(Colorado Springs, Colo.) – Team USA won five medals at the Grand Master and Kata World Championships last week in Budapest, Hungary.
Combined for the first-time, the six-day event included competition for athletes ages 30 and older as well as kata divisions.
Sandy North (Hollywood, Fla. / Budokan Judo) earned the gold medal in the 55-59-year-old 66kg division. After a first round bye, North won the quarter-finals by ippon (instant win) against Francisco Castillejo Murillo (ESP). In the semifinals, North defeated Henri Ginouves (FRA) by two yuko scores (quarter-point each). In the final, North defeated Victor Medvedkov (RUS) by two penalties to one.
Terrie Norman (Burleson, Texas / Okuri Judo) won gold in the women’s 40-44-year-old 63kg division, claiming victories over Tatiana Aptrashitova (RUS) and Gislaine Guillet (FRA).
Andor Jobb (Emlenton, Pa. / Clarion University Hun Judo & Jujitsu) won the 70-74-year-old 66kg division. Jobb defeated Tadashi Nakajima (JPN) by ippon during the one-minute match.
Arthur Canario (New York City, N.Y. / NYAC) came back from a loss during his first match to win a bronze in the 60-64-year-old 100kg division. Canario had a first-round bye, but lost his quarter-final to Helmut Hanus (GER) by two yukos and a waza-ari (half-point) score. In the repechage, Canario defeated Tadeus Roman Dymerski (POL) by two waza-aris (half-point each). Fighting for bronze, Canario defeated Purev-Ochir Galsanjamts (MGL) by two penalties.
Teimoc Johnston-Ono (New York City, N.Y. /NYAC), a 1976 Olympian, won his eighth World medal in masters competition with his third place finish in the 55-59-year-old 90kg division. Johnston-Ono had a bye before earning a quarter-final win over Theodoros Charalampidis (GRE) by ippon. Johnston-Ono lost a close semifinal to Loghin Lazar (ROU) by two penalties to one, but defeated Raymond Propson (BEL) to win the bronze medal.
John Foster (Long Beach, Calif. / Jundokai Judo & Jujitsu Club) went 1-2 to place seventh in the 60-64-year-old +100kg division.
The following athletes also competed at the Grand Master World Championships, but did not advance to the medal rounds:
- Alexander Lee (San Diego, Calif. / Heisei Judo Dojo / 55-59 81kg), 0-2
- Istvan Lovas (Bellevue, Wash. / Budokan / 45-49 73kg), 0-2
- Michael Ostrowsi (Cordova, Tenn. / Memphis Jud0 & Jiu-Jitsu / 35-39 73kg), 0-1
Team USA had one pair of athletes compete in the Kata World Championships. Grand Master World Champion Norman and Jolie Feng (Fort Worth, Texas / Okuri Judo) placed 12th in their preliminary round of Ju No Kata competition and 14th in their preliminary round of Katame No Kata. This year marked the first time that the men’s and women’s competitions were combined at the Kata Worlds.
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Andor Jobb, Sandy North, Teimoc Johnston-Ono, Teri Norman, Terrie Norman
