PERFECT VISION COMES FROM WITHIN

Transcription

1 media guide.media guide. 20/12 PERFECT VISION 20/12 COMES FROM WITHIN PERFECT VISION COMES FROM WITHIN MEDIA GUIDE

2 USA JUDO MEDIAGUIDE U.S. Olympic Judo Team U.S. Paralympic Judo Team Contents: U.S. Olympic Team 3 U.S. Olympic Coaching 9 USA Judo Board of Directors 11 USA Judo National Staff 12 USA JUDO Mission Statement USA Judo is the national governing body for the sport of judo in the United States and a member of the United States Olympic Committee. As such, USA Judo s mission is to enable U.S. athletes to achieve sustained competitive excellence in domestic and international amateur judo competition and to promote and grow the sport of judo in the United States. About Judo 14 US Paralympic Judo Team 15 US Paralympic Judo Coaching 22 On the cover: World Champion Kayla Harrison, 78 KG, is a U.S. favorite to take the nation s first Olympic gold medal in judo. Photo by Lou DiGesare. 20/20 is normal vision. Maximum human accuity is even finer at 20/16 or 20/12. 1 USA JUDO Headquarters One Olympic Plaza Colorado Springs, CO Telephone: (719) Find us on Facebook Follow on 2

3 USA JUDO S 2012 U.S. Olympic Judo Team: Kayla Harrison, 78 KG Travis Stevens, 81 KG Marti Malloy, 57 KG Nick Delpopolo, 73 KG Kyle Vashkulat, 100 KG Coaching: Head Coach Jimmy Pedro Assistant Coach Jim Pedro, Sr. Assistant Coach Jhonny Prado Team Leader Chris Skelley Director of High Performance, Eddie Liddie 3 Photo: Charles Medani/refreshing-images.com KAYLA HARRISON, 78 KG Born July 2, HOMETOWN: Middletown, Ohio CURRENT: Marblehead, Mass Grand Slam Prague, Gold 2012 Grand Slam Rio, Gold 2011 Pan American Games, Gold 2011 World Championships, Bronze 2010 World Championships, Gold 2008 Junior World Champions, Gold Coach, Jimmy Pedro

4 Photo: Charles Medani/refreshing-images.com TRAVIS STEVENS, 81 KG HOMETOWN: Tacoma, Wash. Born Feb. 28, 1986 CURRENT: Woburn, Mass. Coach, Jimmy 2012 Grand Slam Rio, Silver 2011 Dusseldorf Grand Prix, Gold 2011 Moscow Grand Slam, Silver 2010 Paris Grand Slam, Bronze 2008 Olympics Beijing, Ninth 2007 Pan American Games, Gold Three-time U.S. National Champion Photo: Photo: Charles Charles Medani/refreshing-images.com MARTI MALLOY, 57 KG Born June 23, 2012 European Cup Prague, Silver 2012 Paris Grand Slam, Bronze 2011 World Cup El Salvador, Silver 2011 World Championships, 5th World Cup Miami Gold 2010 El Salvador World Cup Gold US Senior Nat l Champ s, Gold HOMETOWN: Oak Harbor, Wash. CURRENT: San Jose, Wash. Coach, Shintaro Nakano

5 Photo: Lou DiGesare/ NICK DELPOPOLO, 73 KG HOMETOWN: Westfield, N.J. Born Feb. 8, 1989 CURRENT: Amsterdam, N.Y. Niksic, Coach, Jason Morris Rio Grand Slam, 5th Paris Grand Slam, 5th Dusseldorf Grand Prix, 5th World Cup Great Britain, Gold Duesseldorf Grand Prix, 5th Paris Grand Slam, 5th World Cup Venezuela, Gold Born July 24, 1990 Kiev, Ukraine Coach, Jason Morris Photo: Lou DiGesare/ KYLE VASHKULAT, 100 KG 2011 U.S. Nat l Champ s, Silver 2011 U.S. Nat l Champ s, Open Div., Bronze 2011 Pan Am Champ s, Bronze 2010 U.S. National Champ s, Gold 2010 Pan Am Champ s, Bronze HOMETOWN: Langhorne, PA CURRENT: Clifton Park,

6 U.S. Olympic Judo Coaches Head Coach Jimmy Pedro Jimmy Pedro is one of the most successful judo competitors in U.S. history, having won two Olympic bronze medals (1996, 2004) and a World Championship (1999). His Olympic competition spanned four Games, an extraordinary accomplishment in itself. Now, this sixth-degree black belt is leading a team as head coach to the 2012 Olympic Games in London. On the roster is one fighter from Pedro s home dojo, Kayla Harrison, 78 kg., who is a hopeful to bring home the nation s first Olympic gold medal in the sport. Pedro s Judo Center of Wakefield, Mass., is the home dojo for a second member of the U.S. Olympic Judo Team, Travis Stevens, 81 kg., another fighter with an excellent shot at the podium. Assistant Coach Jim Pedro, Sr. A key figure in the life of U.S. Olympic Judo Coach Jimmy Pedro has been his father and coach, Jim Pedro, Sr., who is a leading presence at Pedro s Judo Center and USA Judo s Team FORCE today. Pedro Sr. was the 1993 World Team coach and now stands by his son as an assistant coach of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team. Pedro Sr. has coached all of the U.S. Olympic medalists dating back to 1996, as well as all World Championship medalists dating back to 1999, including his son, Ronda Rousey and current U.S. Olympic Team Member Kayla Harrison. He is a retired lieutenant fire fighter from Lynn, Mass. 9 Assistant Coach Jhonny Prado Jhonny Prado started judo in Lima, Peru. He began Ki-Itsu-Sai Judo Club in South Florida in The club quickly grew, his young students climbed podiums at some of the toughest tournaments in the country. Soon he was asked to head Junior Pan American and Junior World teams and join the coaching staff of Senior World teams for USA Judo. Ki-Itsu-Sai in Coral Springs, FL, was named one of four USA Judo Naitonal Training Centers in Team Leader Chris Skelley Christopher Skelley has served as manager for USA Judo teams at more than two dozen international events from Tokyo to Germany and throughout the Americas. Skelley started judo at the age of 6 in His competition includes World Masters in Japan and Canada and his medal count includes gold, silver and bronze at U.S. national master s tournaments. Skelley is now a thirddegree black belt and assistant instructor at Camal Judo in Woodland Park, N.J. 10

7 USA JUDO S Board of Directors: Lance Nading, President A former national and international competitor, Lance Nading has been on USA Judo s board since 1996 and the president since His home club is Northglenn Judo in Colorado. John Serbin, Athlete s Representative Reno Reser, Athletes Advisory Council Rep Noboru Saito, Referee Representative Leo White, Coach Director Mike Swain, Group B Director Kennis Monte Bellmard II, Independent Director Jason Rivera, Independent Representative Jim Webb, Group A Representative Dr. Ron Tripp, General Secretary Gail Stolzenburg, At-Large Representative Committee Chairs: Coaches Education Committee: Pat Burris Referee Education Committee: Russ Scherer Rank and Certification Committee: Jim Colgan Athlete Performance Committee: Corinne Shigemoto Medical Committee: Bob Nishime, MD Junior Athlete Performance Committee: Jim Hrbek Kata: Barbara Houston-Shimizu Audit Committee: Gail Stolzenburg Judicial Committee: Karen Mackey Ethics Committee: Kei Narimatsu Nominating Committee: Bob Harvey 11 National Staff: Jose H. Rodriguez, Chief Executive Officer Jose H. Rodriguez has served as Chief Executive Officer of USA Judo since He has more than 30 years experience in the sports industry having first worked as a high school, college and international-level track and field coach. In the 1980 s Rodriguez worked as the director of Florida s Sunshine State Games and in 1991 he was named Director of Sports Competitions for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. He later served as Managing Director of the Florida 2012 Olympic Candidate City Committee. Rodriguez served as the Managing Director and Business Development Director of the World Olympians Association - Office of the Americas. Rodriguez has also served as a marketing consultant to the Central America and Caribbean Games in 2002 and A member of the Florida Track and Field Hall of Fame, he has served as an International Relations Consultant for USA Track and Field. Eddie Liddie, Director of High Performance Raised in New York City s Manhattan borough, Eddie Liddie was the third American judoka to win a medal at the Olympic Games when he took Bronze in the 60 KG division in Los Angeles in This was a pinnacle achievement in a competitive career that included several Olympic and World Championship teams. Liddie has enlisted that vast experience in coaching more than a dozen international teams, including three Olympic and six World Championship teams. In 2002, he was named USA Judo s Coach of the Year. In 2005, he was appointed USA Judo s Director of Coaching and Athlete Development. He now serves as the organization s Director of High Performance, overseeing all recruiting and training of the nation s elite teams. 12

8 National Staff, cont: Corinne Shigemoto, Chief Operating Officer Werner Walter, Director of Finance Sherrie Wilson, Director of Marketing Vaughn Anderson, International Team Travel Coordinator Kevin Wagoner, Membership Services Ernest Pund, National Media (303) Jennifer Garcia, Local Media (305) Claudia Drago, Social Media (786) Cadet World Judo Championships USA Judo is proud to host the 2013 World Cadet Championships to be held at Miami s famous Doral Golf Resort and Spa, Aug Thank You! A private non-profit organization, USA Judo is grateful and proud of the support provided by its members, sponsors and the US Olympic Committee for training elite athletes and fostering the sport from the ground-up throughout the country. In the last year, USA Judo has opened an online store that offers athletes and fans lots of great products while raising additional funds to further the sport. Go to to find the store, become a member and learn about our many great programs and sponsors. About Judo Very few things in life are so dramatically powerful as a perfect throw in judo. There are many textbook techniques but the variations are infinite. Competitors are contantly searching for their opponent s momentum and next move, always attempting to create a weakness or imbalance to exploit. There are basically four ways to win in judo: by throwing, pinning, or subduing an opponent in an armbar or choke. A player earns an ippon - a full-point equivalent to a knockout in boxing - for a perfect throw landing an opponent solidly on the back; for a pin of 25 seconds; for a submission by armbar or choke - the opponent almost always taps. A wazari, is a half-point and two wazari add up to an ippon and end a match. A yuko is a lesser point. USA Judo Clubs There are hundreds of fantastic USA Judo member clubs across the country. They offer a tremendous variety of programs suitable for kids, families and elite athletes. Many follow the teachings of Jigoro Kano, founder of judo. Some offer programs tailored for mixed martial arts, health and fitness or family fun. USA Judo has member clubs on military bases, university campuses and in city rec centers. Go to to find one near you. 14

9 USA JUDO S 2012 U.S. Paralympic Judo Team: Myles Porter, 100 KG Dartanyon Crockett, 90 KG Jordan Mouton, 57 KG Ron Hawthorne, 60 KG Katie Davis, +70 KG Christella Garcia, 70 KG Coaching: Head Coach, Scott Moore Assistant Coach, Heidi Moore Team Leader, Marc Vink Judo is a sport that requires very few adaptations for people with visual impairments. Some of the toughest judo fighters in the United States, with or without visual impairments, are members of the U.S. Paralympic Judo Team. The Paralympic Games open in London Aug MYLES PORTER, 100 KG Born Nov. 22, 1985 HOMETOWN: Fremont, CURRENT: Colorado Springs, CO Coaches, Eddie Liddie and Ryan Reser 2012 World Cup Miami (able bodied), Bronze 2012 U.S. Open (able bodied), Bronze 2012 German Open for Visually Impaired, Silver 2011 German Open for Visually Impaired, Gold 2011 Parapan American Games, Gold 2011 IBSA Judo World Games, Bronze 2010 IBSA Judo World Championships, Bronze

10 DARTANYON CROCKETT, 90 KG HOMETOWN: Cleveland, Ohio Born May, 21, 1991 CURRENT: Colorado Springs, CO Coach, Eddie Liddie 2012 Paralympic Trials, Gold 2012 Senior Nat l Parlaympic Champioships, Gold 2012 US Paralympic Judo Team 2012 U.S. Parapan American Team 2011 U.S. Paralympic World Team JORDAN MOUTON, 57 KG Born July 26, 1989 HOMETOWN: Houston, CURRENT: Houston, TEXAS Coaches: Eddie Liddie, Scott Moore 2011 IBSA World Champ s, Bronze 2010 Lithuanian Open for Blind & Visually Impaired, Silver 2010 German Open for Blind & Visually Impaired, Silver 2009 US Open for Blind & Visually Impaired, Gold 2008 Paralympic Games, Beijing

11 RON HAWTHORNE, 60 KG HOMETOWN: Kansas City, Kan. Born Feb. 18, 1986 CURRENT: Colorado Springs, CO Coach, Eddie 2012 Paralympic Trials, Gold 2012 Senior Nat l Parlaympic Champioships, Gold 2012 US Paralympic Judo Team 2012 U.S. Parapan American Team 2011 U.S. Paralympic World Team KATIE DAVIS, +70 KG Born July 25, IBSA Judo World Championships, 78kg, Bronze 2011 IBSA Judo World Championships, +70kg, 5th 2011 Parapan American Games, +70kg, Silver HOMETOWN: Sacramento, Calif. CURRENT: Sacramento, Calif. Coach, Brent Goodall

12 U.S. Paralympic Judo Team Coaching: Head Coach Scott Moore Scott Moore was most recently a 2006 IBSA World Championships Team Member. He earned a gold medal in the 2000 Paralympic Games. He also won gold at the 2005 Pan American Masters Championships. According to Moore, If you aren t willing to work hard to realize your dreams, why bother dreaming? Leading the U.S. Judo Team to the Paralympic Games is a dream realized. A coach at Denver Judo Club, Moore is from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Assistant Coach Heidi Moore Heidi Moore is a pioneer in Paralympic judo in the United States. She was a 2008 Pan American Championship team member. A bronze medal at the National Championships in April 2004 took her to the Olympic Trials where she dominated the division. A coach at Denver Judo Club, she is from Santa Monica, Calif. CHRISTELLA GARCIA, 70 KG HOMETOWN: Rio Rancho, NM Born Nov. 21, 1978 CURRENT: Sacramento, Calif. Coach, Mac Takeda, Tony Comfort 2010 and 2011 World Team 2011 Parapan American Team IBSA Judo World Championships, 5th 2011 IBSA Judo World Championships, 7th 2011 Parapan American Games, 3rd. Team Leader Marc Vink Marc is from Den Hague, Netherlands, and was most recently the 2011 Para Pan American Games Team Leader. Marc is affiliated with Liberty Bell Judo Club in Pennsylvania. Marc is a 2000 World Masters Bronze Medalist and a 1999 World Masters Silver Medalist. 22

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