Kodokan Judo Physical Fitness Invitational Tournament
NEWS RELEASE March 20, 1999
The Kodokan Judo Physical Fitness Invitational Tournament was held today, March 20, 1999 at the Hurst Recreation Center, Hurst, Texas. It was sanctioned by the state governing body for Judo - Texas Judo, Inc. There were over 200 athletes who competed while 300 spectators watched. The contestants were from many states including Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas with attendees coming in from as far as Odessa, Amarillo, Harlingen, San Antonio, and Houston. Many colleges were represented, - SF Austin, Univ North Texas, Southern Methodist Univ, etc. Contestants ranged in expertise from beginners (1st tournament) to US Sr. National Champions and Medallists in Special Olympics. Examples of some of the comments heard were:
"Texas does well with putting children first in competitions"
"Best awards I've seen except Olympics" Dr. Alan Stockard, U.S. 1996 Olympic team doctor
"Very helpful! Every tournament should be run like this one….I almost felt like wanting to play (judo); the medals were outstanding."
"Sensei Sukigara has taught me more about Kodokan Judo than any other Sensei. I have been playing Judo over 35 years; he is a true ambassador of Kodokan Judo."
"Medals, very good…none Better"
The results of the event prepared by tournament directors Jim Irvine, John Baker, and Ron Walker are as follows:
Division
Boys 5-6 HV 1st Andrew Hoye, Becerra (Garland) 2nd Matthew Barran, JFC 3rd Joshua Prize, Denton Jr Optimist 4th Michael Macasa, Okuri (Ft Worth)
Boys 5-6 LT 1st Ruben Martin, Ruben Martin Judo Club (Burleson) 2nd Barrett Brown, Odessa Boys Club 3rd Jacob Cobos, Odessa Boys Club 4th Gavin Edington, USA Stars
Boys 7-8 HV 1st Blake Barron, JFC 2nd Davis Jacob, Denton Jr Optimist 3rd Matthew Zuniga, San Antonio YMCA
Boys 7-8 MD 1st Bill Darrieus, Tamura (Dallas) 2nd Sean Pope, TX Tactical (Houston) 3rd Nick Minton, Kodokan (Bedford) 4th Alex Newton, Becerra (Garland)
Boys 7-8 LT 1st Mathew Parker, Becerra (Garland) 2nd Nathan Bloch, Becerra (Garland) 3rd James Welch, Odessa Boys Club 4th Nathaniel Fillmore, Ruben Martin (Burleson) 4th Ian Efron, Texas Tactical (Houston)
Boys 9-10HV 1st Aaron Smith, Okuri (Ft Worth) 2nd Justin Fuller, San Antonio YMCA 3rd Julian Pope, TX Tactical (Houston)
Boys 9-10 MD 1st Tyler Coryell, Okuri (Ft Worth) 2nd David Frost, TX Tactical (Houston) 3rd Derick Hushimoto, TX Tactical (Houston) 4th Matthew Geyer, Ruben Martin (Burleson)
Boys 9-10 LT 1st Edward Estrada, Bushido (Houston) 2nd Branden Chandler, Ruben Martin (Burleson) 3rd Jerry Marrow, Becerra (Garland) 4th Sam Baker, Kodokan (Bedford)
Boys 11-12 HV 1st Landry Ambouroue, Fort Worth Judo Club 2nd Casey Snead, Mr. D's (Burleson) 3rd Derek Geyer, Ruben Martin (Burleson) 4th Douglas O'Neill, TX Tactical (Houston)
Boys 11-12 MD 1st Lee Causey, Tim Joes (Amarillo) 2nd Aaron Haugrud, Mr. D's (Burleson) 3rd Quinn Nquyen, Denton
Boys 11-12 LT 1st Michael Vick, Fort Worth Judo Club 2nd Christopher Cobos, Odessa Boys Club 3rd Caleb Taylor, Odessa Boys Club
Boys 13-14 HV 1st Jonathan Fuller, San Antonio YMCA 2nd Dominic Cobes, Odessa Boys club
Boys 13-14 LT 1st Colt Crumrine, Odessa Boys Club 2nd Matthew Martin, Becerra (Garland) 3rd Billy Vaughn, Becerra (Garland)
Boys 15-16 HV 1st Luis Segura, Becerra (Garland) 2nd Kenneth Robinson, Denton Junior Optimist
Boys 15-16 MD 1st Michael Lamartia , Harlingen 2nd Justin Kriss, Kodokan (Bedford) 3rd Johnathon Hart, Mr. D's (Burleson)
Boys 15-16 LT 1st William Payne, Dragon (Kennedale) 2nd Austin Bishop, San Antonino Judo 3rd Chris Singer, San Antoniko YMCA
Girls 5-6 HV 1st Meagan Adkins, Becerra (Garladn) 2nd Rachel McDavid, Fort Worth
Girls 5-6 LT 1st Becky Newton, Becerra (Garland) 2nd Catie Walker, Kodokan (Bedford) 3rd Sammi Martin, Ruben Martin (Burleson) 4th Reisen Martin, Ruben Martin (Burleson)
Girls 7-8 HV 1st Jenkins 2nd Webb 3rd Raybon
Girls 7-8 LT 1st Moore 2nd Hill 3rd Almaquer
Girls 9-10 HV 1st Sarah Newton 2nd Sarah Coldeway 3rd Christina Yee
Girls 9-10 LT 1st Naomi Taylor, Odessa Boys Club 2nd Tiffany Spencer, Tim Joe's (Amarillo) 3rd Tessa Plana, Tamura (Dallas) 4th Hannah Shibley, Kodokan (Bedford)
Girls 11-12 HV 1st Nicole Kubes, Fort Worth 2nd Leyka Ishibashi, Kodokan (Bedford)
Girls 11-12 LT 1st Jessica Woldridge. Fort Worth 2nd Liz Estrada, Bushido (Houston) 3rd Tiffany Noel
Girls 13-14 1st Nicole Kubes, Fort Worth 2ndAndrea Haugrad, Mr. D's (Burleson)
Girls 15-16 1st Bridgette Kubes, Fort Worth 2nd Ashley Nino, Becerra (Garland)
Senior Men Open 1st Jody Choquette, Kodokan (Bedford) 2nd Danny Skiff, Ruben Martin (Burleson) 3rd Thu Pham, Kodokan (Bedford)
Senior Men 220+ 1st Jody Choquette, Kodokan (Bedford) 2nd Raefel Bryant, Fort Worth Senior Men 198 1st Thu Pham, Kodokan (Bedford) 2nd Kenya Hardrick, Tamura (Dallas) 3rd Thomas Brown, Dragon (Kennedale)
Senior Men 178 1st Raul Masse, Kodokan (Bedford)
Senior Men 160 1st Seth Bregman, Bushido (Houston) 2nd David Bonner, Fort Worth 3rd Mark Ross, Bushido (Houston) 4th Jason Sallee, Denton Jr Optimist
Senior Women Open 1st Stephanie C. Schultz, Karl Geis (Houston)
Senior Women 172 1st Stephanie C. Schultz, Karl Geis (Houston)
Senior Women 154 1st Terri Norman, Fort Worth 2nd Bridgette Kubes, Fort Worth 3rd Beth Swartzell, Kodokan (Bedford)
Senior Women 139 1st Terri Norman, Fort Worth
Novice - Men 200+ 1st Anthony Lauro 2nd Cory Jennings, Ruben Martin (Burleson) 3rd Chuck French, SF Austin Univ (Nacogdoches)
Novice - Men 200 1st Mark Price, Denton Jr Optimist 2nd Jesus Acosta, Lackland AFB (San Antonio) 3rd William Zelenske, SF Austin Univ (Nacogdoches)
Novice - Men 180 1st Joe Kinslow 2nd Johnny Cross, Jim's Judo Gym (Dallas) 3re Aerik Kuhns, Southern Methodist Univ (Dallas)
Novice -Men 160 1st Joshua Payne, Dragon (Kennedale) 2nd Charles Chittamai, SF Austin Univ (Nacogdoches) 3rd John Orchard, VT
Novice -Men 140 1st James Mullins, Bushido (Houston) 2nd J. Runyan, SF Austin Univ (Nacogdoches) 3rd J. Irving, One-on-One
Novice - Women 160+ 1st Jo Grier, Ruben Martin (Burleson)
Novice - Women 140 1st K. Hensley, Southern Methodist Univ (Dallas) 2nd E. Ware, SF Austin Univ (Nacogdoches)
Novice - Women 120 1st M. Fukida, Mr. D's (Burleson) 2nd L. Bromley, SF Austin Univ (Nacogdoches)
Masters 50+ HV 1st John Baker, Kodokan (Bedford)
Masters 50+ LT 1st Ralph Lisle, Ruben Martin (Burleson)
Masters 40-49 HV 1st Tony Bryant, Fort Worth 2nd Greg Lawautia, Harlingen 3rd Melvin Bailey, Kodokan (Bedford)
Masters 40-49 LT 1st Ricky Jenkins, Jim's Judo Gym (Dallas) 2nd Eric Mikulastik, Kodokan (Bedofrd) 3rd Jimmie Ritchie, School of Hard Knocks (Cut N' Shoot)
Masters 30-39 HV 1st Jody Choquette, Kodokan (Bedford) 2nd Paul Dugas, Kodokan (Bedford) 3rd Mike Minton, Kodokan (Bedord)
Masters 30-39 LT 1st F. Gilbert, Ruben Martin (Burleson) 2nd J. Orchard. Ruben Martin (Burleson) 3rd R. Simpson, Ruben Martin (Burleson)
Outstanding Junior: Edward Estrada of Bushido Judo Club, Houston, Texas Youngest and lightest in division. Won by all ippons.
Outstanding Senior: Thu Pham of Kodokan Judo and Physical Fitness Club, Bedford, Lightest in division & fought up a weight-class - in open division was 90 pounds lighter than one competitor
Officials included: Chief Referee Jim Webb (Dallas), IJF A Referee Dr.Martin Bregman (Houston), National Referees: Andrew Connelley (Cut N' Shoot), Luis Lopez (Houston), Jim Haynes (Houston), Meredith Bregman (Nacogdoches) and Bill Grafves (Oklahoma) and Regional and Local Referees: John Knoy (Houston), Troy Boris (Ft Worth), Manmohan Chima (Dallas), Mike Barnett (Ft Worth), Dudley Rabon (Burleson), and others. For information on upcoming events, contact: Gail Stolzenburg, President Texas Judo, Inc. Gail@TexasJudo.Com