Bay Area Judo Championships Results and More!
Championships
Hanabi won impressively at the Bay Area Judo Championships in Castro Valley on July 16. All four of our players placed: Martin Langford earned a bronze while Shuhan Geng and Greg Beckham beat all of their opponents for the gold. Probably most impressive was Miles Quale who lost one match but won seven matches on his way to earning a silver medal. Congratulations to all!
Meeting with Olympic Silver Medalist Kevin Asano
I just recently visited Hawaii and had the chance to meet my friend Kevin Asano. Kevin and I both fought in the 115 lb. Division of the High School Nationals in Honolulu in 1978 – though I was about 6 inches taller than him. We both competed at the Olympic Trails in 1988 where he made the American team in the 132 lb. division and went on to earn a Silver Medal in Seoul. (I was the alternate in 156 lb.) I enjoyed taking part in a practice at his Honolulu Judo Club.
July 21 In-Class Shiai
July 21, at 5:30 pm, we will be having our monthly in-class shiai (tournament). Our smaller Chibi and Hajime students will be competing in Sumo while our Honto or “real” judo players will be competing in a real judo tournament. (We will not be having a pot-luck following the tournament this month but will have pot-lucks starting again in the Fall.)
Silicon Valley Tournament
On July 30, in San Jose, Silicon Valley Judo will be hosting a small tournament.
Pokemon Summer Camp
We have begun our seventh week of Pokemon Summer Camp and we are making amazing origami. Every week has been filled with Japanese language, art, judo, smiles, laughter and of course Pokemon!
