Team Bushikai Places 3rd at Takemori Open

June 5th , 2010 was the Takemori Open hosted by the College Park Judo Club . The morning started with a competitors clinic taught by Kudan Jimmy Takemori for whom this tournament (along with his brother Edwin) is named. Bushikai entered 5 competitors, with Colby Horning fighting in two divisions. The other competitors were Yusuf Genderguno, fighting in his first competition, AJ Child, Aiden Flint, and Orlagh McKenzie.

Yusuf started off the competiton for Bushikai with an ippon victory, and followed with a second ippon in his next match to take Gold in his division. Colby Horning followed with 6 straight ippons to take Gold in both his divisions. AJ Child also came strong with three ippon victories.


Aiden Flint won his first match with ippon, lost his second match by pin, and won his final match by ippon to take silver. Orlagh followed with two consecutive ippons, only to lose to an uchi mata for ippon by Rachel from Sport Judo.

Team Bushikai posted an amazing 15-2 overall record with all wins by ippon. We brought home 4 gold medals and two silver, and placed third overall as a team out of 16 teams. First place went to perennial junior judo powerhouse College Park Judo with the largest number of competitors and Sport Judo took second. Both of these teams entered far more competitors, and there were many other schools entered with more competitors but due to the outstanding efforts of our team members we had a very successful day. I point this out only because I want our readers to understand what an incredible effort our kids put forth and attempt to emphasize the difficulty of achieving this placing. Congratulations team, We are so proud of you!