A trifecta of judo tournaments took place on the weekend of November 23-24, 2013 at the Irving Convention Center in Irving, Texas. In a unique occurrence, the 2013 Dallas Invitational, President’s Cup, and National Military and Police Forces Championships all got underway on the same weekend. Coach Derick Wellman brought four of his best judokas to participate in these events. In the Dallas Invitational, Jay Baker continue to improve in shiai. He took bronze in his division. Demonn Smith place 3rd in the Master’s division.  Adnan Gutic scored gold in the visually impaired bracket. At the President’s Cup, Anna Feygina maintained her national ranking with a 5th place finish in her division. Adnan Gutic dominated the visually impaired bracket a gold medal performance. Demonn Smith took silver in the Master’s category. In the National Military and Police championships, Anna Feygina and Amber Jones finished the day with a gold medal and Demonn Smith fought hard to win a silver medal at 100kgs.

Members from White Dragon Judo Club were in attendance for the Ilias Iliadis judo clinic on November 17, 2013 at Northland Judo Club in Kansas City, Missouri. For Iliadis this was one of his many judo clinics on his United States tour. The clinic consisted of Iliadis’s competition techniques. He stressed greatly about having good gripping skills. The judo standout had a number of drills to improve one’s kumi kata. His students were eager to learn his patented high impact throws: ogoshi and seo otoshi. Iliadis taught these techniques with and without a gi. Sensei Iliadis is one of the most successful judokas in world currently. Iliadis is a 2-time Olympic and World Judo Champion. This was a once in a lifetime event that many judokas will never forget.

The last Friendship Judo Tournament took place at White Dragon Judo Club on Saturday, November 16, 2013. This year saw continue to grow and evolve. More neighboring dojos are participating in this tournament. The tournament, directed to junior judokas, helps the judo players get shiai experience while developing the dojo as a whole. Many volunteers help with this event, from being a time keeper, coach or referee. Everybody learns how to run a tournament. Most important everyone has fun. 2013 was another great year for the Friendship Tournament and everyone is talking about this event in 2014. Be sure to get your children involved in judo and be a part of this event. We will see you on the mat.

The 2013 Veterans Day Judo Tournament took place on November 9, 2013 at Twin Groves Middle School in Buffalo Grove, Illinois. The tournament was hosted by Olympian Aaron Cohen and Cohen Brothers Judo/Wrestling Club. Derick Wellman stood in as a referee at this tournament and Anna Feygina made her coaching debut as the White Dragon team coach. Anthony Darevsky dominated his division, winning it with his signature drop seoinage in the gold medal match. He ended the day at 3-0. In the senior division, Jay Baker took silver with a splendid all around performance. Anna Feygina showed off some great newaza and went undefeated in her division as she took home gold.

Marti Malloy conducted a judo clinic on October 19, 2013 in Birmingham, Michigan. The clinic was hosted by Saito Judo Club and took place at the Birmingham YMCA. Members of White Dragon Judo Club were in attendance for this event. There were two sessions, the first session was directed towards the juniors and the second to the seniors and elite players. Sensei Malloy showed crafty ground techniques that she learned from San Jose State University, her home dojo. These techniques were advancement to the basic turnovers that you see in competition judo. Sensei Malloy also show her favorite version of kouchigari. This technique won her the bronze medal in the 2012 Olympics. Marti Malloy has been in judo since she was 6. Malloy is a 6 time US national champion, 2013 World Championship silver medalist, ranked #1 in the United States, #6 in the world and currently took silver at the 2013 Grand Slam Tokyo judo tournament. She is a great ambassador to the martial art of judo.

The Gateway Judo Tournament took place on October 5, 2013 at the Overland Community Center in Overland, Missouri. For the third consecutive year White Dragon Judo Club was the host of this tournament. With Derick Wellman as tournament director a good number of parents, volunteers and venders pitched in to make this event a reality. Dan Dillon and Anthony Weeks teamed up to coach the junior team this year. Anthony Darevesky took bronze in his division. Devin Busch and Jeric Gumahin fought well enough for silver in their categories. Issac Valdez de Soto took home a bronze medal. Marshall Masters made his tournament debut with a third place finish. Reyes T. also took bronze in his weight class. Connor Ross showed loads of improvement earning himself a silver medal. Julia Greene made a splash with 1st place finish in her division. Koreyon Harris continued to bring the thunder in this tournament. The junior national silver medalist collected his second consecutive Gateway gold of his young judo career.

In the senior division, it was Anthony Weeks who showed the most improvement of all the White Dragon Judo competitors. Weeks displayed an even combination of strength and technique to solidify a gold medal finish. National Champion Adnan Gutic had an awesome day going 7-1 on the day and took silver in his category. Jay Baker was in the largest and the most talented pool of the tournament. He managed a fifth place finish. Greg Gordon collected the bronze in the Master division. Demonn Smith took silver among the Master’s Heavyweights. Eugene Hamilton made his Master’s debut a memorable one. Eugene withstood stiff competition and went undefeated on the day and won gold in his category.

2008 Olympian, Ryan Reser conducted a judo clinic at White Dragon Judo Club on October 26, 2013. There were 2 sessions for this clinic. The morning session was open to juniors and seniors and the afternoon session is for seniors and masters players only. Mr. Reser demonstrated techniques that were unique but very helpful to members of White Dragon Judo Club. The Olympian was very technical and explained the importance of good kumi kata. Sensei Reser showed how techniques and movements could be executed without the gi. This clinic was well attended and everyone got a good workout.

It was a huge weekend of judo on the weekend of September 21-22, 2013. The All Women’s and Rock and Roll Tournament took place at the CloverleafCommunity Center in Lodi, Ohio. Derick Wellman and Randy Pierce help officiate the contests and Andrew Lazarz took over the coaching reigns this weekend. Jay Baker has been White Dragon Judo Club’s best kept secret for quite some time. Through dedicated and determined training Baker has developed into a crafty and precise judo player. Baker came out with a clever strategy, bewildering his opponent with numerous ashiwaza attacks and a sacrifice technique in his first match. He displayed a good ground game which earned him a second place finish for the day. The weekend belonged to Anna Feygina. Anna is ranked 6^th in her weight class this year. The attorney laid down the law this weekend as she went undefeated. The judo goddess displayed a monstrous ground game that got her gold in every category that she competed in. Feygina’s game is heating up like last year. There is more to come from the judo phenom. Stay tuned.

This years Summer Smackdown took place on September 11, 2013 at White Dragon Judo Club. This is an open challenge in house tournament. The idea was invented by Dan and Brian Raney. (I will give you the short version of the story.) One day, the Raneys were with friends at the dojo after practice having a good time. (Note: This is the G rated version of the story.) The ambitious Raney, Brian, stated that he could beat his father, Dan, in a judo match. The father happily accepted the challenge. The open challenge sparked a phenomenon within the dojo. That night other judokas challenge each other to judo superfights. It was made official in the summer of 2011 and the fun has never stopped. White Dragon Judo Club holds these open challenge tournament 2 to 3 times a year. Today, junior judokas and judokas from neighboring dojos participate in these tournaments. The tournament goes by the old kosen judo rules. All challenges are legal. The matches last for three minutes and the judokas must get as many ippons as possible during the match. Whoever has the most ippons wins. The tournament also gives referees and judokas an opportunity to polish their skills in a shiai tournament situation.  The next open challenge tournament will be in December. Don’t miss out on all the fun.

Pendleton Heights High School in Pendleton, Indiana was the site for the America’s Cup Judo Championships this year. The tournament got underway on Sunday, September 8, 2013. Demonn Smith was the lone representative for White Dragon Judo Club at this tournament. Smith took 1st in the Master’s Heavyweight division with his signature drop seoinage in the gold medal match. In the Senior heavyweight division, Demonn placed second completing the day at 3-1.