April 2008 - Black Belt Promotions

Shu-Tai Cheng and François Poitras were recently promoted to Nidan (second degree black belt) by the Judo Ontario Grading Board.

Each of them took the black belt exam in Ottawa, in front of the Judo Ontario Grading Board, consisting of the highest ranking Judokas in Ontario. François’ partner was Sensei Greg Lemieux, another RA Judo Club black belt. Shu-Tai’s partner was black belt Theresa Backlund from the Ottawa Judo Club.

Both François and Shu-Tai worked very hard with their respective partners in preparation for their exam. They each extend sincere thanks to their ukes, Senseis Greg and Theresa, and to Sensei Glen for his feedback, assistance and support.

Congratulations Sensei Shu-Tai and Sensei François!

March 2008

RA Judokas in Competition Mode

It has been the busiest tournament season in recent memory for judokas of the RA Judo Club. Since September, RA judokas have been to nine tournaments across Ontario and Quebec and at least five more competitions are on the horizon before the end of the season and the National Championships.

Laura Trafford, a black belt who teaches in the junior program, has qualified for Team Ontario and will be representing our province at the Senior National Judo Championships in Quebec City in May. Laura has competed at Nationals in the past two years.

Ixchel Medina-Hernandez and Zac Wagman recently competed at the Ontario Winter Games representing the East Region. Both returned home with silver medals and have been competing hard all season in the hopes of qualifying for Team Ontario and a berth to the Junior National Judo Championships.

Junior judokas Zacharie Cheng-Boivin and Tikal Medina-Hernandez won gold at a regional tournament held in Munster in November. They then competed at the Ajax Budokan Annual Shiai, a province-wide tournament, where Zacharie won silver and Tikal won bronze. Fellow RA judokas, James Jordan, Olivia Cheng-Boivin and Skyler Marton have also medaled at tournaments this season.

Congratulations to all!