Latest news with #judo
CBC
19 hours ago
- Sport
- CBC
How an Olympic judoka from Thunder Bay, Ont., is supporting the sport's next generation
The first female judoka to represent Canada at the Olympics is fighting to keep the sport alive in northwestern Ontario. Thunder Bay's Sandra Greaves, who competed in the 1988 Seoul and 1992 Barcelona summer games, is directing a week-long judo supercamp at Chippewa Park. It's a rare opportunity for athletes from across the region to come together, when they typically must travel to Winnipeg or Toronto to compete in tournaments. "We are completely unfunded and the membership dollars don't go back into the region. There's no travel budget and we're so far apart," said Greaves. "It's really, really prohibitive to try and have these get-togethers." Instructors drove from North Bay and Toronto to help facilitate this week's activities, which also include swimming, carousel rides and bonfires, with more than 50 participants staying in cabins, tents and RVs on site. "Without the support of them, the participants, we wouldn't be able to do it," Greaves said. "We're all a bunch of old people now that hobble around and don't even have any joints left, but we can't see [judo] die. Camps are just critical." There are two judo clubs in the city: Thunder Bay Judo Dojo and Mountainside Judo Club. However, Greaves said there may be a new Kaiju club starting up next year. 'We all fell in love with it' For the Woods, judo is a family affair. Starting with 13-year-old Liam, father Travis eventually joined his son on the mat, before 9-year-old Brayden and mother Erin decided to give the sport a try. All four of them made the nearly four-hour trek from Fort Frances to be part of the camp. "It's pretty awesome how our family can do something together, and then we also have a larger judo family," Erin Wood said. "I don't think the sportsmanship compares to anything else, any other sport," Travis Wood added. "We all fell in love with it." While both boys enjoy the practical side of the camp, Brayden said his favourite part is going swimming in Lake Superior. Meanwhile, siblings Claire and Ajax Ren have also taken a liking to the water. The pair came from Toronto to participate in the camp, first stopping in Sudbury to visit the Dynamic Earth science centre and 30-foot tall replica nickel. "The skills here are really important and they're actually fun to learn, but I guess one of my favourite moments was heading to the beach," said Claire Ren, 13. "'I also like going to the beach," 10-year-old Ajax Ren added. Their advice to other inspiring judo artists is to stay open-minded and persistent in their practice. "In judo, we do it with maximum efficiency and minimum effort," Claire Ren said.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ulaanbaatar Grand Slam Ends with Heavyweight Glory and Home Triumphs
It's the third and final day of the Ulaanbaatar Grand Slam and the heavyweights are ready to make their mark. At -90kg, Riku OKADA faced Umar BOZOROV. OKADA took the lead with a yuko score and managed to transition into a hold down - scoring ippon and securing his first gold medal on the World Judo Tour in confident style. IJF Head Referee Director Mr Armen BAGDASAROV awarded the medals. In the -78kg, European Champion Patricia SAMPAIO faced off against Mami UMEKI. SAMPAIO was looking good all day and the final was no different. Within the first minute she claimed the top spot on the podium - wasting no time. After a dominant day, she made her mark in Ulaanbaatar. Jenco Tour Bureau CEO Mrs Namuun BATTULGA awarded the medals. Now I'm feeling really happy, but I felt really tired but I said at the beginning of the day - today I'm tired so I need to do this quickly, I can't do golden score today, just throw and go away! Anton SAVYTSKIY faced Zsombor VEG at -100kg. SAVYTSKIY earned his second Grand Slam gold medal after dominating the contest. He scored a waza-ari and a yuko and held off VEG for the victory. Mongolia Member of Parliament Mr Tsogtbaatar DAMDIN awarded the medals. At +78kg, Lea FONTAINE faced Jinesinuer AYIMAN. In Golden Score, FONTAINE had the edge and secured a decisive yuko - enough to add another gold medal to her growing collection. Former President of Mongolia His Excellency Mr Enkhbayar NAMBAR awarded the medals. Gonchigsuren BATKHUYAG faced Artem ZOLOTUKHIN at +100kg. A yuko on the board was enough for the home hero to claim his gold medal. Mongolian State Commissioner of Physical Culture & Sports Mr Bilegt ERDENESAIKHAN awarded the medals. I'm very happy to have won this medal here in my home country. I'm also really grateful for the amazing crowd and all of my supporters. The home athletes shone bright in Ulaanbaatar, treating fans to a thrilling display of world-class judo. That wraps up an incredible Grand Slam here in Ulaanbaatar.
National Post
21-07-2025
- Health
- National Post
American judo coach suffers vision loss in JetBlue coffee air incident
An American judo coach might have suffered permanent vision loss after a freak in-air accident, according to reports. Article content Arturas Lanchinskas, 30, a third-degree black belt, was flying to Peru to coach the American team at the Pan American Judo Championships in July 2023 when the incident happened. Article content Article content Lanchinskas owns Darfight Martial Arts in Brooklyn and was on JetBule Flight 1825 when a flight attendant allegedly dropped a pot of scalding coffee, according to the Daily Mail. Article content The coffee burned his face and right eye, according to a lawsuit obtained by Article content 'As a result of the hot coffee splashing onto Plaintiff's face and into his eye, he was caused to sustain severe burns to the right side of his face and severe injuries to his right eye,' the lawsuit reads. Article content 'It felt like a surge of fire hit the surface of my eyeball,' Lanchinskas told The New York Post. 'The pain was sharp and immediate, like a burning needle.' Article content Coincidentally, the passenger seated next to Lanchinskas was a doctor and told him to flush his eye repeatedly with water. Article content But the lawsuit alleges flight attendants were mad at Lanchinskas for using the washroom too often to flush his eye with water. Article content Attorney, Erin R. Applebaum said in the lawsuit that the flight attendants were complaining that other passengers needed to use the bathroom. Article content 'He was even told, 'Sir, you're not the only one on the airplane, we have other guests who need to use the facilities,'' Applebaum said. Article content Once the plane landed, Lanchinskas was rushed to a local hospital in Lima, where doctors treated the burns to his face and eye. But he was later diagnosed with a thermal injury and chemical burn to his right eye. Article content
Daily Mail
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Team USA Judo coach 'suffers permanent vision loss' after freak mishap aboard JetBlue flight
A Team USA judo coach has allegedly 'suffered permanent vision loss' in one eye after a JetBlue flight attendant splashed scalding coffee into his face mid-flight. Arturas Lanchinskas, 30, a third-degree black belt, was flying to Lima, Peru to coach the US team at the Pan American Judo Championships in July 2023 when the freak accident occurred. The martial arts instructor and owner of Darfight Martial Arts in Brooklyn, was seated aboard JetBlue Flight 1825 when a flight attendant dropped a pot of burning hot coffee she was serving. The scalding hot liquid, which was spilled accidentally, burned his face and right eye, according to the lawsuit obtained by 'As a result of the hot coffee splashing onto Plaintiff's face and into his eye, he was caused to sustain severe burns to the right side of his face and severe injuries to his right eye,' the lawsuit states. 'It felt like a surge of fire hit the surface of my eyeball,' Lanchinskas told The New York Post. 'The pain was sharp and immediate, like a burning needle.' The passenger next to him happened to be a doctor and urged him to flush his eye repeatedly with water. But instead of helping, the plaintiff alleges that the flight attendants grew irritated with him for frequenting the restroom too often. His attorney, Erin R. Applebaum, who is representing him, said in the suit that the flight attendants were complaining that other passengers needed to use the bathroom. 'He was even told, 'Sir, you're not the only one on the airplane, we have other guests who need to use the facilities,'' Applebaum claimed in the suit. Once the plane landed, Lanchinskas was rushed to a local hospital in Lima, where doctors treated the burns to his face and eye. But the damage was permanent. When he returned to New York, eye doctors diagnosed him with a thermal injury and chemical burn to his right eye. The injury left him with permanent sensitivity to light and a reduced field of vision, Applebaum said. The lawsuit states JetBlue is liable to pay 'full, fair and reasonable damages to Plaintiff, Arturas Lanchinskas, pursuant to the Montreal Convention,' which governs airline liability for injuries during international travel. In June, five shaken American Airlines passengers and flight attendants were taken to the hospital after being injured by extreme turbulence on the way to North Carolina. 'Unexpected' disturbance' hit on flight 1286, traveling from Miami to Raleigh-Durham International Airport. Sudden altitude drops sent laptops, cellphones and other personal items flying through the aircraft - forcefully striking those aboard. Passengers alleged they saw a man knocked unconscious, a flight attendant scorched by spilled boiling water from a drink cart and another who sustained a broken arm.
Japan Times
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Japan Times
From the Abes to the Ohtanis: How siblings shape athletic development
With three Olympic gold medals and nine world titles between them, judo siblings Hifumi and Uta Abe need no introduction. They are arguably Japan's most beloved brother and sister sporting duo. But many sports fans may not know there's an additional sibling. Yuichiro Abe, the oldest of the three, is the lesser-known sibling quietly rounding out the family tree. A former judoka himself, he now works 9 to 5 as a government official. Long ago, he escorted his then-5-year-old brother to the dojo and unknowingly played a crucial role in shaping the future double Olympic champion's sports experience. 'I was tasked with providing emotional support because Hifumi couldn't go alone,' the 29-year-old Yuichiro said. 'I joined the same club but quit in sixth grade because judo wasn't for me. I don't regret it.' There is no denying that Hifumi and Uta won the genetic lottery, but the contributions of Yuichiro can't be overlooked. Uta is aware that her gold medal in the women's 52 kilogram category at the Tokyo Olympics — won the same day Hifumi took gold in the men's 66 kg final — would not have been possible without him, and she credits her brothers for leading her to the tatami mat. 'I started judo only because the two of them were doing it before me. Seeing Hifumi deliver results makes me want to be stronger and keeps me going every day,' Uta, 24, told The Japan Times. 'I can't imagine it, but if I were an only child aiming for the Olympics, I don't think I'd have the drive to train as hard as I do now. Besides, I probably wouldn't have found judo.' Sibling dynamics — whether it's rivalry, support, or a mix of both — can have a profound impact on an athlete's development and success. Yet, in comparison to the wealth of studies on athlete-parent and athlete-coach relationships, relatively little attention has been devoted to understanding the influence of siblings in athletic achievement. Boxer Naoya Inoue (center) with his father, Shingo (left), and brother Takuma after defeating Kohei Kono to retain the WBO super flyweight title in December 2016. | REUTERS Shohei Ohtani (baseball), Rui Hachimura (basketball), Kaoru Mitoma (soccer), Naoya Inoue (boxing), Kei Nishikori (tennis) and Yuzuru Hanyu (figure skating) grew up with siblings, and all have reached elite levels of their respective sports. It's not hard to guess why having siblings can be an athletic advantage. For young athletes, siblings can act as training partners, coaches, teammates, motivators, role models and mentors. They learn lessons about sports and life by watching their siblings. Research also suggests that having siblings means you're more likely to get involved in sports in the first place and spend more time engaged in a particular sport or physical activity. Mikitoshi Isozaki, professor emeritus at Tokyo's International Christian University and an expert on sibling relationships, is a proponent of the birth order theory, which suggests that birth order affects your chances of making it as a professional athlete. He points to a 2010 study by a pair of American psychologists that found that younger siblings engage in more unsupervised play and dangerous sports compared with older siblings, meaning they have more opportunity of making it to the top in these sports. Even in a less dangerous sport like baseball, the authors found that younger siblings were more likely to take bigger risks at the plate and on the base paths, and had more batting success overall. 'I used to take my brother to judo lessons so I guess you could say my contributions helped shape my siblings' judo careers," says Yuichiro Abe, older brother of Uta and Hifumi. | Courtesy of the Abe family 'The 'little sibling effect' is backed by science,' Isozaki said. 'Younger children imitate their older siblings and learn at an accelerated rate. Having siblings makes you much more motivated and competitive. Sibling bonds also toughen you up and help build mental resilience. Parents are more relaxed and experienced with youngest siblings, so last-borns tend to have different personality traits, such as being out-of-the-box thinkers.' Isozaki says it's no coincidence that so many sports heroes are the youngest sibling in their family, naming examples like current and former baseball stars Ohtani, Ichiro Suzuki, Hideki Matsui and Shigeo Nagashima, Japanese soccer icons Kazuyoshi Miura and Keisuke Honda, world champion figure skater Mao Asada and four-time tennis Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka. 'The list is endless,' he said. Of course, there are plenty of professional athletes without siblings, and being an only child can offer certain advantages, particularly around financial resources and parental attention. But considering that large families are becoming less common — 19.7% of Japanese families had one child in 2021 compared to 8.9% in 2002, according to the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research, which analyzed couples who had been married between 15 and 19 years — the proportion of elite athletes who are from multichild families makes it difficult to ignore the role of siblings in the development of sport expertise. In fact, every single one of the 13 Japan-born players who made an MLB team's opening day 40-man roster in 2025 has at least one sibling. That includes Ohtani, who is the baby of the bunch in his family. If his brother had not played baseball before him, or his sister had not been his badminton playmate, Ohtani might not have developed the way he did. There were four sets of siblings on Team Japan's roster at the most recent Summer Olympics in Paris — Hifumi and Uta Abe (judo), Tomokazu and Miwa Harimoto (table tennis), Yuki and Mayu Ishikawa (volleyball) and Evelyn and Stephanie Mawuli (basketball). Sumo wrestlers Takanohana (left) and Wakanohana go head to head in Vancouver in June 1998. | Reuters Sometimes, families churn out not one but two (or more) sports stars. In addition to profiting from favorable genes and sibling interactions, many of these athletes get a leg up on the competition by training with highly driven parents. 'The father of the Abe siblings is a former swimmer who exposed his children to judo early and worked out with them. The father of the three Kameda brothers, Koki, Daiki and Tomoki, trained all his sons to become world champion boxers. The father of sumo yokozuna Wakanohana and Takanohana was also their oyakata (coach and stablemaster),' Isozaki said. According to Isozaki, conflicts are more prevalent among same-sex siblings who play the same sport, particularly brothers. As an extreme example, the 'Waka-Taka brothers,' who are now 54 and 52, respectively, have been estranged from each other for over two decades after a sibling feud escalated into a national sumo soap opera in the late 1990s. Fortunately, destructive sibling rivalry does not exist in the Abe household. 'I feel more motivation than pressure chasing another Olympic gold alongside my brother,' Uta said. Meanwhile, Yuichiro said he has grown used to being called 'the other brother' — it's been going on for 10 years — and he's never felt inferior to his siblings. The three Abe siblings love each other. They're proud of one another. They serve one another. That's a win-win-win. 'I'm always consciously trying to be a good older brother,' Yuichiro said. 'I used to take my brother to judo lessons so I guess you could say my contributions helped shape my siblings' judo careers.'
