ILLINOIS JUDO NEWSLETTER – IPPON!!!

February 8, 2007

President:        Tim Schultheis
VP:                  Chuck Clark
Secretary:        Mary Gail Ford
Treasurer:       Frank Oliveri
Editor:             Kei Narimatsu

THIS NEWSLETTER MAY BE PASSED ON TO ANYONE IN YOUR ADDRESS BOOK WHO MIGHT NOT GET THIS DIRECTLY FROM THE EDITOR.  I DO NOT ALWAYS HAVE CURRENT EMAIL ADDRESSES BUT CLUB INSTRUCTORS, STATE PRESIDENTS AND OTHERS MAY WANT TO LET THEIR MEMBERS HAVE THIS AS WELL.  PLEASE DISTRIBUTE AS YOU WISH.  IF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WISH TO GET THIS EMAIL  FIRST HAND, PLEASE CONTACT ME AT knarimatsu@microlamps.com  with subject:  Add to Illinois Judo Newsletter

Illinois Judo Newsletter – IPPON!! is the voice of Illinois Judo, sent whenever convenient to members of Illinois Judo and other interested parties. All articles and content are the opinion of the editor unless otherwise noted and do not reflect the opinion of Illinois Judo, its officers or members.  Information is gathered from various sources expressly sent for distribution.  Contents may contain inaccurate information.  If anyone can correct any inaccuracies, they will be published as soon as possible.  Information presented will be of a general nature only and will not promote any national organization except USJI/USA Judo or any of its state governing bodies.  Tournament and clinic notifications will be made for all organizations and will be guaranteed posted if sent to the editor in electronic format ONLY and in a timely manner.  Illinois Judo will make every effort to respect your privacy and never sell, trade, or otherwise abuse the privilege of serving you via this e-mail newsletter.

Cancellation: We're committed to Permission Distribution, so if you prefer not to receive the IPPON!!!, simply send a blank e-mail to knarimatsu@microlamps.com or hit reply with unsubscribe-IPPON in the subject line.  You will be omitted from my list FOREVER.  It is also appreciated if you would indicate your name in the tag line.  I do not use email addresses to segregate emails, only real names.  Thank you. 

Contents:
Editorial – JUDO VISION
LOCAL NEWS

            Carlos Diaz and Jaime Cassanova visit to Midwestern

USA JUDO NEWS   

Illinois Judo and Midwestern Championships hosts to ….

            Valerie Gotay beats former World Champion

            Men’s Belgium Open Results

Belgium Open results – Kayla Harrison (OH) takes gold

Belgium Open review

            Invitation to the Junior US Open Championships – Ft Lauderdale FL

Serving Our Country
Something to Think About –
Upcoming Events
USA Judo Life Members

EDITORIAL –

Received this link from  Brett WT called Judo Vision.  Looks interesting for a number of reasons including video on YouTube.  Check it out. 

http://www.judovision.org

LOCAL NEWS

Mr Carlos Diaz, Refereeing Director from the PJU and Mr Jaime Casanova, President of the Pan American Judo Union will be attending the Midwestern Championships on March 2 – 4 in Waukegan, IL.  This is a real feather in the cap for this Championships as well as Illinois Judo who will be sponsoring some of the activities planned for that weekend.  It is anticipated that these two distinguished guest will attract top referees and administrators from around the country to support their visit as well as to make them welcome in a first ever visit to the WINDY CITY.  The Midwestern already attracts some of the best athletes in the US.  This fact bodes well for the quality of play as well as the quality of the referees who will adjudicate the matches.  Additionally, it is hoped that USA Judo will provide us with a computer and video camera to institute the CARE system (Computer Aided REplay).  This system will be used in selected matches throughout the day as well as all senior final matches.  CARE is not meant to be an instant replay system, but where indicated and a gross miscarriage of justice might occur, the CARE system will assist the referees and jury to make the right decision.  Widespread use of this system has been utilized in Europe, the Junior and Senior World Championships & World Team of Nations and the Olympic Games.  It is a system that can best be described as a wonderful adjunct to an already difficult task – that of refereeing the top athletes in the world.  The Midwestern will be a beta site for a new system which will be used at the Senior Nationals in April.   

USA Judo News
Complete coverage of these articles available at the USA Judo website.  Click on the link http://www.usjudo.org/    and click on the What's New page to see all the recent news items.  The items listed below may or may not be linked already.  To get further information on any of these stories, it is better to go to the USA Judo website.

Illinois Judo and Midwestern Championships host to PJU Refereeing Director, Mr Carlos Diaz and PJU President, Mr Jaime Casanova

This year, the Midwestern Championships, Illinois Judo and USA Judo are proud to announce that Mr. Carlos Diaz, Refereeing Director for the Pan American Judo Union and Referee Commissioner to the IJF, will be the special guest lecture and Honorary Chief Referee for these Championships which will be held March 3-4 in Waukegan, Ill.

Mr. Diaz will discuss in detail the most up-to-date IJF rules and interpretations, especially the Dynamic Edge Rule.  Working closely with USA Judo, we plan to beta test the new CARE (Computer Aided Replay) system for these Championships.

Also, we are equally privileged to have Mr. Jaime Casanova, President of the Pan-American Judo Union attend these Championships.  Mr. Casanova brings a unique perspective to judo in the PJU which he will elaborate on as it pertains to athletes, referees and coaches within the PJU. 

The clinic will be held on March 2 at the Ramada Inn – Waukegan (Tournament Hotel Headquarters) from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.

The clinic will continue on March 3 from 9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the Hinkston Park Field House in Waukegan (Tournament Site).

This is a USA Judo Senior E-Level point tournament as well as a junior point event.

The Midwestern Championships will be a Candidate National Referee Test site for Regional Referees AND a credit and evaluation site for National Referees and higher. 

For further information, please contact Kei Narimatsu at knarimatsu@microlamps.com or via cell phone at 630.207.0822.  Additional information also can be found at www.usjudo.org/documents/CarlosDiazClinicFlyer.pdf.

Valerie Gotay Beats Former World Champion to Win Belgian Ladies Open

Valerie Gotay (Harlingen, Texas / Harlingen USA Judo National Training Site / 57kg) won her second European tournament in as many weeks on Sunday at the Belgian Ladies Open in Arlon.

Gotay, who also won the British Open in London last Sunday, was undefeated in both her round robin pool as well as the main draw, winning most of her matches by ippon (instant win) to advance to the final against Yurisleidis Lupetey (CUB), the 2001 World Champion and 2004 Olympic bronze medalist.

Now ranked fourth in the world, Lupetey… more>

Men’s Belgian Open Results

(Colorado Springs, Colo.) – The U.S. men racked up a number of key wins at one of the largest Belgian Men’s Open tournaments on record Saturday in Vise, but failed to place in the top five.

Ryan Reser (Colorado Springs, Colo. / Olympic Training Center USA Judo National Training Site / 73kg) won four matches and lost two in the largest division of the day. 

In a sport where even the World Championships frequently top out at 65 competitors in a large division, 73kg had 91 athletes.  The same was true across all divisions as most had upwards of 60 men in a single draw.

Reser’s U.S. 73kg compatriots also picked up several wins a piece as Chuck Jefferson (San Jose, Calif. / San Jose State) and Radu Brestyan (Wakefield, Mass. / Team FORCE) each posted 3-2 records with one of Brestyan’s losses coming to the eventual champion, Salamu Mezhidov (RUS), the #4-ranked player in the world. 

Nick Kossor (Glenville, N.Y. / Jason Morris Judo Center) had his best European showing to date, winning three matches and losing two in the 60kg division… more>

Kayla Harrison Becomes First American to Win Junior Belgian Ladies Open

Sixteen-year-old Kayla Harrison (Middletown, Ohio / Renshuden Judo / 70kg) became the first American ever to win the Junior Belgian Ladies Open in Arlon on Saturday.

Harrison was one of two U.S. medalists as Jeanette Rodriguez (Coral Springs, Fla. / North Miami USA Judo National Training Site) won a bronze medal in the 48kg division. 

The event, considered one of the most difficult open tournaments in Europe for girls under 20-years-old, drew approximately 250 players, including past Junior and Senior World Champions… more>

U.S. Athletes Take on Belgian Open this Weekend

(Colorado Springs, Colo.) – After winning a record 11 medals at last weekend’s British Open in London, most of the team made the trip to Belgium for the Belgian Open this weekend.

The men will be competing in Vise while the women are several hours away at the Belgian Ladies Open in Arlon.

Ranked as a B-Level by the European Judo Union, the Belgian Open frequently features competition that is on-par or even tougher than many events on the World Cup circuit and this year is no exception.  With powerhouses Cuba and Japan both sending full teams, many of the top-ranked players in the world will be in attendance, including top-10 players Ronda Rousey (Wakefield, Mass. / NYAC / Pedro’s Judo Center / 63kg) and Ryan Reser (Colorado Springs, Colo. / Olympic Training Center USA Judo National Training Site / 73kg).

The women’s tournament includes two days of competition with the junior (under 20) girls competing on Saturday and all of the senior (open age limit) athletes fighting on Sunday.  The senior division is said to have reached the maximum capacity at 300 players while the junior division is expected to have 250 across seven divisions… more>

INVITATATION FOR THE JUNIOR US OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP IN FORT LAUDERDALE, FL

Hi Everyone

I have attached the application form to the Jr US Open.  If you have any further questions please visit the event web site www.judonationals.net

This years event will be held at the Fort Lauderdale Convention Center and the headquarters hotel will change this year it will now be located on the Fort Lauderdale Beach, Sheraton Yankee Clipper, rooms are limited so I suggest you reserve your room ASAP. 
Gerry Navarro, Tournament Director

SERVING OUR COUNTRY
PVT Luke Jacobsen – Milwaukee, WI                                               
LTJG Donny Newsome, Gurnee, IL                                           
LT Nick Oldfield, Navy, Virginia – home base                            
Mike Preditus, IL                                                                            
SGT Dennis Pruitt, IRAQ                                                             
Dan Smith, Dickson, TN                                                             
Please let me know other Judo families who have loved ones serving in our military:  rank, branch of service and where they are serving.  Thanks.

Something to Think About – 

UPCOMING EVENTS - 2006
Please note the following events on the horizon for Illinois and the Midwest.  Communication and download information can be gotten directly through this email by attachments or by going to www.judofdl.com  (Brett Wood Taylor Welcome Mat Judo). OR www.judocalendar.com  (Jim Carmer).  Either site is a wealth of information on Judo events.  Both have more events listed than I have, so visit their sites often.  Thanks.

2007 dates

Feb 18    Illinois State Open Judo Championships     Yorkville IL
Contact   Chuck Clark:  (630)553-5741 clarkmail4@comcast.net
                Tim Schultheis (847)244-7847

Feb 17    4^th Annual Pedro's Challenge Judo Tournament Wakefield, MA                -               Referee EXAMINATION Site
Contact Jim Pedro at jimmypedro@zebramats.com or 978-973-6238
USA Judo E-Level Senior Event and Referee Examination Site

Feb 23-25       KATA CERTIFICATION  AND KATA CLINIC            Chicago, IL – Tohkon Judo Academy

        Contact Sensei Eiko Shepherd    618 – 875 – 2558  Home         618  - 875 – 1617  Fax:  618  - 781 -  5157  E-Mail :  eikojudo@apci.net

Mar 2-4  Midwestern Championships  Illinois                -               Referee EXAMINATION Site
SPECIAL GUEST REFEREE LECTURER – MR CARLOS DIAZ, PJU REFEREE DIRECTOR
SPECIAL GUEST – MR JAIME CASANOVA, PRESIDENT PANAMERICAN JUDO UNION
Contact Irwin Cohen           rwin76@aol.com

Mar 3     Mississippi State Open Judo Championships Clinton MS

                Contact Bob Harvey 601-924-3421  Dojo                601-334-6448  Cell e-mail: Mississippijudo@aol.com

Mar 10    New York Open, New York City –
Contact Dr Mel Applebaum MiddieMD@aol.com

Mar 24-26 MS/HS/Collegiate National Championships – Miami, FL                -               Referee EVALUATION Site
Contact:  Sherrie Phillips

Mar 31-Apr 1   Liberty Bell – Philadelphia, PA          -               Referee EXAMINATION Site

Apr 7-8   Northglenn – Denver, CO -               Referee CREDIT Site

Apr 20-21 Senior Nationals – Miami, Fl                -               Referee EVALUATION Site

May 19 N-S Tournament          Glen Carbon, IL                                    NEW!!!
Contact          Quentin Thompson             618-476-1976 H                     qthom2@juno.com
Eiko Shepherd                      618-781-5157 Cell eikojudo@apci.net

May 29-30 Am-Can Challenge – Buffalo, NY-               Referee EXAMINATION Site   

Jul 7-8 USJA Junior Nationals – Indianapolis, IN                -               Referee CREDIT Site - Note NEW DATE

Jul 14-15 USJF Junior Nationals – Ypsilanti, MI                -               Referee CREDIT Site

Jul 21 – 22 Junior Olympics – San Antonio, TX                 -               Referee EVALUATION Site –

Jul 28-29 USA Judo Junior Open – Ft Lauderdale, FL                -               Referee EVALUATION Site 

Sep 2007 Ladder and Fall Classic –                  -               Referee EVALUATION Site

Oct 20-21   USA Judo Senior Open                -               Referee EVALUATION Site

Nov. 2-4   3rd Annual "All Women's Championship," Kalamazoo, Michigan NEW
Jr. Sr. and Master competition (Kata, Shiai) ,             Referee, Coaches, Kata Clinics
Contact Deborah L. Fergus at defrgs6@cs.com or 269 208 1068

Nov 2007               Continental Crown – Seattle, WA     -               Referee EXAMINATION  Site

Nov 2007               Dallas Invitational – Dallas, TX         -               Referee EXAMINATION Site

LIFE MEMBERSHIPS INFORMATION – USA JUDO
For more information on Life Membership in USA Judo, please contact USA Judo and click on “LIFE MEMBERSHIP”  
Nat’l       Order     Name
030          1             Henry Okamura(deceased)
041          2             Kei Narimatsu
065          3             James Colgan
122          4             Richard Fukuyama(deceased)
125          5             Joanne Barthold(deceased)
139          6             George Stanich
148          7             Mary Gail Ford
161          8             Kevin Narimatsu (CA)
162          9             Scott Narimatsu (CA)
164          10           Byung Chul Cho
167          11           Yung Kim
177          12           Kyu Yoon
181          13           John Bek
189          14           Quentin Thompson
201          15           Michiyuki Sasa
216          16           George Weers
271          17           Susan McConnell
289          18           William Jaconetti
291          19           Jean S Narimatsu
292          20           Susan Narimatsu
324          21           Timothy Tremaine
342          22           Stephen Bergren
349          23           Timothy Canty
355          24           Tim Schultheis
358          25           Bradford Lee (NV)
363          26           Frank Oliveri
364          27           Michael Ogata (FL)
370          28           Jeanette J Narimatsu
371          29           Julie K Narimatsu
374          30           Joe Kajita (CA)
378          31           Eiko Shepherd
381          32           Bill Dunning(deceased)
382          33           Yasko Odagiri
383          34           Wren Odagiri
385          35           Cary Yamanaka (MN)               
387          36           Don Bordeau

There are currently only 36 Life Members in Illinois.  You can start a membership for $75 minimum start payment and $25 per payment thereafter until completed.  You can pay by cash, check or credit card.  For more information, please contact www.usjudo.org  and select “LIFE MEMBERSHIP” Let’s do our share in Illinois.   Thanks.