White Dragon Judo Club conducted a judo demonstration during the Autumn in the Park Fall Festival at Norman Myers Park in Overland, Missouri on September 29, 2018. Led by Sempai Demonn Smith, students from the junior and adult showed off their judo skills to a curious festival audience. Sempai Demonn Smith demonstrated what typical judo practice looked like. The judo students showed their judo breakfalls and an array of judo techniques. The crowd were fascinated by the brief demonstration. JUDO touches individuals from many different backgrounds. Interested? Don’t wait! Get on the mat and start your judo journey.

Phillip Vojta

The 2018 Konjo Dojo Judo Championships took place at the Hillsboro Junior High School Gym in Hillboro, Missouri on September 22, 2018. The tournament was officiated by tournament director Randy Pierce and 4th Dan Derick Wellman. Coach David Burke led a small yet talented team to this event. The juniors were led by Edward Ter-Hovhannisyan, who got second in his division. Brother Mark Ter-Hovhannisyan followed up with a third place finish in his category. In the senior division, Phillip Vojta was the superstar of the tournament. Vojta went undefeated on the day, putting on a clinic of judo throws, winning every match by ippon. He took first place in his weight class and the open division.

Jay Baker was promoted to Ikkyu, first degree brown belt in judo on September 20, 2018. Dan Raney, Adnan Gutic, Josh Sisson, and Adam Manfredi were all presiding and approved of the promotion. Jay has been relentless and diligent at improving his judo. He has quickly climbed the mountain and his judo will only just get better. PRACTICE is the only way you will improve. Jay has also shown significant improvement in shiai (competition). White Dragon Judo Club would like to commend, encourage and congratulate Jay Baker on his recent and well deserved promotion.

Promotion Night featured an outstanding individual who makes it a priority to stay in shape. With Nidan Dan Raney and Anthony Daravesky presiding Joe Judge was promoted to orange belt on August 30, 2018. Joe Judge is a police officer for the O’Fallon Police Department. Joe dedicated himself to learning the concepts of judo from when he was a beginner. Although frustrating at times, the marine veteran preservered and adjusted, doing extra workouts to gain more knowledge. The hard work paid off as Joe improved in the dojo and in competition. His dedication and enthusiasm is contagious as his kids and relatives take judo lessons at the dojo as well. White Dragon Judo Club would like to commend, encourage and congratulate Joe Judge on his recent judo promotion.

It was another great night of judo at White Dragon Judo Club. With 7th dan Randy Pierce andDerick Wellman presiding, Ryan Morrow was promoted to Ikkyu, 1st degree brown belt. Ryan is an prime example of service to judo. Morrow has been practicing judo since he was 8. During his adolescence, he developed into a formidable junior competitor. Ryan took a long hiatus from the mat to go to school and start a family. He returned to the dojo in 2016, sharing his knowledge with junior judokas as an instructor. He has been a great influence to the juniors and has even gotten one of his son to practice the martial art. Ryan returned to competition in 2017 and has also volunteered his time putting together the judo tournaments that the dojo has hosted. White Dragon Judo Club would like to commend and congratulate Ryan Morrow on his recent promotion.

The 2018 Tohkon Classic was at a different venue this year. The Joy of the Game was the sight of this year’s judo tournament. The judo tournament got underway on June 16, 2018. Team White Dragon was composed of 5 time visually impaired champion Adnan Gutic, Demonn Smith and young standout Sam Coln. Sensei Derick Wellman and Randy Pierce helped officiate the judo tournament. In the senior bracket, Sam Coln got off to a tremendous start with a victory in the preliminaries. Coln continued to fight diligently against superior opposition but unable to crack the medal stand. Demonn Smith returned to the mat after a brief injury layoff. He scored a victory in the veteran’s heavyweight division. He did not medal in this event. The MVP of the tourney was Adnan Gutic. Adnan went 5-2 on the day competing in the veteran’s middleweight and open divisions. He utilized a strong ground attack and took home a silver medal.

The NAGA Saint Louis Grappling Championships took place on June 2, 2018 at the North County Recreation Center. NAGA, North American Grappling Association is the world’s largest mixed grappling tournament circuit. Two members of White Dragon Judo Club competed at this tournament. Derek Clardy won 1st place in his category. Adnan Gutic won the gi division in his weight class. The judo standout displayed an unstoppable newaza game in this event. He was undefeated for the day.

The ISBA Judo Pan American Championships got underway on May 20, 2018. The Olympic Oval in Calgary, Alberta, Canada was the competition venue for this event. The tournament was a part of the Canadian Open Judo Championships. More than 50 athletes representing six countries competed in this event. Five time visually impaired national champion Adnan Gutic was amongst the pool of competitor for this tournament. Adnan was in a highly talented and competitive division. He got off to a strong start with a win in his first match. Lost a heartbreaker in the second match. Gutic bounced back in his last two matches ending the day at 3-1, taking home a bronze medal.

It was a great night for White Dragon Judo Club as it promoted three of its most skilled students. With 7th dan Randy Pierce and 4th dan Derick Wellman presiding, the club promoted Anthony Weeks and Byron Helmrich to Shodan, 1st degree black belt and Phillip Vojta to Ikkyu, 1st degree brown belt. Anthony Weeks made a name for himself as one of the top junior instructors at the school. A selfless judoka, Anthony is known to be a great training partner and shiai competitor. Byron Helmrich had come a long way, literally, to reach the rank of Shodan. The Rolla, Missouri native commuted to Saint Louis three times a week to learn judo. A part time yoga instructor, Byron improved steadily as a shiai and kata competitor. Phillip Vojta has vaulted himself to being one of the most successful shiai competitors to date. The Saint Louis University college student is very disciplined and dedicates himself to his studies and his martial art. Persistence, dedication and selflessness are the characteristics of these three judokas. They are assets to their martial art and the community.

White Dragon Judo Club conducted a judo demonstration at World Martial Arts Academy in Hazelwood, Missouri on May 23, 2018. Sensei Derick Wellman, Demonn Smith, and Bryan Enlow gave a brief introduction to the martial art of judo. Sensei Wellman showed a number of techniques that everyone, young and old could learn. Sensei Wellman demonstrated kosotogari, seoinage, kouchigari and ended the demonstration with randori. The enlightened students had a lot of questions for the 4th dan and enjoyed learning from the group of judokas. Derick Wellman is a great instructor and ambassador of judo. You will get a good understanding of hard work, discipline and gain self confidence under his instruction. Interested? Don’t hesitate to stop by the dojo and begin your journey.