SouthBay Judo

2005 Nanka Fall Team Challenge

October 23, 2005

South Bay Judo Girls Rule, Boys Cool

TORRANCE, CA, October 27, 2005 – South Bay Judo girls ruled on Sunday, as both of the club's girls teams competing at the Nanka Team Challenge brought home first place trophies.  Not to be completely shown up, two of the boys team fought from behind to earn second and third place trophies.

The 10 to 12 year old team of Ann Bermudez,

Alese Hernandez and Kate Steiner, as well as

the team of 8 to 9-year olds of Hannah Bruno,

Nicole Kuriki, and Lauren Kai swept the

competition, winning all their matches.

"I don't normally push our students to compete,

but for this one tournament, I like to put as many

kids out there as will do it.  It builds team work

and camaraderie," said Head Instructor Ed Shiosaki.

South Bay Judo's youngest team, in the 6- to 7-year old division was represented by Brian Arabori, Myles Honda, and John Hernandez Jr., pushed hard after taking a loss in their first round and finished the tournament in third place.

The boys team of 10- to 12-year olds David Kuriki, David Honda, and Kenichi Hackman struggled not only from a first round loss, but the loss of a team mate (Hackman due to a shoulder strain in his third match), and a fight off with the same team three times.

South Bay Judo's oldest team of 13- to 16-year olds Ben Bermudez, Chris Williams, and Bruce Steiner took two automatic losses for each round, having only three men on a five-man team, but gave it their all and finished fourth in their division.

Article above submitted by Sandy Honda and printed in the Rafu Shimpo.

With a first place in their division was South Bay Judo's girls 8- to 9-year old team:  (left to right) Lauren Kai, Nicole Kuriki, and Hannah Bruno.

Placing first in their division was South Bay Judo's girls 10- to 12-year old team of (from left to right) Ann Bermudez, Kate Steiner, and Alese Hernandez.

Taking a hard earned second place finish was South Bay Judo's boys 10- to 12-year old team of (left to right) David Kuriki, Kenichi Hackman, and David Honda.

Taking third place in their division was South Bay Judo's boys 6- to 7-year old team:  (left to right) Brian Arabori, Myles Honda, and John Hernandez Jr.

Congratulations to All!

Looks like the boys will have to train harder to keep up with the girls.