Results
October 22, 2011 in Burlington, WA
Six members of the WWU Judo Club participated in the Sakuma Invitational Judo Tournament on October 22 at Burlington-Edison High School. Teammates that participated were Mike Sullivan, Morgan Hughes, David Schull, Gary Gokey, Jacob Standaert and Owen Havel. All players fought hard in the first tournament of the school year but only two were able to get wins under their belt.
Gary Gokey won two matches and took third place in the Senior Men's Brown/Black Belt Middleweight Division.
Jacob Standaert also won two matches in his Senior Men's Novice Middleweight Division to take third place.
2011 Budokan Tournament
May 14, 2011 in Shoreline, WAThe Western Judo Club participated in the Budokan Judo Tournament on May 14 at Shorewood High School. Mike Sullivan won first place in the Senior Men's Black Belt Heavyweight Division defeating both of his opponents with decisive Ippons (full point). Derek Scott won third place in the Senior Men's Novice Light-Heavy Division, ending with a 2-2 record for the day.
Snohomish Dojo Tournament
April 16, 2011 in Snohomish, WAOn April 16, two members of the Western Judo Club participated in the Snohomish Dojo Judo Tournament at the Glacier Peak High School. Lindsey Parkinson won first place in the Senior Women's combined Novice/Advanced Middleweight Division. She won her first opponent with a defensive reversal throw to win with Ippon (full point). Her second match against a black belt also scored an Ippon executing a nice Okuri Ashi Barai throw. Calvin Sessions won second place in the Senior Men's Advanced Heavyweight Division. His first match against a black belt was a loss but in the fight for determining second and third fought the same player and was able to take him to the mat with a nice double knee Seio Nage throw for the Ippon. His other two matches were against strong players but his signature double knee Seio Nage dumped both to the mat for Ippon.
Rainier Cup Tournament
October 10, 2009 in Lakewood, WAOur only competitor from the club was David Huynh who entered into the Senior Men's Novice Lightweight Division. He fought well in all three of his matches, winning one decisively with a Hadak-Jime (choke). There was video capture of the three matches and were able to quickly review things to work on next week.
2009 Master's US Open
September 26, 2009 in San JoseRalph Bajema was awarded a gold medal in the 70-74 year old 73 kg (160 lb) division. Bajema also competed in the 65-69 year old 81 kg (176 lb) division and while he fought hard, lost by ippon (full point) in his first match and withdrew with an injury to his knee in his second match, winning him the bronze medal.
Stuart Kawasaki won the gold medal in the 45-49 year old 66 kg (145 lb) division, defeating his opponent two matches to one. In the first match, Kawasaki was countered on an osoto-gari (outside leg reap) attempt for an ippon. He came back, scoring three yukos (minor points) before winning the second match by hadaka-jime (rear naked choke) submission, then scored a yuko and a wazari (half-point) followed by an osaekomi (hold down for pin) win.
2009 Senior National Judo Championships and World Team Trials
April 17-18, 2009 in San DiegoMark Glaser won in the Men's Masters 45-49yr -81kg Division. He won both matches against the other player in his division. His first match was won almost by a Kesa-Gatame pin (24 seconds). Later in the match he finished with a Tai-Otoshi for the Ippon (full point). The second match was drawn out a bit longer but in the end he threw a Ouchi-Gari for the Ippon taking home his first ever gold medal at the Masters level.
Ralph Bajema entered into the Men's Masters 70-74yr -73kg Division but was uncontested as no other opponent entered. He then chose, as the rules allow, to fight "down" in age in the Men's Masters 65-69yr -73kg Division. He was decisive in this division winning his opponent in the first match with a powerful reversal throw for the Ippon. His second match was also a move that countered his opponents attempt giving Ralph a second Ippon score for the day and the gold medal!
Ralph also entered into the Men's Masters over 50yr Open (no weight class) Division and although he fought as hard as he could the other two opponents were able to throw for the Ippon against him.