Press Release

 The Benito Juarez International Invitational Tournament was held on May 25, 2003 at the Mexican Olympic Training Center in Mexico City.  Participants from countries such as Mexico, Dominican Republic, Brazil, USA and Haiti competed in this event.  Representing the East Bay Judo Institute was Sayaka Matsumoto.  Matsumoto had just come off a strong silver medal performance at the Zone 1 Olympic Qualifying tournament the previous Friday.  Here at the Benito Juarez, Matsumoto was able to add a gold medal to her silver.

In her first match, Matsumoto faced a Mexican girl.  She had fought her two days before at the Zone tournament, and had beaten her handily.  Here, Matsumoto threw her with ouchigari (inner thigh reap) for yuko (half point) and followed with sankaku (triangle hold) for ippon.

Matsumoto then advanced to meet fellow American Crystal Brown from the Olympic Training Center.  Matsumoto threw Brown for yuko in the first gripping exchange.  She then threw Brown for ippon (full point) with ouchigari (inner thigh reap) at about the 1:30 minute mark, advancing her to the finals.

In the final, Matsumoto faced Jenny Martinez from the Dominican Republic.  Matsumoto has previously fought her at the Dominican Tournament and also the Zone tournament.  She had beaten her on those two occasions.  Here, Matsumoto had the same result, throwing Martinez with osotogari for koka (minor point) before catching her with sankaku (triangle hold) for ippon (full point) in the first minute of the match.  This gave her the gold medal.

Matsumoto now moves on to the Pan American Judo Championships, which will be held in Brazil from June 6-7.  The East Bay Judo Institute is a non-profit organization dedication to the teachings of Kodokan Judo, and is taught by Dr. David Matsumoto.  For more information, you can call (510) 237-0607 or visit us on the web at www.ebji.org.

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