Judo Finds National Success<\/h4>\n
http:\/\/www.fortsaskatchewanrecord.com\/2016\/05\/19\/judo-finds-national-success<\/a><\/p>\n http:\/\/calgaryherald.com\/sports\/young-albertans-pursue-judo-glory<\/a><\/p>\n Nolan Morris may not be able to see his opponent, but the feeling he gets from competing on the judo mat is filled with passion for the sport he took up just 18 months ago.<\/p>\n The eight-year-old from Dawson Creek, B.C., who was born without sight, competed in his very first judo tournament this weekend at the Edmonton International Judo tournament and earned a gold medal after winning all three of his matches in the U-10 category.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is the best feeling in the world. I did all the hard work as a white belt, got my yellow belt and worked so hard for this day to finally compete in a tournament,\u201d said Morris, who was born with Libras Congenital Fibrosis.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen someone grabs a hold of me, I can feel them moving, and I just tell myself that they\u2019re not going to knock me down.\u201d<\/p>\n When Nolan stepped out on to the mat Saturday morning his father Myles, mother Jennifer, brother Liam and sister Iya looked on with great joy.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen he first walked on to the mat, I had tears in my eyes, I was so proud,\u201d said his father Myles.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was diagnosed at four months old, after we started to notice he had no light perception and no vision. It\u2019s been a learning experience for us every day.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite his disability, Nolan was eager to learn and play a sport that he could compete in against able-bodied kids his own age. His parents tried him in various sports, but couldn\u2019t find a fit.<\/p>\n One day at the local recreation centre in Dawson Creek, they met sensei Bruce Sydnam, a long-time judo instructor at Norther Warrior Academy, who encouraged them to give judo a try.<\/p>\n Now you can\u2019t keep Nolan off the mat.<\/p>\n \u201cTo be able to bring an opportunity like this to a young man who is visually impaired is quite an honour \u2026 it\u2019s a real gift and a shining moment in my near 50 years of teaching judo,\u201d said Sydnam.<\/p>\n \u201cCompetition can help us define who we are and where we stand if not within society, but within ourselves and this gives him a chance to fight one-on-one with visually intact people, and he\u2019s been absolutely incredible to teach.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a tremendous opportunity to teach him drive, worth ethic, how to handle adversity, get thrown and get back up, because he\u2019s done that his whole life.\u201d<\/p>\n Training in judo can become a person\u2019s lifestyle. It\u2019s a form a martial art that people of all ages can learn and compete in well into their adult life.<\/p>\n For Nolan, it\u2019s also helped him live a more stable life.<\/p>\n \u201cHe had pretty poor balance and body movement in tight spaces and it\u2019s improved leaps and bounds in terms of stability and his ability to move through the world,\u201d said Myles.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been remarkable to see. This has been the best therapy he could\u2019ve ever had. Judo\u2019s meant a lot to us.\u201d<\/p>\n Nolan won\u2019t be the only member of his family competing this weekend. After seeing how much fun his son was having, Myles decided to take up the sport as well, taking part in the adult classes after Nolan\u2019s finished training. Both he and Nolan are making their tournament debuts.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is something we can do together all throughout life,\u201d said Myles, who will compete in the adult division on Sunday.<\/p>\n \u201cI know without a doubt, I\u2019m the more nervous one competing this weekend \u2026 not even close. But this whole weekend has given me a huge amount of pride. This experience for him has been everything we could\u2019ve imagined and more.\u201d<\/p>\n SOURCE OF GROWTH<\/p>\n The Edmonton International Judo Championships has grown to become a global event and it\u2019s one of the largest judo competitions of its kind.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is our 11th year,\u201d said tournament director Mark Hicks.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have 740 competitors and 112 black belts competing (this year). It\u2019s a big tournament we have people from all over North America and Japan competing. This is three times the size of the Pan-American championships, so it gives you an idea how big this tournament has become.\u201d<\/p>\n The tournament is held at West Edmonton Mall, and that allows the event to be showcased in a different setting in hopes of growing the sport.<\/p>\n Judo has become a very popular sport in Canada. Competitors from nine different provinces and two territories are taking part this weekend.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also used as a training ground for coaches, referees and volunteers.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s almost become a judo symposium,\u201d said Hicks.<\/p>\n \u201cWe run seminars on coaching, refereeing and how to run the computer software for tournaments. This tournament has almost become a strong educational tool for us.\u201d<\/p>\n Over the years, the tournament has had many former national and world champions compete, so the competition is strong, but it also has young athletes just learning the sport taking part, too.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a full skill tournament. Some places only hold tournaments for kids, or just adults. We cover all the bases. It\u2019s a tournament for all ages,\u201d said Hicks.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have a lot of family involvement where we get generations of families competing and this is very much a family sport.\u201d<\/p>\n @hillsyjay<\/p>\n jason.hills77@yahoo.com<\/p>\n Stepping on to the judo mat can give a person a huge adrenalin rush as they get set to battle one-on-one against a fierce competitor.<\/p>\n But for Rashad Chin, the feeling of adrenalin is something he experiences on a daily basis.<\/p>\n When he\u2019s not trying to throw his opponent on the mat and score big points, he\u2019s doing his best to save lives and bring people back to strong health as an emergency-room doctor at the University of Alberta Hospital.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s the hardest question for me to answer because I enjoy both so much,\u201d Dr. Chin said. \u201cIt\u2019s a different type of adrenalin and I wouldn\u2019t give up either of them.<\/p>\n \u201cStepping on the mat and competing, you\u2019re in the spotlight. There\u2019s nobody there to back you up and you have to rely on everything you learned in training, and I love going against a competitor that is out to beat you.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the emergency room, the stakes are high, but I love that feeling of being able to help someone who may be fighting for their life.\u201d<\/p>\n Dr. Chin won the silver medal in the senior men\u2019s brown- and black-belt 60 kg division at the Edmonton International Judo Championships at West Edmonton Mall on Sunday afternoon.<\/p>\n He\u2019s been involved with judo for 25 years. He trains and teaches students at the Kodokwai Judo Club in west Edmonton.<\/p>\n In the past, he\u2019s helped organize disaster relief efforts in the Philippines, Haiti and Pakistan.<\/p>\n So how does an ER doctor in one of the busiest hospitals in the province find the time to still compete in judo at a high level?<\/p>\n \u201cTime is demanding on everyone. But things that are important in your life, you have to make time for them,\u201d said Dr. Chin, who finished medical school in 2008 and his residency at the U of A hospital in 2013.<\/p>\n \u201cAs long as you prioritize your time properly, you can find ways to make time for things that are important in your life and judo is one of them for me. It gives me that stress relief away from the hospital.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been doing judo for so many years now that I think that many of the qualities that make someone excel in life, I learned from judo. Hard work, dedication and learning how to win and be a champion, but also learn to come back stronger after you\u2019ve been beaten.\u201d<\/p>\n While his career as a doctor has taken him around the world, so has judo. He\u2019s won back-to-back silver medals at the last two Canadian senior national championships and he recently won bronze at the Pan-American Championships.<\/p>\n When he was younger, he competed in tournaments in Spain, Korea, Europe, the United States and South America.<\/p>\n He won junior nationals in 1998 and in \u201999 he won gold at the Canada Winter Games.<\/p>\n \u201cIt seems like ages ago, but I still enjoy it. I have so many fond memories of competing,\u201d said Dr. Chin. \u201cI probably could\u2019ve reached different levels in judo, but I didn\u2019t have enough time to dedicate to it to get somewhere like the Olympics because it\u2019s so demanding. But it never crossed my mind to give up judo completely.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a sport that will be with me for all my life.\u201d<\/p>\n CHASING THE DREAM<\/p>\n Fort Saskatchewan\u2019s Alexandra Gagnon has dreams of being one of the best female judo athletes one day, and the 16-year-old is pulling out all the stops to try and accomplish that dream \u2014 even if it means moving away from home.<\/p>\n She relocated to Lethbridge this year to take part in Judo Canada\u2019s first-ever Regional Training Centre and she\u2019s getting the opportunity to learn from some of Canada\u2019s best judo athletes and instructors.<\/p>\n She had a very productive weekend at the 2016 Edmonton International Judo Championships, earning a gold medal in the U-18 category and silver in the 54 kg senior women\u2019s division.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m thankful for the opportunities I\u2019ve been given,\u201d said Gagnon. \u201cI\u2019m living with Lorraine Methot, who is one of the best athletes to come out of Judo Canada, and she\u2019s really helped mentor me and help me with the transition.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve learned a lot of responsibility this year being on my own, but I\u2019ve always been that independent person. My whole focus is on school and judo.\u201d<\/p>\n Gagnon is the youngest athlete to train out of the regional centre. This is the first year that the centre has been operating, and it\u2019s the largest of its kind in Western Canada.<\/p>\n She has participated in four junior national championships, winning a bronze medal her first time there.<\/p>\n She hopes to compete in her first senior national championship this year, and the competition she faced on Sunday included many of the top senior level competitors.<\/p>\n \u201cCompeting at the senior level is a pretty new experience for me, but I\u2019m really happy with my performance today even though I wasn\u2019t able to come out on top, I beat some of the girls that train out of the national training centre out of Quebec and have won senior nationals before,\u201d said Gagnon, who lost to Quebec\u2019s Camelia Pitsilis in the gold-medal match.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a big year for me. I\u2019m shooting for a U-18 national championship gold medal, and I would like to get on the podium for senior nationals.<\/p>\n \u201cMoving away from home was a hard decision, but it was something I knew I needed to do to get to that next level.\u201d<\/p>\n Gagnon also received the Stephanie Kerr Award for hard work, dedication and spirit. Kerr, who was from Edmonton, was an outstanding judo athlete who died in a car accident in 2005.<\/p>\n \u201cBeing given an award like that \u2026 I know the impact she made on judo here in Edmonton and her passing was tragic,\u201d said Gagnon. \u201cAnd it really hit home for me being an Edmonton girl.\u201d<\/p>\n jason.hills77@yahoo.com<\/p>\n Alberta won 40 medals over all on the weekend; winning 18 gold medals, 10 silver medals and 12 bronze medals. Team Alberta was represented by clubs from Edmonton, Fort Saskatchewan, Spruce Groves, Airdrie, Calgary, Pincher Creek and Edmonton. <\/p>\n There were several outstanding performances during the weekend with Taeya Koliaska, Joel Demaere and Hana Varsanyi from Lethbridge winning two different age divisions over the weekend. <\/p>\n Quote Ewan Beaton, Judo Alberta HP Coach, 2x Olympian & 2004 Olympic Coach<\/p>\n \u201cThe Judo Alberta athletes represented themselves well at this important national level event. Many of the young athletes took big steps winning in older age divisions with spectacular throwing techniques. Dawson Mandal, Ali Briggs, Taeya Koliaska and Hana Varsanyi from Lethbridge won gold medals in the senior divisions for the first time which helps them gain valuable ranking points for the national team.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cThe depth of judo is growing in Alberta with gold medals coming from many different regions and different clubs in the province. When you have gold medals coming from smaller communities like Spruce Groves (Declan Harding) and Fort Saskatchewan (Alexandra & Nicholas Gagnon) this is a good sign for the future of the sport in Alberta.\u201d<\/p>\n The next stop on the Judo Canada competition circuit is the Edmonton International Judo Championships running from March 11-13, 2016 at the West Edmonton Mall with over 750 athletes participating from across Canada and the USA.<\/p>\n To view the tournament results please click here! <\/a><\/p>\n Ewan Beaton HP Judo Alberta Coach Click here<\/a> for full article.<\/p>\n Judo Alberta, the City of Edmonton and the province of Alberta are pleased to announce the successful bid to host the 2015 Pan Am Judo Championship. This prestigious international event will take place at the Saville Sports Centre in Edmonton on April 24 \u2013 26, 2015.<\/p>\n Read the full press release here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Judo Alberta is proud to partner with Hatashita International as a sponsor of the 2013 Alberta Provincial Judo Team. Hatashita International has come forward to provide significant discounts to Provincial team members competing at the 2013 National Championships in Vancouver from July 4-7, 2013. See the full press release here<\/a>. <\/p>\n Judo Alberta’s Cassidy Norris & Caitlin Alder have been selected to attend a Training Camp in Japan as part of Judo Canada Women’s National Team! See complete details here.<\/a><\/p>\n Pordenone, Italy \u2013 Judo Alberta’s Kelly Palmer and Gord Okamura recently competed in the 2012 World Kata Championships in Pordenone, Italy (about one hour north of Venice) on September 20-23, 2012. The pair placed 10th overall in Katame no Kata (Forms of Ground Technique). See the complete press release here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Cali, Colombia \u2013 Judo Alberta had two athletes, Cassidy Norris (U20) and Alexandra Surbey (U17), represent Canada at the recent 2012 U17 and U20 Pan-American Championships in Cali, Columbia on September 6-9. 2012. See the complete press release here<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Judo Alberta Grading Board is pleased to announce the Provincial Kata Team Selections for the 2012 National Championships! Congratulations to all athletes that will be representing Alberta in July. Please see the complete kata team selection here.<\/a><\/p>\n The Judo Alberta Coaching Committee is pleased to announce the Provincial Team Selections for the 2012 National Championships! Congratulations to all athletes that will be representing Alberta in July. Please see the complete team selections here.<\/a><\/p>\n Young Albertans pursue judo glory, shot at 2020 Olympics <\/h4>\n
Blind since birth, Nolan Morris overcomes opponents, disability on the judo mat<\/h4>\n
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<\/p>\nWhether fighting on the mat or for someone\u2019s life, judoka Rashad Chin loves the high stakes<\/h4>\n
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<\/p>\n2016 Pacific International Judo Tournament, March 05-06, 2016 \u2013 Steveston, BC<\/h4>\n
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\nThe 2016 Pacific International Judo Tournament is one of the most important competitions on the Judo Canada competition circuit with 350 athletes from USA, Japan and across Canada competing at this prestigious event. This competition is a national team ranking competition where athletes gain valuable points and standards in effort to progress them onto national teams.<\/p>\n
\nPhone: (306) 370-7412
\nE-mail: ewan@judoalberta.com
\nJudo Alberta Website: https:\/\/judoalberta.com\/
\nJudo Alberta Facebook: https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/judoalberta<\/p>\nMcMurrayite judoa eyes first major tournament at home<\/h4>\n
2015 Pan Am Judo Championship<\/h4>\n
Team Alberta Sponsorship by Hatashita & Mizunon<\/h4>\n
Norris & Alder Selected to Attend Training Camp in Japan<\/h4>\n
Palmer & Okamura Finish 10th at Kata World Championships<\/h4>\n
Surbey & Norris Compete in 2012 Pan Am Championships<\/h4>\n
Judo Alberta Provincial Kata Team Selections for 2012 National Championships<\/h4>\n
Judo Alberta Provincial Team Selections for 2012 National Championships<\/h4>\n
Alberta athlete Darren Elcock 9th at Cadet World Judo Championships<\/h4>\n
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