V Campeonatos Panamericanos Infantiles 2005

V Panamerican Infantile Judo Championship
San Jose, Costa Rica
09th-14th November, 2005

The painting contest --with judo as the central theme-- that was held here at the Panamerican Infantile Judo Championship in San Jose of Costa Rica, has been a true success.

As a great contributor of the PJU, Dominican Master Juan Barceló has fallen in love with judo activities, but even more with the arts that judo can give to the ever growing number of youth who play the sport nowadays.

However, this time, master Barcelo went beyond his functions and activities: he brought to Costa Rica an exhibit of his own works whose bright colors surely served to stimulate the participation of Pan-America's children who are taking part in this event. Moreover, Master Barcelo gave all delegations paper, crayons, and water colors so that children could express their feelings, talents, and creativity, besides their great technical levels.

"This has been a wonderful exhibit where children show that judo goes beyond a the simple competitive aspects", said Jaime Casanova, while looking at the children's works. "You get to know children at these events. Sometimes parents are more concerned with victory than their children, and they probably have a different point of view of our sport"

Three Brazilian girls, Gabriel Chibana, 12 years-old, Karen Chibana and Jessica Kohatsu, both 11 years-old, who took part in the contest, wrote the following on their painting: "A champion is no the one who has never fallen, but the one who stands up again to continue". In their painting, aside from its variety of colors, the Brazilian girls focus on the participation of the different nations, and they also draw the logo of the PJU, which shows their awareness of the continental body that groups Panamerican judo.

Costa Rica ended the drought of Panamerican events in Central America: it's been forty years since the last Panamerican event was hosted in a Central American nation, the last of which was a senior championship in 1965 in Guatemala City, Guatemala. This time, the Costa Rican Judo Federation, presided by Guillermo Sanchez, and supported by the PJU, did an excellent job at organizing and hosting this event.

Leonardo Perez of Bolivia presented a work which became an eye-candy for those who watched the exhibit. He reminded us of the unforgettable cubist art of the Spanish Master Pablo Picasso, who used to separate the human body into geometrical shapes.

	PRIMER LUGAR PAÍS: BRASIL AUTORAS: Gabriela Chibana de 12 años Karen Chibana de 11 años Jessica Kohatsu 11 años

	SEGUNDO LUGAR PAÍS: BOLIVIA AUTOR: Leonardo Pérez 14 años

	TERCER LUGAR PAÍS: Republica Dominicana AUTOR: Pablo Castillo 13 años

	TERCER LUGAR PAÍS: VENEZUELA AUTOR: Gabriela Brito 13 años