due back in Cuba on May 15.
---------------------------------------------------------------All-female judo camp calls on Olympian as guest instructorAIRDRIE, Canada, May 9 (TWoJ) - Canadian Olympian Amy Cotton was the guest instructor at an all-female judo camp, according to the Airdrie Echo.
The camp, now in its third year, has grown considerably since its inseption and boasted around 100 participants in April, compared with just 12 in its first year.
Cotton, who took part in the Olympic Games in Athens for Canada not only coached the participants, but also gave them advice on nutrician and mental as well as physical preparation for competition judo.
She said: "It’s really great to come out and do this. The kids are great and I was really honoured to come out for this."
Participants came from Alberta, Saskatchewan and Yukon to attend the camp hosted by the Airdrie Eidokan Judo Club.
---------------------------------------------------------------Caribbean judokas make historyTRINIDAD, May 9 (TWoJ) - Three judokas from the Caribbean island of Trinidad and Tobago have created history in their country, according to the Trinidad & Tobago Express.
Mark Littrean and Derek Hinds became the highest ranked judokas in their country's 39-year judo histroy when they both earned promotions to 4th dan.
Clifford Parris, from the Queen's Park Judo Club, became the youngest ever black belt in the country when he earned his first dan at just 17 years of age.
In total, 10 judokas from the island were promoted to dan grades in the April grading which was conducted by Frenchman Noel Le Hecho, a special advisor to the Trinidad & Tobago Judo Association.
He lives in St Martin but plans to return to Trinidad and Tobago in August to continue his work with the judo association.
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Suzuki wins All Japan Championships
Olympic Champion, Keiji Suzuki confirmed his dominance of the heavyweight division in Japan on Friday by beating Tatsuhiro Muramoto in the final of the All Japan Championships. In a packed Nihon Budokan in Tokyo, Suzuki dominated the 38 players in a straight knockout format tournament.
A full report will be in the next issue of the World of Judo Magazine---------------------------------------------------------------
Winchester College requires Judo coach
Winchester College is a boys’ boarding school of over 700 pupils. It is committed to the highest standards of academic excellence and a broad liberal education for all its pupils. We are currently looking for a Judo Coach to work the following hours:
Short Half - Tuesday and Thursday 4.00 - 5.30 Saturday 3.30 - 4.30
Common Time - Tuesday and Thursday 4.00 - 5.30 Saturday 3.30 - 4.30
Cloister Time - Tuesday and Thursday 4.30 - 5.30 Saturday 3.30 - 4.30
Plus Occasional afternoon matches on Thursdays ( 2.00pm - 6.30pm) and the odd Sunday for competitions.
We require someone with the correct coaching qualifications and experience of coaching school boys, not just club players.
Further particulars are available from the Personnel Office: Telephone: 01962 621404; email: ves@wincoll.ac.uk
Website: www.winchestercollege.org
Applications with curriculum vitae, the names, addresses and telephone numbers of two referees should be sent to:
The Headmaster c/o The Personnel Manager, Winchester College, College Street, Winchester SO23 9NA.
Closing date: 16th May 2005.
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British star trained Premiership footballer
LONDON, April 21 (TWoJ) - Young British squad member James Lutman helped train Chelsea winger Damien Duff back to full fitness after the Republic of Ireland international suffered repeated shoulder disolcations.
According to the latest edition of Nuts, a weekly magazine aimed at young men, Lutman trained Duff to learn how to fall without injuring himself.
It was a real thrill for the lightweight fighter who is a lifelong Chelsea fan. He said: "Duff and I did about six sessions over two weeks at the national judo academy at Bisham Abbey,"
"It was a real honour. I'm a big Chelsea fan. I taught him how to distribute his weight evenly and not stick his arm out."
"Over the two weeks, I got him to do the falls harder and faster. When we'd finished, he could do a break-fall running at full pace - which was lightning quick - and he could fall properly when I threw him.
"He's had no problems since and I've seen him do a number of textbook rolls in matches."
Duff twice dislocated his right shoulder last season and missed the start of the football campaign this season following surgery.
But the Chelsea physio was convinced that if he learnt how to fall properly by doing judo, he could avoid the injury in the future - and that's where Lutman came in.
BC
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Cameroon inaugurates new HQ
Cameroon, April 20 (TWoJ) - The Cameroon Judo Federation (FECAJUDO) inaugurated a new headquarters last Friday, according to the Cameroon Tribune.
The new office is based in the Nlongjaj neighbourhood of Yaounde, the country's capital city.
Immediately following the inaguration ceremony, newly-elected FECAJUDO president Bertrand Magloire Mendouga held a press conference during which he set out his aim to take Cameroonian judo to a new level and produce athletes that can compete with the best in the continent.
Cameroon will hold its national championships on April 22 and 23 before the national team embarks on a two-week training camp to prepare them for the African Championships in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, in May.
Bethelemy Okito, president of the Zone IV Judo Federation was also present at the inauguration ceremony and vowed to lobby the International Judo Federation to gain funding to help by equipment such as tatamis and kimonos.
Cameroon's most decorated judoka is the Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Rostand Melaping who trains and lives in Milan, Italy.
BC
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Guest speaker honour for TakayawaFiji, April 20 (TWoJ) - Three-time South Pacific heavyweight champion Nacanieli Takayawa was one of the guest speakers at a national awards night, according to the Fiji Times. Three times Olympian Takayawa is now the president of the Fijian Judo Federation but is still admired as one of his country's greatest international athletes.
Speaking at the awards night he praised the country's Rugby Sevens team for becoming world champions and golfer Vijay Singh who recently held the world number one position, ahead of superstar Tiger Woods.
He spoke about the team effort it takes to produce elite level athletes, even in individual sport. "Judo is an individual sport but to make a champion it is a team effort," he said. "Team effort meaning the team manager, coach, physio, team doctor, wife, family members and everybody giving their all and their best towards the athlete for us to be in our best form to give our best in competition."
Takayawa thanked his family and sponsors for his success and finished his speech by quoting from the bible: "He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honour." BC
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Olympic medallist set for new role?
USA, April 18 (TWoJ) - Former Olympic bronze medallist Eddie Liddie is in the running for a new position at a community Olympic development programme in the US, according to the Brownsville Herald.
Liddie is the US national women's team coach but has been visiting the Olympic training complex in Brownsville, one of nine across the country, and also looking at schools in the area.
He is being considered for the role of athletic director and judo coach at the judo and boxing specialist complex run by the Foundation for Brownville Sports.
Liddie told the foundation that his goal is not to win medals or acclaim but to get children involved in judo and other Olympic sports.
The training centre is benfitting from large investment from the private sector and has already raised more than US $300,000 and is also likely to receive state funding.
It is modelled on a similar centre in in Colorado Springs which created 1,400 jobs.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The World of Judo Magazine ( www.twoj.org)
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email:- bob@twoj.orgOffice +44 (0)117 9226270 Mobile +44 7836 333193
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