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06/17/2008

 

 

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Jigoro Kano

"Consider fully, act decisively"

 

 

CLICK ON THE NEWS ARCHIVE YOU WISH TO READ
Aberdeen Judo Instructor Seminar
Keith Durrant
Update of Activities - April 24, 2006
Dojo News Update - April 2006
BC WINTER GAMES RESULTS!
BC Winter Games Trials - Vernon Judo Club
Burnaby Tournament Result
Aberdeen Judo Academy Wins Big at the B.C. Judo Championships!
Aberdeen juniors at the conclusion of November grading exams!
DELTA KAIGAN JUDO INSTRUCTOR SEMINAR
Jay Pickering wins Gold in St. John's, Newfoundland
FALL JUDO SEASON START-UP
DOJO CHANGING RULES
ABERDEEN JUDO DOES IT AGAIN!
ABERDEEN JUDO CLUB SCORES BIG AT OKANAGAN VALLEY
ABERDEEN JUDO COMPETITORS WIN BIG IN LANGLEY!
 

 

3RD ANNUAL INSTRUCTOR SEMINAR – OCT. 28/29, 2006

Hosted by the Delta Kaigan Judo Club, Delta, B.C.

 

 

The 3rd annual Instructor Seminar was again a great success with 43 participants from 14 dojo taking part.  Upon registration, each participant was given a 3-ring binder (185 pages!) detailing the material to be covered.

 

After welcoming remarks by Bruce Fingarson, sensei of the Delta club, seminar conductor John Huntley, Aberdeen Judo Academy, detailed the modules that were to be covered in the weekend seminar:

 

-          Judo Canada Long Term Judoka Development Model

-          Warm-ups – traditional and European

-          Teaching children – traditional and European methods

-          Forms of ukemi – methods for teaching for children, adults and seniors

-          Use of training tools – bean bags, Swiss Ball, judo belts, etc.

-          Developmental games designed for children & adults

-          Concepts and drills for ne-waza & tachi-waza

-          Training of the female judoka

 

The seminar was a hands-on activity, and once the background material was covered, it was time to get changed and get on the mats.  Assisting Mr. Huntley with the on-mat activities was James Chevrette, 3rd dan of Aberdeen Judo Academy.  The balance of the first day was spent in on-mat activities with participants having a great time as they tried new warm-up exercises, and ukemi and ne-waza drills.

 

Day two started with two special presentations;

 

-          Taking it to the street – legal ramifications of using judo outside the dojo – presentation by Ron Joyce, 3rd dan, Burnaby Judo Club – retired Vancouver City Police Sergeant

-          Concussions – recognition and treatment  /  Chokes & Strangles – correct application, injury prevention and treatment – Dr. John Cleland, 1st dan – Aberdeen Judo Academy

 

In attendance for these two PowerPoint presentations was a Force Options Instructor from the Vancouver Police Department, who is presently on a national police committee  looking at various compliance techniques for law enforcement use.  He also had some interesting comments to add to the proceedings.

 

The balance of the seminar was conducted back on the mats, and interestingly as the seminar on-mat sessions involved three warm-ups, there was not one exercise duplicated the whole weekend!

 

 

At the conclusion of the seminar, certificates were given to all participants.  The presenters were also recognized and a special presentation was made to Bob Elliot of the Kiwakai Judo Club, Vancouver, B.C., who has participated and brought a number of students to all three seminars.

                                                             

Closing out the seminar was a special presentation to John Huntley, who was formally presented with his 7th dan Judo Canada diploma by Brigadier-General Darrell Dean, CD, Honorary Colonel Of The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught’s Own),  Kodokan Judo 5th dan.

 

Plans are in the works for the next seminar, and notice will be posted on the Judo BC website.

 

.

 

 

Update of Activities - April 24, 2006

 

Hello, members and friends of Aberdeen Judo Academy!

 

Well, as we wind the junior program down for the season, I would like to let you know what is happening this week:
 

  1. We just returned from the P.G. Open Shiai this past weekend and with 8 competitors we came back with 8 medals!
    Tommy Brown - silver - novice boys - white & yellow belts - division 2 - light weights - 12 year olds Reanna Shannon - gold - novice girls - > white & yellow belts - division 1 - heavy weights - 12 year olds Rayden Shannon - gold - novice boys - white & yellow belts - division 2 - middle weights - 10 year olds Ben vander Laars - gold - novice boys - white & yellow belts - division 2 - light weights - 10 year olds Elycia Buckley - gold - novice girls - white & yellow belts - division 1 - light weights - 10 year olds Alex Buckley - bronze - intermediate boys - orange belts & up - division 4 - middle weights - 13 year olds Zach Buckley - bronze - novice boys - white & yellow belts - division 2 - light weights - 8 year olds Carl Schrader - bronze - senior brown & black belts - division 17 - middle weights
    Coaches for the team were Heather Shannon and Barb Buckley.
    Officiating was John Huntley, International Level referee
  2. Tuesday, April 25 - PRESENTATIONS - promotional certificates, stripes and/or belts will be presented to the juniors that took their grading exams last week. Practice and presentations will take place at the normal junior times starting at 5:30 pm. Group photos will also be taken, and we encourage parents and friends to bring a camera, etc.!
  3. Thursday, April 27 - LAST JUNIOR PRACTICE OF THE SEASON - as the response to the plan of continuing one more month with the junior program did not receive much support, this will be the last practice of the 2005 - 2006 season. Regular starting time of 5:30 pm, and we have a mini-shiai planned for the kids for part of the practice, a modified general workout, and then some presentations to be made. Once again, all members, parents and friends are invited to attend, and bring your cameras, etc.!
     

For further information, please contact me at the dojo PRIOR to practice starting time, or at home - 374-9945.

J. A. Huntley, sensei

Dojo News Update - April 2006

 

April 10 - The new red mats were installed this evening, and look really sharp!
 


 

 
April 11 - mini-shiai at the dojo. Sensei Huntley will be picking up our new red mats this weekend (Friday - April 7) in Vancouver, and we will have them down for the mini-shiai we have planned for next Tuesday.
 
April 15 - Okanagan Open Judo Tournament at Vernon.  so far, we have the following judoka registered:
 
Tommy Brown
Rayden Shannon
Reanna Shannon
Christian Pennanen
Ben vander Laars
Liam Moss
Zack Buckley
Elysia Buckley
Andrew Iadarola
 
 
Entry fee ($30.00) must be paid tomorrow night (Thursday) or you will not be entered.  Entries close tomorrow night, so if you are wanting to enter the shiai, you must weigh in at the dojo and pay the entry fee!
 
April 18 & 20 - junior grading exams.  Due to the large number of juniors grading, we will holding them over the two days.  Grading exams start at 5 pm both evening.  The instructors will let you know if you are eligible for grading, and what day you are grading.   Forms must be filled out and returned with the appropriate grading fee. Keep in mind that there will be regular practice on both grading nights, although they will be shortened a bit!
 
April 22 - Prince Open Judo Tournament - we will be taking a number of competitors up for this shiai.  Entries close on April 14, so if you are thinking of competing, please let the instructors know now, so we can arrange transportation, lodging, etc.  This is the last shiai of the season!
 
April 25 - promotional certificates, stripes and new belts presented.
 
April 27 - Last practice of the - 2006 junior judo season!
 
Some other notes:
 
 - The gymnastics club head instructor has mentioned to me that siblings of Aberdeen Judo junior members have been found playing on the gymnastics club equipment.  A reminder to parents, the gymnastics equipment is 'off-limits' to all judoka and their brothers & sisters!
 
 - Some junior judoka are coming into the dojo with bare feet from outside; please ensure that some type of footwear is worn, or the judoka will not be allowed on the mats for practice. 
 
For more information on any of the above, please see me at the dojo - either before the start of junior practice or right after.  Thank you.
 
J. A. Huntley, sensei

 

BC WINTER GAMES RESULTS!

 

Hello, everyone!  Well, Mrs.. Shannon and I are just back from the BC Winter Games in Trail, B.C.!  We got home at midnight last night, tired but happy!

 

Results for Zone 2 (our Zone comprising or Kelowna, Kamloops, Vernon, Salmon Arm, Revelstoke, Barriere, Winfield):

 

We took 14 young competitors - (born in 92, 93 & 94) and minimum of yellow belt.  We came home with 8 medals from the individual competition and the silver medal in the 8-judoka (4 boys & 4 girls) team competition.  There were 7 teams entered, and once the dust settled, we had competed in 5 team matches - defeating 4 of the opposing teams and losing only to the strong Zone 8 team from the Prince George area!

 

On another note, at the opening ceremonies Friday night, Reanna Shannon won an all expense trip for two to the Caribbean!

 

We received many compliments for other team coaches as to the stand-out team hoodies (bright red) we had designed for the kids, plus the excellent deportment of our team members wherever we went during the 4 days of the event.  Opening ceremonies and closing ceremonies wherein we marched into the arena under our zone banner(s), led by a large Pipes and Drums of the TRail Pipe band was a highlight for the kids.  Of the 14 young competitors we took, all but 2 of the parents of the kids were present to see their child compete.  The bonding that took place amongst out young team members was was very gratifying to Mrs. Shannon and myself, and further supports the value of this level of participation. 

 

BC Winter Games Trials - Vernon Judo Club

December 10, 2005

 

At the conclusion of the Zone 2 BCWG Trials (Judo) held December 10, 2005 at the Vernon Judo Club, Aberdeen Judo's five entries placed well. Listed below are the selected members of the Zone 2 Judo Team and the alternates to the BC Winter Games to be held in Trail, B.C. the last weekend in February, 2006:

Boys:
Div 1 under 36 kg - Tommy Brown - Aberdeen
Div 2 under 40 kg - Thomas Gilgan - Aberdeen
Div 3 under 45 kg - no entries

Div 4 under 51 kg - Erik Gignac - Salmon Arm
Div 5 under 55 kg - Roy Millar - Penticton
Div 6 under 60 kg - Chris Beliveau - Vernon
Div 7 under 66 kg - no entries
Div 8 over 66 kg - Sacha Papadimitrios - Vernon

                          -  Shea Bennett - Penticton - 1st alternate
                          -  Andrew Iadarola - Aberdeeen Judo - 2nd alternate

Girls:
Div 10 under 44 kg - Sandra Kilmartin - Salmon Arm
                                Ia Tkachanko - Aberdeen Judo - 1st alternate
Div 11 under 48 kg - Arden Boehm - Lake Country
Div 12 under 52 kg - no entries
Div 13 under 57 kg - Reanna Shannon - Aberdeen
Div 14 under 63 kg - no entries
Div 15 over 63 kg - Rita Moreno - Lake Country

 

Zone 2 coach:  John Huntley - Aberdeen Judo

Manager:  Heather Shannon - Aberdeen Judo

 

Coaches for the Aberdeen Judoka were Mike Gilgan and Heather Shannon, with Mr. Huntley one of the on-mat referees & judges. Videoing the matches was Mrs. Huntley.

Zone 2 encompases Kelowna, Vernon, Kamloops, Winfield, Salmon Arm, Penticton and Westbank

Congratulations to all of our competitors, coaches, supportive parents and the video crew!

 

Burnaby Tournament Results

 

Well, great results from the Burnaby tournament yesterday (Saturday) - we had 4 competitors entered and came home with 4 medals!


JUNIORS
Tommy Brown - 1st place - division N31 (novices - white & yellow belts)
Ben vander Laars - 1st place - division - N22 (novices - white & yellow belts)
Thomas Gilgan - 2nd place - division - (orange, green & blue belts)

SENIORS
Joe Marchand - 1st place - division 96 (orange, green & blue belts)

Congratulations to the competitors and a job well done by the respective coaches & parents - (Juniors) Mike Gilgan, Andrea & Dave Brown, Charles vander Laars and (Senior) John Huntley.

Next up are the BC Winter Games Trials on Saturday (Dec. 10) in Vernon. We have 5 competitors who are eligible to compete in the trials.

Our in-club shiai for our junior division judoka is on Tuesday, December 13 - will be held at our regular practice times - 5:30 - 6:30 pm.

Last practice of 2005 will be Thursday, December 22 and first practice of 2006 will be Tuesday, January 3.

If you require more information, please see me at the dojo.

Thank you.

John A. Huntley, sensei
Aberdeen Judo
 

Aberdeen Judo Academy Wins Big at the B.C. Judo Championships!



 Judoka from Alberta, British Columbia and Washington State gathered in Abbotsford this past weekend to compete in the B.C. Judo Championships. Our six junior judoka worked extremely hard and placed very well.

Junior Boys under 40 kg: Thomas Gilgan - 1st place
Junior Girls under 50 kg: Reanna Shannon - 1st place
Junior Boys under 42 kg: Rayden Shannon - 1st place
Junior Boys over 66 kg: Andrew Iadarola - 2nd place
Junior Boys under 33 kg: Ben Van der Laars - 3rd place
Junior Boys under 30 kg: Zander Mueller - 4th place

Congratulations to the juniors and coaches Mike Gilgan and Heather Shannon!

Aberdeen juniors at the conclusion of November

 grading exams!

 

 

DELTA KAIGAN JUDO INSTRUCTOR SEMINAR
OCTOBER 29 & 30, 2005



The recently formed Delta Kaigan Judo Club of Delta, B.C. was the venue for a Judo BC sanctioned provincial level Judo Instructor seminar conducted by John Huntley, 6th dan of Aberdeen Judo Academy, Kamloops, B.C. Forty-three judoka participated in the seminar which ran from 9am – 5 pm on Saturday and 9am t0 1 pm on Sunday. Participants came from the interior as well as lower mainland judo clubs.

Delta Kaigan judo dojo is unique in that it has a large area which contains banquet tables so that the off-mat presentations provided comfortable seating. The seminar started with a quick trip through the participant manuals which laid out the various modules to be covered over the two days, starting with ‘how to get prospective members through the door’ to what is an acceptable drop-out rate and how to decrease this and ending with a large appendix which contained a number of positive affirmations to be used in the dojo and for personal development.

Each participant received a bound manual (255 pages!) of the modules and material to be covered during the weekend.

The on-mat session commenced with a formal ‘bow-in’ – in a circle of learning. Host instructor Huntley’s opening remarks centered around the theme for the weekend – education, strength, leadership.

The atmosphere of the weekend was upbeat and positive, with open dialogue the order of the day – comments and suggestions flowed freely. A number of participants – not only yudansha – took the opportunity to demonstrate favourite movements. Yudansha and mudansha members of Aberdeen Judo Academy were on hand to assist the participants with the various tachi-waza and ne-waza concepts & drills covered specifically by Huntley sensei.

Topics covered (we ran out of time to complete a few of the modules) included:

- operation of a dojo – advertising, teaching skills, grading syllabus design & matrix samples
- traits of effective leadership
- brief review of the Judo Canada Long Term Development Model
- contra-indicated exercises
- progression in teaching beginners
- ukemi concepts – design & practice of various methods of teaching – including the use of bean bags, staff and exercise balls (Swiss Ball).
- ne-waza concepts – specific warm-up routines, drills, linking techniques – traditional and European
- tachi-waza concepts – specific warm-ups, drills, linking techniques – traditional & European
- kata concepts/applications – Nage-no-Kata, Katame-no-Kata and Goshin-Jutsu
-2-

In addition, two presentations took place – on Saturday, Dr. John Cleland (karate-nidan & judo-shodan – Aberdeen Judo Academy) did a well received PowerPoint presentation on concussions & proper/improper application of shime-waza followed on Sunday by retired Vancouver Police Department Sergeant Ron Joyce (judo 3rd dan – Burnaby Judo Club ) covering the subject Judo – inside the dojo and outside in the streets.

Delta Kaigan arranged for a continental breakfast both mornings prior to the seminar and a catered lunch on Saturday

Certificates of participation were handed out at the conclusion of the seminar and all agreed that future seminars are necessary to not only review the material covered at this one, but to cover additional topics suggested by the participants. Many felt that some of the topics covered could have taken a weekend in themselves; the next seminar is in the planning stages!
 


Jay Pickering, ikkyu of Aberdeen Judo Academy, Kamloops won the gold medal in the 100+ kg divison in St. John's, Newfoundland on May 22.

  

Sebastian Godin (Quebec), Jay Pickering (BC), Renaldo Bernardo (BC), Pat Knox (PEI)

 

100+ kg division - 7 competitors

 
Jay's fights:
 
IN THE PRELIMINARY POOL ROUNDS
 
1 - win over Josh Weins - 1 dan -  ( Sask.)  - ippon in 39 seconds
2 - win over Hugh Rogers  - 1 kyu -  (BC) -  ippon in 35 seconds
3 - loss to Sebastian Godin - 1 dan -  ( Quebec )  - ippon in 2 minutes, 4 seconds
 
 
IN THE REPECHAGE
 
 4 - win over Renaldo Bernardo -  1 kyu -   (BC) -  ippon in 1 minute, 35 seconds
 5 - win over Sebastian Godin - 1 dan -  (Quebec )-  ippon in 1 minute, 27 seconds  (Gold medal match) 
 
Aberdeen Judo is very proud of the performance of our first Canadian champion!

 

 John Huntley - personal coach, Jay Pickering - Wendy - (Jay's wife), Glen Pickering - Jay's dad

 

 

 

 

FALL JUDO SEASON START-UP

 

Hello, everyone!
 
Well, here we are almost half way through the month of August, and already I am getting phone calls regarding the junior program start-up date, . . . .!
 
While the senior practices have been going all summer, as we have done in past years, we will be having our first junior practice of the fall season on Tuesday, September 5, the same day school goes back in.
 
So, have the kids grown over the summer?  Need a new judogi or maybe just the pants?  We have a small stock of new judogi and possibly some pants, so don't fret.  They can wear their present judogi for the first while, as it only takes a day or two for us to get additional supplies sent up from the coast.
 
Many changes at the dojo, . . the gymnastic club moved out the end of June, and the new owners of the building - Morfo Industries - have erected new walls - floor to ceiling - around the perimeter of the old gymnastic area, and are moving their warehousing and distribution materials in, . . .
 
We are down to only one washroom now, the former Ladies washroom, and will have to make do.  We now have a long, narrow walkway from the usual outside entrance up to the dojo.  At this point, they just finished putting on the wallboard, and hopefully they will waste no time in taping and mudding the seams, . . at least I hope they do!  It has been very trying on the senior practices for the past month, as we have had to walk around pallets of steel, dust everywhere, etc.
 
 
In any event, I will endeavour to keep you up to date on activities as they arise, . .due to family matters, I have been traveling between Maple Ridge and Kamloops on a regular basis, . . . hopefully for not too much longer.
 
Take care, and will see you on September 5.
 
If you need some quick answers to anything, contact me either at home - answering  machine - (374-9945) or on my cell (851-6363).  If I don't answer the cell phone, it is because I am somewhere on the Coquihalla highway in a remote location!
 
Take care.
 
John A. Huntley, sensei
Aberdeen Judo Academy

 

DOJO CHANGING RULES

Hello everyone!
 
With the junior program now over until September, some of the older juniors (male & female) will be coming to senior practices as will some of our senior ladies.  
 
As has been the dojo rule, once we have females (junior or senior) attending practice sessions, seniors are not to be changing in the dojo but are required to change downstairs in the change rooms.  An alternative to this is to come to practice in your judogi pants, and just change into your judogi jacket upstairs.  You may  also want to purchase a pair of 'rip-off' or 'tear-away' overpants to wear over your judogi pants on the way to seniors to ensure they stay clean.
 
Thank you for your understanding and adherance..
 
J. A. Huntley, sensei

 

 

DOJO  INSTRUCTOR  SEMINAR

 

ABERDEEN JUDO ACADEMY - OCTOBER 23/24, 2004

 

 

Aberdeen Judo Academy of Kamloops played host to a very successful Dojo Instructor Seminar the weekend of October 23 & 24, 2004. Twenty six judoka participated in the seminar that ran from 10am - 5 pm on Saturday and from 9am - 1pm on Sunday.  Participants came from Ft. St. John, Prince George, Kootenays, Okanagan and the lower mainland.

 

Commencing with the formal >bow-in=  - in a circle of learning, host instructors John & Geri Huntley=s opening remarks centered around the theme for the weekend -  education, strength and leadership. 

 

Each participant received a 3-ring binder full (180 pages!) of the modules and material to be covered during the weekend.

 

The atmosphere of the weekend was upbeat and positive, with open dialogue the order of the day - comments and suggestions flowing freely.  Yudansha and mudansha members of Aberdeen Judo were on hand to assist the out of town participants with the various tachi-waza and ne-waza concepts and drills covered.  Another aspect of the weekend were the Kali/Arnis (Filipino Stick Fighting) drills that Aberdeen Judo incorporates into their training sessions to heighten spatial awareness, co-ordination and gripping combinations.

 

Topics in the manual and covered (we ran out of time to complete a few topics!) included:

 

 - operation of a judo dojo - advertising, teaching skills, grading syllabus design & matrix samples

 - traits of effective leadership

 - review and explanation of the Judo Canada Long Term Judoka Development Model

  - contra-indicated exercises

 - progression in teaching beginners

 - ukemi concepts - design and practice of various methods of teaching - including the use of        bean bags, staff, and exercise balls (Swiss-ball).

 - ne-waza concepts - specific warm-ups, drills, linking techniques - Kodokan & European

 - tachi-waza concepts - specific warm-ups, drills, linking techniques - Kodokan & European

 - Coaching Female Athletes - concepts, variations in application of waza

 - Arnis/Kali - Filipino Stick Fighting - movements and drills

 - appropriate throws based on Uke=s size

  - circuit training - with and without weights

 - tubing drills - for fast twitch and/or slow twitch muscle tissue development

 - katsu - for historical preservation 

- kata concepts/applications - - Nage-no-Kata, Katame-no-Kata and Goshin-Jutsu

 

In addition to the above, Dr. John Cleland, shodan member of Aberdeen gave a very enlightening and in-depth presentation on concussions, proper application and damage caused by improper application of chokes and strangles.

 

Saturday evening saw many of the participants enjoying a Japanese meal at the J & K Sushi restaurant, with lively discussion as to the days activities.

 

Certificates of participation were handed out at the conclusion of the seminar, and all agreed that future seminars are necessary to not only review the material covered at this one, but to cover additional topics suggested by the participants.

 

  Many felt that some of the topics covered could have taken a weekend in themselves; another seminar is in the planning stages!

 

 

submitted by:

 

John A. Huntley

Aberdeen Judo Academy

 

 

CONGRATULATIONS KEITH!!

BACK TO TOP

January 11, 2004 Keith Durrant (age 44) becomes 1st Canadian to earn consecutive black belt promotions in open weight competition from 1st to 6th degree in the 122 years of Kodokan Judo history. He is the 4th non-Japanese in Kodokan Judo history to make this accomplishment preceded by fellow Judoka Schultz (Germany), Waxsman (Israel) and Bayron (Phillipines).

Originally a native of Comox, B.C. Keith started Judo in 1979 at the Victoria Judo Club on Vancouver Island under Mr. Yeiji Inouye 8th dan. During his 24 year residency in Japan Keith has become the highest ranking foreign judoka at the Kodokan, fluent in Japanese, owns T-1 Communications an int'l and domestic long distance company in Tokyo, married and has one daughter.

 

   

Group shot of Aberdeen juniors at the conclusion of spring grading exams!

                                        

 

 ABERDEEN JUDO DOES IT AGAIN!

 

Aberdeen Judo Academy competitors won big at the Vernon Judo Club 60th Anniversary Tournament on Saturday, May 15.

 

JUNIOR BOYS & GIRLS

 

  • Thomas Gilgan – gold medal – division 17 – novice boys – white & yellow belt

  • Molly Gilgan – silver medal – division 4 – novice girls – white & yellow belt

  • Elycia Buckley – gold medal – division 3 - novice girls – white & yellow belt

  • Zachary Buckley – silver medal – division 6 – novice boys – white & yellow belt

  • Alex Buckley – 4th place – division 38 – novice boys – white & yellow  belt

  • Jordan Ritchey – bronze medal – division 6 – novice boys – white & yellow belt

  • Zander Mueller – silver medal – division 7 - novice boys – white & yellow belt

  • Rayden Shannon – gold medal – division 8 - novice boys – white & yellow belt

  • Reanna Shannon – silver medal – division 15 – novice girls – white & yellow belt

  • Evan Mutrie – silver medal – division 17 – novice boys – white & yellow belt

 

Doing an excellent job in coaching the juniors was Mike Gilgan, Aberdeen Judo’s junior program coach, and assistant junior program coach Heather Shannon.

 

SENIORS:

left to right:  Joe Marchand, Jay Pickering, Dave Magnusson, John Huntley, Tony Marrington

 

  • Tony Marrington – gold medal – division 82 – middleweight – orange to blue belt

  • Jay Pickering – gold medal – division 82 – heavyweight – orange to blue belt

  • Joe Marchand – silver medal – division 82 – heavyweight – orange to blue belt

  • Jay Pickering – gold medal – division 100 – heavyweight – brown & black belts

 

As in the recent Prince George Open Tournament, Jay was entered in his own belt category (blue belt) but was allowed to compete up also with the brown and black belts.  Once again Jay’s extensive wrestling background (4-time national wrestling champion) held him in good stead, and he emerged victorious with the gold medal.

 

Coaching the senior competitors was Aberdeen head instructor John Huntley.

 

This was the last tournament of the season – the Aberdeen junior program ends the end of May and restarting in September, while the senior competitors now get back to skill acquisition in preparation for the fall tournament schedule.

 

 

 

ABERDEEN  JUDO  SCORES  BIG  AT SHIAI!

 

Saturday, April 24 was another big day for Aberdeen Judo Academy, with competitors active in the Kootenay Open shiai in Cranbrook, and the Prince George Open in Prince George.

 

Jim Leavitt and Tony Marrington scored 1st and 2nd respectively in the Cranbrook Open heavyweight division, while Jay Pickering placed first in all three divisions he was entered in at the PG Open.  Raydon and Reanna Shannon placed 2nd in their respective junior divisions at the PG Open.

 

 

Jay won all eight of his matches with ippon wins - both throwing and groundwork, defeating opponents ranging from yellow to black belts.  At the conclusion of the medal presentations, based on his outstanding performance and on the recommendation of the president of Judo BC, Jay received a batsugun (instant promotion)  to nikyu  (blue belt) by sensei John Huntley.

 

left to right – Dave Magnusson – president of Judo BC, Jay Pickering – member of Aberdeen Judo Academy, John Huntley, sensei of Aberdeen Judo Academy

 

Batsugun promotions are rarely awarded, and this is a first for a member of Aberdeen Judo Academy. Jay is a former 4-time Canadian wrestling champion, and has an extensive background in wrestling and other sports.  Sensei Huntley indicates that as Jay started wrestling at 5 years of age, has a few years of gymnastics in his background and coupled with Jay’s  exceptional strength, quick reflexes and mental toughness, his progress has been very accelerated.  Jay is working towards competing in the national judo championships in the future, and being only 23 years of age, has a great competitive future ahead.         

 

ABERDEEN JUDO CLUB SCORES BIG AT THE OKANAGAN VALLEY OPEN TOURNAMENT

BACK TO TOP

The Okanagan Valley Open Judo Tournament was held in Kelowna, BC on Saturday, April 3,  with over 250 competitors entered..  Aberdeen Judo Academy had had 7 juniors and 5 seniors entered, and came away with 9 medals and two 4th place finishes.

 

Individual Junior placings were:

 

Back row – Elycia Buckley, Alex Buckley, Rayden Shannon

Front row – Thomas Gilgan, Evan Mutrie, Molly Gilgan

 

Thomas Gilgan –  1st place – juniors - novice boys & girls born 1993/1994 – middleweight

Elycia Buckley – 1st place  - juniors – novice boys & girls – born 1995 & later – lightweight

Rayden Shannon – 2nd place – juniors – novice boys & girls – born 1995 & later – middleweight

Molly Gilgan – 2nd place – juniors – novice boys & girls – born 1995 & later – lightweight

Evan Mutrie – 3rd place – juniors – novice boys & girls – born 1995 & later – middleweight

Alex Buckley – 4th place – juniors – novice boys & girls – born 199-1992 - -38 kg division

Zander Mueller – 4th place – juniors – novice boys & girls – born 1995 & later – lightweight

 

Not to be outdone by the juniors, the senior competitors also displayed their prowess:

 

Jim Leavitt, Mike Gilgan & Joe Marchand

 

Joe  Marchand – 1st place – senior men – blue belts & under – heavyweight

Jim Leavitt – 3rd place – senior men – blue belts & under – heavyweight

 

In the Masters competition (over 35 years old), Mike Gilgan, our 40 year old brown belt placed 2nd in the middleweight division.

 

The kata (forms) competition saw our skilled brown belts Oliver Schenk and Matthew Rende place 2nd.

 

 

 BACK TO TOP

 

Six members of the Aberdeen Judo Academy competed in the Langley Judo Club tournament in Langley on Saturday, March 13, winning seven medals!

 

Results are:

 

1st place – Junior boys novice – born 1992 and younger - Thomas Gilgan

2nd place – junior girls novice – born 1992 and younger – Molly Gilgan

 

1st  place – senior men – 4th – 2nd kyu – heavyweight - Jay Pickering

1st  place – senior men’s open – all ranks, including black belts - Jay Pickering

 

2nd place – senior men’s open – all ranks – including black belts – Troy Dean

 

3rd place – senior men’s brown & black belts – middleweight – Mike Gilgan

3rd place – senior men - 4th – 2nd kyu – heavyweight – James Leavitt

 

 

This is the first time in the history of the Aberdeen Judo Academy that a father, daughter & son combination has been on the winning end all in the same competition.  Mike Gilgan, as instructor of Aberdeen Judo’s junior program and coach of the juniors at the tournament was pleased to see the results of our training methods pay off.

 

Jay Pickering, a multi-winner national collegiate wrestling champion and relative newcomer to the sport judo scene and wearing an orange belt, had an opportunity to put his wrestling skills to good use, winning not only  the heavyweight division, but also the open division, defeating brown and black belts on his march to victory.  Not to be outdone, fellow orange belt club member Troy Dean, won the silver medal in the same open weight division, also defeating a black belt.  The final match of the open division came down to the two club-mates, with Jay winning with a hold-down.

 

 

Next up on the competition calendar is the BC Open Championships in Kelowna on April 3.

 

 

 

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