Gold medals in judo

Woy Woy Judo Club has secured two gold medals in recent competition.

Kayla Wells competed in the NSW Kyu Grades at Olympic Park, Homebush, on September 17.

Due to the number of competitors, the tournament committee decided to combine all weights into an open event.

Kayla fought three other competitors, who were all Blue Belts.

Her first competitor was from Sydney University and Kayla quickly got her to the ground and initiated a hold down.

The second bout against a member of University of NSW saw Kayla throw her opponent with a very fast o guruma (leg wheel throw) and in her final bout a powerful o soto gari (leg throw) against Rebecca Steward, representing Ren shin do Judo Academy in Gosford.

On the same day, Daniel Simmons, Sho Dan, was competing in the South Australian International Open in Adelaide.

Daniel was in a field of eight competitors in the Men's under-73kg division.

His draw had him wait for the first repechage winners to come through, resulting in a brown belt, green belt and a Ni Dan (second degree black belt) remaining.

Daniel defeated all his opponents within the first minute of each bout.

The brown belt was thrown with o soto gari (leg throw), the green belt with a uchi mata (inner thigh throw) and the final bout for the gold medal with seoi nage (shoulder throw) against Shusuke Toden (second Dan) from South Australia.

The South Australian International Open attracts national points and as a result of Daniel's win he is now ranked sixth in Australia.

Kayla continues to impress the National Judo Body after winning a gold medal at the Oceania Junior Championships in August.

She has been selected to represent Australia at the World Cup in Apia, Samoa, in November.

Woy Woy Judo Club trains every Tuesday and Friday night in Ettalong.

For further information, phone Lindy Simmons on 0434 000 170.

Email, 20 Oct 2010 Lindy Simmons, Woy Woy Judo Club