Katelyn Bouyssou Becomes First U.S. Player to Medal at Jikji Cup

(Colorado Springs, Colo.) – Sixteen-year-old Katelyn Bouyssou (Hope, R.I. / NYAC / Mayo Quanchi Judo Club) became the first U.S. player ever to earn a medal at the Jikji Cup – an international junior point tournament – on Saturday when Bouyssou won a bronze in the 48kg division in Cheongju, Korea. 

The youngest member of the 2010 Senior World Team, Bouyssou started the event aggressively when she took her first round opponent from Uzbekistan to the ground and armbarred her in less than 30 seconds.  

In the second round, Bouyssou threw a player from Singapore with a sode (sleeve throw) for a waza-ari (half-point) score.  On the next exchange, Bouyssou threw her opponent with a tai o toshi (body drop throw) and transitioned into an armbar to win the match. 

Although Bouyssou lost her semifinal match when she was choked by a German opponent, she came back to throw a player from Chinese Taipei with an o goshi (hip throw) to win the bronze medal.

Four other U.S. players also competed in the Jikji Cup, but did not place.  Team members included the following players:

• Amelia Fulgentes (Simi Valley, Calif. / Mojica Judo / 52kg)
• Aaron Fukuhara (Torrance, Calif. / Gardena Judo Club / 60kg)
• Everet Desilets (Hope, R.I. / Mayo Quanchi Judo Club / 66kg)
• Kyle Taketa (Torrance, Calif. / Gardena Judo Club / 66kg)

The team was coached by Tony Mojica (Los Angeles, Calif.) who said: “Overall, there were good fights all the way through and the kids were all very well conditioned.  This was a great team to work with and the kids had a good experience out there.”

Tags: Amelia Fulgentes, Katelyn Bouyssou, Tony Mojica