Five Judo Yukon members and their coach participated in the 2024 Saskatchewan Open Judo tournament in Regina, Saskatchewan the weekend of Jan. 26-28.

Judo Yukon had impressive results in the Sask. Open Judo tournament and brought home many victories.

The weekend began on Friday Jan. 26 with Competitive Development coach, Penny Prysnuk, and athlete Alex Spinks taking part in a Itsutsu-no-kata Kata Seminar hosted by the National Kata Board from Judo Canada.

On Saturday, Jan. 27, Alex Spinks and her kata partner, Lia Hinchey, took part in the Western Canadian Kata Championships and won gold and silver respectively. They performed the Nage-no-Kata which is Japanese for “forms of throwing” from Kodokan Judo.

In the U18 division, Jaymi Hinchey earned gold in Female -52 kg, and Leah McLean won a silver in Female -63 kg.

In Seniors novice (coloured belts) division, Liam Gishler won silver in Male -66 kg and Leah McLean won the gold in Female -63 Kg.

In the Senior advanced division (brown and black belts), Lia Hinchey earned the bronze medal and Jaymi Hinchey beat an Ontario opponent to win the gold medal with an impressive shime-waza technique (strangle) which is a win by submission (tap out).

Jaymi also won a silver medal in the Ne Waza division. Ne Waza is a competition which uses only ground techniques such as hold downs, strangulations and arm locks.

All Judo Yukon athletes gave it their all and made some personal bests as they work and perform through the physical and mental preparation of competitive judo at this level.

– Submitted by Judo Yukon