Okuri Judo Club
| Shannon Carol, Jolie Feng, Lawrence Flores, Anita Hilborn, Kim Mesa, Jorge Mesa, Rodney Roberts, Terrie Norman, 8 members of Okuri Judo, participated in the 2004 U.S. Senior Nationals in San Diego, CA on April 30 and May 1. Jorge Mesa and Terrie Norman started off the weekend competing in Seniors on Friday morning. Terrie lost her fight and was eliminated from the competition when her opponent lost her next fight to Grace Jividen (eventual 2nd place). Jorge had a great tournament throwing an ippon in the second round. In the third round, Jorge was countered for ippon by Michael Pechina (eventual 5th place). Pechina lost his next fight against David Ellis (eventual 2nd place), eliminating Jorge. After the conclusion of the senior competition on Friday, the kata competition began. Okuri had two teams competing in the Katame No Kata. They were Anita Hilborn and Shannon Carol and Jolie Feng and Terrie Norman. Both teams did a great job and scored an average of 6 or higher (a 6 is a technically correct technique). Jolie and Terrie placed 3rd. The Master competition was on Saturday afternoon. Jolie Feng, Lawrence Flores, Kim Mesa, Terrie Norman, and Rodney Roberts all competed in masters. Jolie had two hard fought matches, winning the second one with a solid tani otoshi. She placed 2nd. Lawrence had a difficult division with quality players from England, USA, and Peru. Lawrence fought all of his fights to the 3-minute time limit and won the bronze. Kim Mesa won both of her fights with ippon, countered with a tani otoshi and a kouchi garai, winning the gold in 45 seconds total mat time. Terrie Norman followed suit with two ippons, one pin and a great leg pick. Rodney Roberts, the only green belt in sight, placed 5th. He won his first fight and lost the next two. He did a great job, especially being a green belt and this was his first exposure to National competition. |