BJC at the 2013 Senior Nationals
Posted: April 18, 2013 Filed under: NEWS | Tags: Nationals, USA Judo Comments Off
Baltimore Judo Club’s own Christina Salmond and Jason LeFevers hit the beach at the 2013 Senior National Judo Championships last weekend in Virginia.
A huge round of applause to Jason for stepping out at the Senior Nationals, only his second judo tournament ever and first time fighting in a Visually Impaired (VI) division. Jason fought best 2 out of 3 with Dartanyon Crockett (2012 Paralympic Bronze Medalist). “It was a tough match,” commented Mark Smith, Jason’s VI Coach for the event, after the first bout which ended with Jason playing uke to a backwards pin. The second match was a quick ippon with sasae by Dartanyon. Waiting to receive their medals, Dartanyon made a point to hug Jason’s shoulders, pose for pictures and give him some personal advice which we all hope he takes to heart: don’t give up!
As for Christina, this was her third consecutive trip to the Senior Nationals and her first time leaving without a medal. Disappointed at going 0-4 in the +78kg F Senior Elite division and unable to compete in the Senior Open and Master’s divisions due to illness, she still remains optimistic about her competitive future. “In this division you have to bring your A-game or you get buried. I think everyone could see this was a D-game day for me,” Christina explained with a shrug, “I’ve got a lot to do, but I’ll be back next year.”
Congrats to everyone for going out there and fighting the tough fight, and don’t give up!
No Judo Class March 25, 2013
Posted: March 25, 2013 Filed under: NEWS | Tags: class closing Comments OffThe Baltimore Martial Arts Academy is closed today (Monday, March 25, 2013) due to snow so we will not be having judo class. But don’t let your evening go to waste! You can do some sit-ups and pushups, practice tying your belt correctly (here is a video tutorial on the basic knot), and review some judo terminology, rules, promotional requirements, and upcoming events to keep on track.
Armbar-tastic clinic with Nina Cutro-Kelly
Posted: December 19, 2012 Filed under: NEWS | Tags: armbar, grappling, newaza, seminar, tachiwaza Comments Off
On December 9, 2012, a bunch of Baltimore Judo folks participated in a Grappler’s Clinic headed by Judo, Sambo and Wrestling Champion Nina Cutro-Kelly. The clinic was a good mix of beginner and advanced grapplers, and in the second session we were also joined by National Wresting Champion Marina Lambert and BJJ Worlds medalist Kenneth Brown.
Baltimore Judo members Dave and Jason practice Nina’s armbar technique on each other.
Over the two 2-hour sessions, Nina taught several series of grappling techniques including: wake gatame, kazure hiza gatame, ude garami (“kimora” and “americana”), yoko wakare (“japanese whizzer”), kazure juji gatame, “the chinese roll,” “wrong foot sweep,” “wrong way armbar,” “the hat trick,” and “triple jeopardy.”
Each technique showed a quirky yet practical sensibility clearly honed by Nina’s years of experience fighting high-level open-weight competitors in multiple grappling arts.
[Check out a brief video clip of the clinic here.]
I hope everyone who participated had a great learning experience!
Sensei Corky plans to retire
Posted: December 12, 2012 Filed under: NEWS | Tags: instructors, Shufu Comments OffAt the age of 64, Sensei Charles “Corky” Peters has decided to retire from Judo and plans to step down as Head Sensei as of January 1, 2013 and expresses great faith that Baltimore Judo Club will continue with Christina Salmond as Head Sensei and David Bare as Assistant Sensei.
In an article in the Baltimore Judo Club newsletter, which he has published monthly for many years, Sensei Peters explains ”I have agonized for 3 years over this decision but this is a transition that I must undergo in order to continue to care for my family, home and myself in the way that they deserve.” Though Sensei Peters expresses much regret at not being physically able to continue teaching, what he regrets most is not being able to fill Baltimore Judo Club founder Sensei John Anderson’s shoes as Shufu Rank Registration Chairman. ”John Anderson has done the most to help me mature into the man I am today and taught me a discipline that has given me confidence and peace of mind,” Sensei Peters writes with open gratitude and deep sadness. ”Though I will move into forms of recreation that are kinder to an old person, hopefully, I will occasionally get to see friends I made during my 25 years in the sport,” Sensei Peters concludes, “Who knows?”
Sensei Corky poses with his proud students at Shufu’s 2012 Fall Promotionals
Sensei Corky’s last official practice is December 29, 2012 and Baltimore Judo Club would like to invite everyone to come to practice and show him how much his firm support and gentle guidance as meant to us all and most importantly to encourage him to visit us often.
USJF: Keiko Fukuda Sensei Centennial Birthday Fundraising Drive
Posted: November 28, 2012 Filed under: NEWS | Tags: judo celebs, scholarship, USJF Comments OffNews from United States Judo Federation
As you may well know, Keiko Fukuda Sensei will celebrate her 100th birthday on April 12, 2013. Dr. Shelley Fernandez and a generous Anonymous Donor has made the following offer to honor Fukuda Sensei’s special birthday and her dedication to Judo through the following fundraising program to add to the Keiko Fukuda Judo Scholarship fund. Between now and April 12, 2013, donations to the Keiko Fukuda Judo Scholarship fund of $100 or more will be matched up to a maximum of $100 per donation. The $100 matching donations will be made up to a maximum aggregate total of $3,500 in $100 matching donations by our Anonymous Donor ($2,500) and Dr. Shelley Fernandez ($1,000).
The USJF Endowment Trust Trustees encourage all individuals, Dojos, Yudashakais, business, and any interested parties to make donations during this period to take advantage of the this offer and maximize your gift. Furthermore, the Endowment Trust Trustees encourages others to consider making a similar matching donation pledge to further motivate donors to help perpetuate Fukuda Sensei’s ideals and legacy.
The Keiko Fukuda Judo Scholarship is a program of the USJF Endowment Trust. All of your donations made to the Keiko Fukuda Judo Scholarship become a part of it’s corpus/principal and can never be expended in its perpetuity. Thus, your gift/donation to the Keiko Fukuda Judo Scholarship fund is a gift that keeps on giving. Your gift will also add to your donation total towards upgrading your Life Membership or President’s Club Life Membership to the next level! Depending on your tax situation, all or a portion of your donation/gift may be tax-deductible. Please check with your tax professional.
The USJF “Keiko Fukuda Sensei Centennial Birthday Fundraising Drive” form, in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format, can be downloaded from Fukuda Sensei Centennial Birthday Fundraising Drive.
