March 28, 2015
On this unseasonably cold and windy day in late March, nearly 400 competitors gathered at the Asplundh Field House in Northeast 
Philadelphia today for the 28th annual Liberty Bell Judo Classic. Hailing from judo clubs as far away as Colorado, Wisconsin, Mississippi, Wisconsin, Texas, Massachusetts, and Virginia, the 150+ senior and 220 junior competitors came to compete for podium honors at one of the oldest and most prestigious tournament events in the country.
Louis Moyerman, head sensei at the Liberty Bell Georgian Judo Club in Philadelphia and one of the founders of the
Lou Moyerman handing the reins of the tournament co-directorship to his son Adam
Liberty Bell Tournament, had been tournament director for the first 25 years of its existence, followed by Tony Kenis for the 26th and 27th years’ events. At the opening ceremonies, sensei Moyerman formally handed the microphone over to his son Adam to join Kenis as co-director of the tournament.
Tournament co-director Tony Kenis applying discipline to a table official
The tournament brought together many of the top referees in the east, but also from the west coast.
Head Referee Roy Englert
Head Referee Roy Englert, from the Washington (D.C.) Judo Club, guided the group of 25 referees, which included five International Judo Federation A (IJF-A) level referees.
This year’s tournament was also marked by two special visitors, two-time judo Olympian Taraje Williams-Murray of New York, and Kevin Asano, Olympic Silver Medalist and World Championships Bronze Medalist.
Asano, who is the President of the United States Judo Federation (USJF), had flown overnight from his home state of Hawaii to be at the Liberty Bell and the New York Open (the next day),
USJF President Kevin Asano
especially to speak with judo administrators and coaches about the plans of the USJF and to bring back ideas for the top leadership of the USJF.
Asano was able to speak with many of those present during the day, held a discussion with a group of judo leaders at the end of the afternoon, and with additional individuals well into the evening.
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Results
