by Kevin Tamai
Shufu Judo Yudanshakai held the 2014 Takemori Open Judo Championships at DeMatha Catholic High School on October 25th in Hyattsville, Maryland. The event was jointly hosted by Hui-O-Judo Beltsville and the College Park Judo Club.
What is the Takemori Open?
The Outstanding Junior Competitor was Bella Bourke from Maryland Judo Team and the Outstanding Junior Team was Sport Judo.
The Outstanding Senior Competitor was Alfred Brown from USA Stars East and the Outstanding Senior Team was USA Stars East.
The morning started with kata competition with categories that included Novice Nage No Kata, Advanced Nage No Kata, Katame No Kata, Ju No Kata and Kime No Kata.
Diane Jackson, Shufu’s kata development chairperson has been working to continually expand the development and growth of kata within Shufu Yudanshakai. She stated, “I am very happy to see the kata in our area continue to develop. Shufu Yudanshakai holds a few different kata clinics throughout the year, and we encourage all judoka to learn the katas to help enhance their judo experience and to expand their judo knowledge. Judoka of any age or level can learn the katas.”
A new addition to the Takemori Open was team competition for senior judoka, run by the US Naval Academy Midshipmen and Sensei Edwin Takemori. It was a five man and one woman team challenge.
Washington Judo, Liberty Bell Judo, the US Naval Academy and Performance Alliance competed for the honor of the Ambassador Cup, won by Washington Judo.
Three teams also competed for the honored Commander’s Cup, including Washington Judo, the US Naval Academy, and the US Coast Guard. Washington Judo also won the Commander’s Cup.
Sensei Edwin Takemori stated, “I was very pleased with the addition of the team competition to this event. It is important for all judoka to work together as a team and practice jita kyoei. I want to see more judoka supporting each other on many levels. We plan to hold this team competition again next year, and I hope more clubs will consider sending teams to compete.”
Over 40 clubs were represented from the region including Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, North Carolina, Washington DC and Pennsylvania.
Attending clubs included: Aldan (PA), Alleghany Youth Development (PA), Arlington (VA), Baltimore (MD), Budokan (MD), Budokai (OH), Bushikai (MD), Charlottesville (VA), Chester County Judo (PA), College Park (MD), Cranford Judo (NJ), Dale City (VA), DC Judo (DC), DC Recreation Judo (DC), Fairview Judo (PA), Forged Fitness (NC), Harrisburg Judokai (PA), Hui-O-Judo Beltsville (MD), Japan Martial Arts (VA), Jason Morris Judo Center (MD), Judo Movement (NJ), Kuma (PA), Lancaster (PA), Liberty Bell (PA), Maryland Judo Team (MD), Mountain Kim Martial Arts (VA), Mayfield Martial Arts (NC), North Raleigh Judo (NC), Passport Sports (MD), Pure Performance (MD), Roanoke Judo (VA), Seigneury (MD), Sacramento Judo (), Shore Thing (NJ), Sport (VA),TECH Judo (NJ), Trafford Judo (PA), U.S.A. Stars East (VA), U.S. Naval Academy (MD), US Coast Guard ( ), Villa Nova University Judo (PA) and Washington Judo Club (DC).
A Special Message from Tournament Directors Kevin and Kurt Tamai
Please note these upcoming events:
The Shufu Yudanshakai Promotionals on Saturday, November 8 at the College Park Community Center. This will include juniors and seniors. There will be a Yudansha (black belt) meeting that morning at 8am. All Shufu Yudansha are strongly encouraged to attend.
The 2014 Shufu Open Judo Championships will be held on Saturday, November 22 in Lancaster PA. There will be four competition mat areas. Information on both of these events and others are posted on the Shufu website – www.shufujudo.org
Full Results of the 2014 Takemori Open