Press Release

EBJI Members Take Three Gold Medals at 2004 US National Ladder Championships

 The 2004 National Ladder Championships were held this past Sunday in Northglenn, Colorado. This event featured nearly 130 competitors and served as the final qualification event for the upcoming US Open Championships to be held in Las Vegas, Nevada in two weeks. The East Bay Judo Institute sent three representatives to this event, and came home with three gold medals, and a perfect winning record.

 Opening for the East Bay Judo team was Annie Shiraishi, competing in the -48 kilo division. Shiraishi opened her day, facing Jeanette Rodriguez of Fr. Lauderdale, Florida. She easily disposed of Rodriquez, causing her to submit with an armbar in a matwork exchange. In her second match, Shiraishi faced Diba Mani of Colorado. Once again displaying her skills on the mat, Shiraishi forced Mani to submit using an armbar, sending her into the final match against the winner of the repecharge bracket. In the final match, Shiraishi faced Mani once again. Shiraishi decisively threw Mani with two minor inside reaps for half points, awarding her the match, and the gold medal.

Marija Djokic was next for the East Bay Judo competitors. She first faced Leah Fisher of Scotia, New York. Djokic, competing in her first tournament of the year, displayed her superior experience by slamming Fisher with an inside leg reap for full points. She then faced Fisher's teammate, Elizabeth Burns, Olympic alternate in the -52 kilo division, in the semi-final match. Djokic and Burns appeared to be pretty evenly matched, both being experienced competitors, however Djokic was able to come out on top, throwing Burns with an inside leg reap for partial points, and then holding on for the win. Djokic then faced Burns again in the final match, where she defeated her once again, throwing her with a large body drop, and then pinning her, to win the match and the gold medal.  

Molly O�Rourke, competing in the +78 kilo division, a step up from her normal weight of �78 kilos, defeated Tina LeBeau of Louisiana in a best two out of three competition. In her first match, O�Rourke slammed LeBeau with a minor inside reap for a full point. She then defeated LeBeau again in the second match, using the same inside reap technique for a full point, to take the gold.

 The East Bay Judo Institute is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the teaching of Kodokan Judo. It's head instructor is Dr. David Matsumoto, 6th degree black belt. For information about classes, schedules, location, and contact information, see www.ebji.org or call 510-237-0607.

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