PANAMERICAN JUDO 2006 AND THEIR BIG REALIZATIONS

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.-To Pan American Judo Union, 2006 is coming to the end of one of the most fruitful years thanks to the accomplishment of championships, seminaries, camps and member's qualification, but mainly because getting together with the 42 countries of America into all related activities to our organization.

Our schedule began early on January 22 when a ride over some East Caribbean countries started visiting St Martin and Dutch Antilles where Mr. Aartwigh Bell hosted us.

The next day on January 23, our meeting took place in Saint John’s capital city of Antigua and Barbuda hosted by Clare Roberts, president of Antigua and Barbuda Judo Federation, at that time we visited their dojo.

On the same day we also visited Cashier, capital city of Santa Lucia, where we were met to Mr. Paul Richards, President of Santa Lucia’s Judo Federation, there we could close up to the practice gym of our discipline in the official being of this Caribbean country.

On January 24 we left Santa Lucia to go to Grenada and meet Grenada’s Judo Federation committee, managed by their president Niger de Gale. There we visited Ryan Lewis’ dojo in St. George’s, the capital city. That was a magnificent experience to see the offspring of a country which had almost been destroyed by the effects of hurricanes and cyclones'’ season.

January 25 in St. Vincent and Grenadines we were hosted by the President of their National Federation Mr. Allan P. Burke in a short but important visit in Kinstown, capital city. Then we immediately went to our next scale visiting Dominica Island.

Dominica’s turn was January 26 when we visited Mr Shaamah Robin’s Dojo in Roseau, the capital city, there he hosted us by the name of their National Judo Federation presided by Winston Maglorie.

One of our last stages in these Caribbean visits it was St. Kitts and Nevis when we were in Basseterre on January 27 under the purpose of meeting Mr. Andy Otto, President of St. Kitts and Nevis Judo Federation and the other directors of the federate entity.

And the last stage took place on January 28 when we went back to St. Martin to participate in the local Judo Black Belts’ Ceremony which became into a big achievement to those young judo players.

February 23 - 25 we participated in the tournament ‘JITA KYO EI’ in Lima, Peru, thanks to Mr. German Velazco, previous President of Peruvian Judo Federation who invited us.  In that event athletes from Dominican Republic, Venezuela, United States and Ecuador could participate.

May 3-4 we were in Bogota, Colombia, Eng Carlos Diaz, PJU Refereeing Director who was invited by Colombian Judo Federation offered an important international refereeing qualification course sponsored by National Olympic Committee of Colombia, there was a large participation of referees from this South American country.  Such activity was arranged by Bogota Judo League under the endorsement of Colombian Judo Federation and his president Mr. Hernando Arias.

8th Central American Sport Judo’s Games competitions took place in Tegucigalpa, Honduras March 9-10 with the support of Olympic Committee of Honduras presided by my friend Salvador Jimenez and sponsored by Pan American Judo Union.  The mentioned event was arranged by Honduras Judo Federation.  In this  latest version of Central American Sport Games which had to be done in 2005, Costa Rica did not participate for being against policies of the National Olympic Committee of Costa Rica who restricted the participation of their athletes.  El Salvador neither participated in this very edition of these Games.

On March 10 we went to Belize City to meet Mr. Franz Menzies Jr. President of Judo Association of Belize where a short but fruitful visit allowed us getting the join of this nation to Central American and Pan American Judo.

Likewise, March 11 was held the Giant Cup in San Juan, Puerto Rico with the participation of several countries of the region standing out Dominican Republic, American Virgin Islands,  and some others.

On March 12 we visited Virgin Islands; there we were hosted by Mr. Mark Hooper, president of British Virgin Islands Judo Federation and also by the president of the National Olympic Committee Mr. Reynold S. O’Neal.

The New York Open Championship was held March 18 in the Athletic Club of such city, there the Lic. Frank Fullerton, PJU Sport Director was condecorated by the traditional event hosts.

March 17 – 19 Brazilian Judo Confederation had done a team invitation tournament in Belo Horizonte where delegation from Brazil, Cuba, France, Argentina and Dominican Republic participated.  Brazilian team obtained the first places of the joust and people could enjoy the stellar participation of Joao Derly and Flavio Canto.  The championship was endearment by Pan American Judo Union and was arranges by the Lic. Paulo Wanderley, president of the Brazilian Judo Confederation.

International Judo Federation’s Directly Committee meeting took place in Seoul, Korea on April 6, there we were hosted by the president of the International Olympic Committee Mr. Jacques Rogge, the meeting tried a wide series of topics related to the actual judo situation around the world; also the stood of Mr. Yong Sung Park to the command of the IJF which was certificated by Mr. Rogge. The eng Edgar Claure, treasure of PJU and IJF clearly set up the new financial management in benefit of the the IJF resources.

The First Pan American Judo Union’s International Women Refereeing Seminar was developed April 11 -12 in the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs and was arranged by the eng Carlos Diaz, Refereeing Director and Lic. Frank Fullerton Sport Director from PJU.  There were also Mr. Francois Besson Sport Director and Mr. Juan Carlos Barcos Refereeing both from IJF invited to the event. To the mention meeting women from American Virgin Islands, Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Caiman Islands, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Dutch Antilles, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and Grenadines, Surinam, United States and Venezuela attended the call to the Seminar.

Pan American Junior Championships were held in the Olympic Training Center, Colorado Springs, April 13-14, there we counted with a large countries participation where delegations from Canada, Brazil, United States and Venezuela were stood out between other participants.  In this very time we were visited by Mr. Yong Sung Park president of the  IJF, and Dr Ron Tripp president of Judo USA

Non precedents success was registered about refereeing in Pan American region, seven (7) women applied to International Judo Referees there in the frame of the Pan American Junior Championships offering us excellent results.

These new Pan American Junior Championships versions have been held in very diverse sceneries as we following detail:

Cali, Colombia was the seat of the Junior South American Championships, competitions were held in ‘Coliseo el Pueblo’ April 21-22 and counted with the participation of Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Uruguay and Dominican Republic as guest country. The event was arranged by Colombian Judo Federation.

As it was foreseen the Central American Senior Championships they were made in San José, Costa Rica, in April 28 and 29, the competitions of Kata, Teams and Master were included. The event in question organizes it the Costa Rican Judo Federation with the guarantee of the Central American Judo Confederation that the presides Mr. Oscar Cano.

The first classificatory event to the XV Pan American Sport Games ‘Rio 2007’ and to the XXIX Olympic Games, Beijing 2008, was held in Buenos Aires, Argentina in the frame of Senior, Katas and Team Pan American championships in the CENARD scenaries May 24-27, there we could see athletes from Cuba, Brazil, Canada, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, United States of America, Argentina, Ecuador, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Haiti, Colombia, Guatemala, El Salvador, Uruguay, Costa Rica, Peru, Chile, Aruba, Bolivia, Honduras, Dutch Antilles, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago and Surinam.  The activity was arranged by Argentinean Judo Confederation presided by the Accountant Oscar Cassinerio.

There in the frame of Senior, Katas and Team Pan American championships the   3^rd Pan American Judo Hall of Fame Ceremonial was held in the sceneries' of CENARD in Buenos Aires, Argentina on May 26, this time there were exalted Legna Verdecia and Aurelio Miguel in Athletes category and Mr. Jose Oscar Perez and Frank Fullerton in management category and Eli Cabeiro as a referee.  That was a great night, said the participants where Pan American judo memories were remained as the tradition since the first time on 2004 in Margarita Island, Venezuela and 2005 in Caguas, Puerto Rico.

May 27-28 we went Buenos Aires, Argentina to the PASO (General Assembly of Pan American Sport Organization), several topics were taken in account like the XV Pan American Sport Games , Rio 2007, Brazil.

The 13th Pan American Senior Circuit  started in Mexico City attending to the International Tournament ‘ Benito Juarez ‘ June 1-4 arranged by Mexican Judo Federation presided by Mr. Manuel Larrañaga. There athletes from USA, Canada and Dominican Republic attended to tournament between other delegations.

El Salvador started its participation in the Pan American Circuit with the second stage and the international tournaments ‘Yanira Ramos Virgil Cup’ and ‘Juan Carlos Vargas Cup’ June 9 and 10 respectively.  This event was arranged by Salvatorian Judo Federation presided by the Lic Luis Chevez Molina.

Colombian Judo Federation was in charge of the third stage of 13th the Pan American Senior Circuit June 16 -17 in Cartagena de Indias.  These events were taken in account as proof session for the 20th Central American and Caribbean Sport Games to be done in the same city on July 2006.

In Barcelona, Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela the fourth stage of the Pan American Senior Circuit was held, June 22-25 arranged by Venezuela Judo Federation presided by the professor Antonio Zavarella.  There we could see athletes from Dominican Republic, Canada, Colombia, Argentina, and others.

On June 24 we visited Oranjestad, Aruba, there we shared with our friends Richard Nelly, Alberto Thiel and the president of the Aruba Judo Federation Adolfo Croes, in our meeting we could exchange important points of view.

In our route going back Santo Domingo we had a scale on June 25 in Curacao to a short but full of advantages meeting where we could share with the president of the Dutch Antilles Ms Maritsela Braafhart and her husband Efigenio

The fifth and last stage of the XII Pan American Senior Circuit was between June 29 and July 1 in the XII International FEDOJUDO Cup and the XII Central American and Caribbean Championship, both in Santo Domingo, capital city of Dominican Republic.  There Aletees from Spain, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Honduras, Puerto Rico, Peru, Ecuador, USA, Uruguay, El Salvador, Cuba, Nicaragua, Argentina, Haiti, British Virgin Island, between other delegations.

The First Caribbean Senior Judo Championship was held July 1 in the locations of la Casa Nacional del Judo ‘Ingeniero Jaime Casanova Martinez’ as a part of the XII Pan American Senior Circuit arranged by Caribbean Judo Confederation presided by the Haitian eng Ernest Laraque.

June 10-14 we visited the Havana City with the purpose of verifying the facilities they could offer as they are trying to get the seat for the XIV Junior World Championships that will be held in 2008.  This time we were excellent hosted by Mr. Gustavo Diez, president of the Cuban Judo Federation, and some other member of the Cuban management.

Soon after, activities went to the South of the continent, Montevideo, Uruguay where South American Children Championships took place July 21-22.  There countries like Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Peru, Chile, Colombia and Ecuador were present.  In the frame of the event the Ordinary Congress of South American Judo Confederation was held on July 20.  The activity was arranged by the Uruguayan Judo Federation presided by Mr. Ignacio Aloise and counted with the support of South American Judo Confederation, which is presided by the Lic. Paulo Wanderley.

20th Central American and Caribbean Sport Game's judo competition took place July 25-29 in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia.  There Cuba showed its power once again after getting 16 gold medals and obtaining this way the very first place in the general position.  In this contest Katas and Team competition modality had debuted, also was first shown the anthem of the Pan American Judo created by the professor Jose Gerardo Serna Noreña, ex president of the Colombian Judo Federation.

The 10th International Children Circuit started in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in the USA, competitions were August 3-6 and were endorsement by Judo USA presided by Dr Ron Tripp.  At this time the training camp was held as a part of the traditional world contest.

The I Caribbean Children Championship, male and female took place in Lamartin, Fort de France, Martinica August 12-13 with a large participation of athletes of the countries members of the reactivated Caribbean Judo Confederation.  This confederation is presided by Mr. Ernst Laraque.

Dominican Republic Judo Federation presided by Dr Alquimedes Ortiz counted with the second stage of the International Children Circuit when had done the 10th International Children Cup on August 19 and the X Central American and Caribbean Children Championships on August 20.

Mexican Judo Federation was in charge of the third and last stage of the X International  Children Circuit, August 24-26 by doing the International Tournament ‘Daniel Fernandez’ who once acted as manager of the Pan American Judo Union in 60’s.

August 24-27 Costa Rican Judo Federation  set up the Central American and Caribbean Children Championship in the modality of Katas and Teams, there athletes from El Salvador, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Nicaragua were competing.  The Eng Jaime Casanova Martinez and Lic Frank Fullerton were there in representation of the PJU being the President and the Sport Director respectively.

The CODICADER Games Judo’s competitions were held in Panama city under arrangement of Central American Judo Federation presided by the professor Oscar Cano.  There were delegations from the Central American Isthmus on September 5.

September 16-17 World Championship was held in France where Pan America was represented by the teams of Brazil, Cuba and United States of America.  Pan American Judo Union’s Director Committee was present.

October 9-10 different International Judo Federation Commissions were met in the frame of XIII World Junior Championship, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

It is important to remark that International Judo Federation’s Education Commission, directed by Mr. Yassuhiro Yamashita presented an International Self-Defense Seminar with the participation of experts from some different countries, this event was a big success according to participants’ comments.  The PJU’s Education Commission was represented by Mr. Noburo Saito and the Dr. Kunico Takeuchi, both from the USA. This even was October 10-11.

Along this way, October 12-15 we arrived to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic attending to XII World Junior Championships, male and female in the sceneries' of handball’s curt in Complejo Polideportivo Parque del Este. There Pan America got two gold medals and five bronze with athletes from Cuba, Brazil, USA and Dominican Republic.  It is necessary acknowledging these countries because the highlight participation of their athletes who enriched the name of Pan America.

October 20-22 USA Judo Open in senior category had done in Miami, Florida, this traditional event counted with the participation of some continents.  Its arrangement was done by Jose Humberto Rodriguez who is the Executive Director of Judo USA.

Havana, Cuba was the scenery of the 11th Sport for All World Congress, October 31 – November 3.  We assisted to the event with the company of Mr. Yong Sung Park, President of International Judo Federation.  This congress was arranged by Cuban Olympic Committee presided by Mr. Jose Ramon Fernandez and counted with the support of International Olympic Committee.

7th South American Sport Games took us to Buenos Aires, Argentina, November 7-13.  This time Katas and Team modalities were first included in the official program.  The event was largely participative as well countries as athletes.

This was an activity of wide acknowledgment to the PJU’s Executive Committee because of their dedication on rescuing the history of our institution as we did on its 50^th anniversary (1952-2002) November 8 in the Hotel Dominican Bay, Boca Chica, Dominican Republic.

December 2 I Caribbean Children Judo Championships was done managed by Caribbean Judo Confederation presided by Ing Ernst Laraque, the event took place in the cover gym ‘Pedro Elias Belisario Aponte’ placed in the Sport Complex of Maracaibo

December 11-19 the last activities of the year took place in Fukuoka, Japan; there we assisted to the Fukuoka Cup; to the Statute Commission and IJF’s Directive Committee meetings.

There was also the Technical Seminar for Women where four expositors from Pan America participated that was done previously Fukuoka Cup.

These great events were done as a strategy of the actual PJU’s Executive Committee with the main purpose of making them highly develop of judo in the continent.

Highlight Activities of Pan America 2006

1.        East Caribbean countries visits with support of sport supplies, some of the countries are Antigua & Barbuda, St Lucia, Grenada, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Dominica, St. Kitts & Nevis, British Virgin Islands, Belize and St. Martin.

2.        42 countries participating in the different activities of the PJU as well as Congress, Seminars, Championships, Meetings, etc.

3.        Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 13th World Children Championships male and female, October 12-15.

4.        Women Pan American Judo Refereeing Seminar, Colorado Springs, Col.  There women from 23 countries were met, April 11-12.

5.        First time along Pan American Judo history a huge group of 7 women applied to IJF Referee category.

6.        The PJU’s Ordinary Congress in Maracaibo, Venezuela has been the one with the largest presence participation of the joined countries ever, in addition to six proxies.

7.        The Pan American and Olympic classificatory season started in Pan American Championships in Buenos Aires, Argentina, May 25-27.

8.        Delivery of different equipment, sport, didactical and informatics supplies to all present delegates in the PJU’s Ordinary Congress, Maracaibo, November 28.

9.        Consolidation of Katas and Team competitions categories in the 8th Central American Games, 20th Central American and Caribbean Sport Games and 8th South American Games, after having included these modalities in 2005 to the XV Bolivarian Sport Games in Pereira, Colombia.

10.    Pan American Judo Anthem’s presentation in the frame of opening Judo ceremony 20th Central American and Caribbean Sport Games, Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, July 25.  Soon after the official presentation November 28 in Maracaibo, Venezuela in the frame of PJU’s Ordinary Congress.

11.    Official Panama Judo Federation joined during the PJU’s Ordinary Congress, unanimous decision, Maracaibo, Venezuela, November 28.

12.    PJU’s treasurer and secretary re-election during the PJU’s Ordinary Congress, they are Mr. Edgar Claure and Mr. Oscar Cassinerio respectively.  Maracaibo, Venezuela, November 28.

13.    The CARE System application system in PJU competitions showing that future using rule would improve refereeing around the world.

15.   Renovation of directives in Honduras, Grenada, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Costa Rica, Cayman Islands, American Virgin Islands, St Kitts & Nevis, Belize,  British Virgin Islands, St Lucia, Colombia and St Vincent & Grenadines.

16.    PJU Presidents Gallery presentation as a new step trying to rescue the history and cultural rough of Pan American Judo, November 30 in Maracaibo, Zulia State, Venezuela.

Pan American Judo Union important activities 2007

1.        Revision of the members in the different PJU commissions and inclusion of a woman each.

2.        Technical and economical support activities with needy countries.

3.        Policy of integral development to the countries by delivering equipment, issues and technical support.

4.        Software creation to Katas’ evaluation.

5.        Regional countries meeting to know about their needs on technical, managing and equipment develop.

6.        Studying technical facts to include Kata and teams competition category into the Pan American Children and Junior Championships, starting 2007.

7.        New Pan American Technical Seminars integrated with a wide participation of the countries.

8.        Pan American Judo Union history book publishing.

9.        New alternatives’ evaluation of weighting and drawing into divisions in Pan American Judo Championships.

10.    Medical (including doping), athletes and legal Commissions Integration, between other PJU needs.

11.    Application and Use of CARE System rule.

12.    Evaluate the chance to enlarge the payment of traveling allowance in Pan American Tournaments.

13.    Arrange all possible human, economical and fact resources to a successful development of Judo in XV Pan American Sport Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2007 and also the World Senior Championships which will be held there.

14.    Implementation of qualification and coaches certification program.  Some technical and management aspects are already going on.

15.    Prepare the possible modifications to the PJU Rules, adapting them to actual technical and economical conditions that allow a better Pan American Judo development.

Pan American Judo Union’s Directive Committee feels grateful about the labor we have done this very memorable year 2006 and wants to thank to all National Federations the chance they gave us to develop our program over the basement of your in conditional support in our actions.

Pan American Judo Union’s Directive Committee engage is keeping us going on in the transformation of Pan American Judo over technification, by giving the most possible to the countries; strengthen our weakness and ensuring the keeping of our biggest technical advances, that is why we hope to be en touch with our joins attending suggestions and needs they have.

This year has been tremendous fruitful, full of activities all levels, but it is necessary not to stand by but keep going to more competitive and formative activities, increasing the develop level of our coaches and search their certification; improving qualification and organizational system in our events and tournaments.

By the name of Pan American Judo Union’s Director Committee, we hope that after this full of activities year, all and every one of our Pan American Judo players enjoy these Christmas celebrations together with your families and friends and expecting that this coming end year finish full of happiness, love and peace; and the new coming 2007 will also be full of happiness, success and health joined to your beloveds family and friends.

Sincerily yours,

 
Jaime Casanova Martínez
PJU President.

Santo Domingo, Republica Dominicana
December 31th, 2006.-

COMISIÓN DE MEDIOS