Judo Yukon Champions League offers new categories

Judo Yukon has expanded the categories it offers to garner more attention at the grassroots level.

Judo Yukon has expanded the categories it offers to garner more attention at the grassroots level.

The organization got to tryout the breakfall (ukemi) and judo knowledge (terminology and rules) categories at Judo Yukon’s first Champions League shiai of the season, hosted by the Golden Horn Judo Club on Saturday.

“I think it kind of fits with Judo Canada policy; they want to promote judo in any way, shape or form, so I think we’re pretty well aligned with them,” said Dan Poelman, Judo Yukon president and instructor for the Northern Lights Judo Club.

In addition to Poelman’s club and the host club, the Hiroshikai and Shiroumakai judo clubs were represented.

The breakfall category competitions were held for white/white-yellow strip (beginners) and yellow and above belt athletes (advanced), which included demonstrations and instructor judging.

The judo knowledge category was offered to the same groups, and included 30 questions for beginners and 30 questions for advanced.

“There’s lots of different terminology, it’s all in Japanese,” Poelman explained.

He added that the category was aimed at kids who wanted to forego competing physically.

Roughly 30 athletes took part in the event, the majority being young fighters 12 and under.

“For most of the kids, some of them it was their first time at a tournament, so the nerves kick in,” Poelman said. “But I think it was good exposure for them to see what a tournament is like, especially the new ones who had never been to one.”

The shiai also included ground work competitions, wherein the athletes started fighting on their knees.

“It just gives them more time to develop, some of them who have not perfected their break falls yet; but we don’t want to discourage them…so to be fair to the beginners, we had that category,” Poelman said.

There will be three more tournaments throughout the year, with the first one being hosted by the Hiroshikai Judo Club at Holy Family School in Porter Creek on Jan. 15.

For more information, visit http://www.judoyukon.ca.