White Dragon Judo Club

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.