JUDO NEWS-2
Isao Wada Passed Away
Mr. Isao Wada of Gardena Judo Club Head instructor passed away on July 28th morning. The services was held on Monday, August 4, 2008 at 7:30 PM at Gardena Buddhist Church 1517 W 166th Street, Gardena, CA 90247 (7/28)
USA Judo Board of Director Fletcher Thornton Resigns
(Colorado Springs, Colo.) – USA Judo President Dr. Ron Tripp announced this morning, July 26, that Board of Director member Fletcher Thornton has tendered his resignation from the Board of Director of USA Judo. This resignation by Mr. Thornton was tendered Friday, July 25 and effective midnight of the same day.(7/27)
A statement by USA Judo said that Thornton resigned Friday, effective at midnight. He was in Orlando, Fla., to referee Junior Olympic matches at Walt Disney World on Friday. He did not referee matches Saturday. In a telephone interview Thursday, Thornton called the allegations “false” and added, “To tell you the truth, I don’t think you want to know the truth.” A call to his hotel room on Saturday night was not answered.
At least three athletes gave sworn statements claiming they were molested or inappropriately touched by Thornton, who is more than 20 years older than they are. Other athletes gave sworn statements saying that Thornton had provided them with marijuana and alcohol, mostly on trips for judo
(7/28)
Claims of Molestation Resurface for Judo Official
By PETE THAMEL
(7/26)
A high-ranking USA Judo official has been accused of drugging and sexually molesting teenage competitors he coached in the late 1970s, accusations that resurfaced last month in Internet postings by one of the sport’s top athletes.
On Friday, the United States Olympic Committee announced that it had begun a formal inquiry upon learning of the accusations in recent weeks and that it would have an independent counsel investigate the claims.
“These are serious allegations, and they will receive the attention and priority they deserve,” said Darryl Seibel, a spokesman for the U.S.O.C.
One of the sport’s national groups, the United States Judo Association, has suspended the official, Fletcher Thornton. But the sport’s most prominent organization, USA Judo, which oversees the Olympic team, has taken no action. Thornton is on the executive board and his duties have included overseeing the board’s standards.
Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/26/sports/olympics/26judo.html?_r=2&sq=fletcher%20thornton&st=cse&oref=slogin&scp=1&pagewanted=print
2008 USJF JR National Championships (7/6)
The 45th USJF Jr. National Judo Championships were held at the University of Illinois, Chicago’s Forum from July 4 to 6th. US Olympic trial contender Kyle Takeda (Gardena, California) was upset in the finals by Maximilian Schneider (Illinois). Schneider captured the –60kg title.
World Masters Championships in Belgium (6/29)
This year the World Masters Judo Championships attracted over 1200 players from 50 countries to Belgium. In the men’s team championships finals, the Brazilian team captured the title over France. The women’s team title went to the German team who defeated Br.
All Japan Judo
Championships, K. Inoue lost
Sydney Olympic champion
Kosei Inoue (29yrs) from Japan announced retirement after his loss
at the All Japan open weight Judo championships at Budokan hall in
Tokyo on April 29th
Three times World champion
and Sydney Olympic -100kg division winner Kosei Inoue with his
superb uchimata (leg throw) techniques has dominated the World for 5
years, but in 2004 Athens Olympic he lost his battle. It was the one
of the biggest upsets in Olympic judo history. Since then he had
major injury in 2005 and he was out of competition for entire year
but he recovered and came back in the competition in 2006 with his
eye on the Beijing Olympics.
He won the Paris
International in 2007 but in same year he lost at World
championships for 5th place at Rio. All at stake was at the All
Japan judo championships but again he lost in the quarterfinal match
against young Yohei Takai (25yrs) with his favorite uchimata throw
attempt but he got countered and pined.
Kosei Inoue stated, “I don’t
have any regret feeling of my decision and I did the best of my
career. I like to learn foreign language and coaching in England and
I will give back to Judo community in the future.”
Ishii wins again the All Japan and Beijing Tickets
Young Ishii Captured Second
All Japan Titles and Beijing Olympic Tickets (4/29)
Tokyo- 2008 All Japan judo
championships and the final trial for Beijing Olympic was held at
Budokan hall in Tokyo on April 29th .Top three +100kg
players 2006 all Japan champion Satoshi Ishii, Rio’s World champion
Yasuyuki Muneta and three times World champion Kosei Inoue battled
their final one ticket to Beijing.
First, Inoue lost in the
quarterfinal by Yohei Takai and number one spot Muneta was upset by
21years old Ishii by penalty in the semifinal. In the final Ishii
threw last year’s champion and +100kg Olympic gold medalist Keiji
Suzuki(27yrs) with ouchi-gari (major inside foot clip) to scored
yuko (1/4 pt) in the opening to lead but Suzuki fought back to
dominate the match in the second half but he could not catch up
Ishii’s point and time was up. Ishii captured second All Japan title
and later he was selected for the +100kg player for Beijing Olympic.
2008 US. Sr. National and
Olympic trial, Rousey won again
2007 World silver medalist
Ronda Rousey captured title and former Champ Brian Olson settled 2nd
at US.Sr.National and Olympic Trial
2007 World 4/11
Virginia Beach,VA- 2008 US.
Sr.National and Olympic trial Judo Championships were held at
Virginia Beach Virginia on April 11 to 12. This event’s winners will
be selected for the final US Olympic trial at Thomas Mack center in
Las Vega on June 13 to 15. Many top seeded players in each division
were absent due to their concentration to the only final Olympic
trial at Las Vegas. In the Men’s division veteran -90kg World bronze
medalist Brian Olson(Co) defeated top seeded player Rick Hawn (Ma)
in the prelim round but he lost in the final by No,1 ranked Garry
St. Leger(NY)’s kataguruma (Shoulder wheel throw) for full point but
he still has a chance for the final trial.
In the Women’s division 2007
World -70kg silver medalist Rond Rousey(Ma) dose not have rival
opponent in the US. She defeated Tomoyo Yoshinaga from San Jose
State’s University with sodetsurikomi (lifting arm throw) to crash
her and pined her for the title. She is dominating this division.
(Detail in the next issue of JJ)
World Cup Paris
International T.Riner took Gold
19 years old +100kg World
Champ Teddy Riner (Fra) and +78kg Champion Tong Wen(Chi) won the
Paris International. 2/10
Paris- World cup Paris
International Judo championships was held on Feb 9 and 10 for two
days in Paris France. Over 533 players from 70 countries competed at
Brcey sports arena. 19 years old French sensation World champion
Teddy Riner again defeated three times World champion Kosei Inoue of
Japan in the semifinal round captured the +100kg division title at
the toughest International invitation. He is closest one for the
gold medal at Beijing Olympics.
In the women’s division 2007
Rio’s World winner Tong Wen of China beat Japan’s Mai Tateyama in
the first round to captured the +78kg title but Tong did not fight
against rival Japan’s Maki Tsukada this time. Athens Olympic winner
Tsukada will be the toughest her opponents.
World Cup German
International Muneta dominate
Hamburg- Two time World
Champion Japan’s Yasuyuki Muneta defeated French top star Teddy
Riner to captured the title. Olympic Champion Kye Sun-Hui of North
Korea challenges New -63kg division.
Rio’s World open weight
champion Japan’s Yasuyuki Muneta (29yrs) defeated rising top French
star Teddy Riner(19yrs) with two penalty to captured precious gold
medal in the +100kg division in the German International on Feb
22-24. Former World champion Russian Alexsander Mikhailine settled 3rd
but how he deal with rival Tomenov who place 2nd at Rio’s
world. In the Women’s division,
Three different weight class World champion Kye Sui-Hui of North
Korea took -57kg World title at Rio in the last September. Now she
fights in the -63kg division at the German International to find a
spot for the Beijing Olympics, She was defeated by Japan’s -63kg No
2 player Toshie Ueno’s powerful osoto-gari (Major outside clip
throw) in the second round but came back to place 3rd to
seeking the gold at this division.
News Flash!
-60kg Nomura lost and
retired, All Japan
Fukuoka- Three time -60kg
Olympic gold medalist Japan’s Tadahiro Nomura
lost at semi-final
bout against Daisuke Asano in his -60kg final Olympic trial and All
Japan Weightlimit Championships at the Fukuoka kokusai center on
April 5. All Japan judo federation
picked winner Hiroaki Hiraoka for -60kg Olympic contender from
Japan.th.
US Players Rousey and
Stevens in Paris International
US. Women’s Hope Ronda
Rousey -70kg and Men’s -81kg Travis Stevens are the only two
advanced to 3rd round match to lost their fight to place
9th place at Paris international. 2/10
Paris- 2007 World silver
medalist Ronda Rousey of California beat first two round but Japan’s
Masae Ueno beat her in the end of golden score by referee’s
decision. Travis also advanced to his 3rd round battle
but Italian Antonio Ciano threw Travis by full point. Both Ronda and
Travis end up with 9th place. Other all US. player’s are
lost in the early round.
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