Bahamas Judo Federation: 2010

Thursday, December 9, 2010

11 Medals for Bahamas at Barbados International

The Bahamas National Judo Team finished out the year with
it's strongest performance ever at an international event. The
Barbados International is the premier tournament in the Caribbean
region, and is a two day event that features individual and
team events.

The Bahamas team won a combined medal count of 11 with seven
athletes. "We have clearly crossed a threshold and have become
a respected program at the Juniors Level. Our success is primarily
based on putting in technical and physical standards for athletes
that travel and sending athletes that are more prepared for this level
of competition." said Judo President D'Arcy Rahming.

Medal winners were Nathan Williams 16 (Bronze medal Individual,
Bronze medal Teams), Ashton Forbes 15 (Silver medal Individual),
Tajah Hudson 15 (Bronze medal Teams), Tajaro Hudson 13 (Silver
medal Individual, Bronze Teams), Elaina Cuffy 11 (Bronze medal individual,
Bronze Teams), Artio Mcphee 11 (Silver medal individual), and Ethan
Cuffy 9 (Gold medal Individual, Bronze medal Teams).

The team was coached by Sensei Mickey Munnings and Sensei Albert Lill.
Also of note was that three Bahamian National Referees participated in
the tournament. The referees are David Rahming, Reno Culmer and
Melanie Lobosky. They received high praise from Refereeing Director
Keith Weithers Barbados Highest Certified International Referee. The
Federation's goal is to qualify these three referees as international
continental referees by the end of 2011.

The year will end with a Winter Training Camp December 20th through
the 23rd that will occur at Bahamas Judo Federation Headquarters on
Joe Farrington Road. Interested persons should call Bahamas Judo at
364-6773.

Photos:
Entire delegation
Referees Left to right: Melanie Lobosky, Reno Culmer, David Rahming
Bahamas Team at International Training Camp

Disabled Athlete Leads Bahamas Judo Team

Nathan Williams was born with one arm shorter

than the other. His parents enrolled him in

Judo classes at the age of 4 to make sure that

his shorter arm was being exercised.

Little did they realize that one day he would

be the Captain of a national team of one of the

toughest sports in the world. Or that he would

be fully competitive with athletes that had

no disabilities and would represent his country

internationally.

Nathan is now a 15 year old SAC student. He

recently represented the country at the CAC

games in Puerto Rico. He is a former Under 13

Pan Am Bronze Medalist. He will lead the team

as the athlete Captain at the Barbados

International.

The team consists of Nathan Williams 15, Artio

Mcphee 11, Elaina Cuffy 11, Ethan Cuffy 9,

Tajaro Hudson 13, Ashton Forbes 15 and Tajah

Hudson 15.

National coaches will be Mickey Munning and

Albert Lill and the delegation will be headed by

Federation President D'Arcy Rahming.

The team will be accompanied by Referees

David Rahming, Melanie Lobosky and Reno

Culmer who will be beginning the process

for international referee certification.

Anyone interested in Judo can contact Bahamas

Judo Headquarters on Joe Farrington Road at

364-6773.

Pictured (left to right: Tajaro Hudson, Tajah Hudson,

Coach Mickey Munnings, Elaina Cuffy, Ethan Cuffy,

and Strength Training Coach Father Frank Colebrooke).

###

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Elaina wins 2 Bronze Medals in Panama

Elaina Cuffy led the Bahamian team to two Bronze medals over the past weekend. One Medal was won in the Pan American Infantile Championships and the other in the Panama Open.

Elaina is 11 years old and fights in the +52 Kg category. She defeated the Panamanian champion with ippon (instant win) throws on the way to both victories. Her other matches were close and she narrowly missed a silver in both tournaments.

"I am very excited to begin training again," said Elaina. " We train a lot and it is fun, and I know that I won because of it." This was Elaina's first international tournament.

Team Captain Tajaro Hudson also turned in an impressive performance throwing the Puerto Rican Champion for ippon in seconds in the 56 Kg under 13 Category. He lost in the medal round to the United States ending up with 5th place.

" I am disappointed," said Tajaro. " I made a gripping error and my opponent, who was very good got me." This was Tajaro's second time at the Panamerican Juveniles and first as Team Captain. "Being Team Captain is great, I got to warm up the team and give them advise on their strategies against their opponents."

Artio McPhee (-31 Kg) and Andrew Munnings (-34 Kg) performed well in all of their matches but lost to more experienced opponents.

"The program has definitely improved," said Coach D'Arcy Rahming, who accompanied the team. "We concentrated on movement and footsweeps for preparation. The summer was grips and groundwork. Now I can see that we really need to concentrate on improving core strength."

For more information on Bahamas Judo you can contact the Headquarters at 242-364-6773.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Bahamas Judo Sends Team to Pan American Juvenile Championship

The Bahamas Judo Federation will be sending a team to

the Juvenille Pan Am Championships to be held in Panama

on October 2nd.

The team was selected based on meeting certain physical and

technical criteria, participation in an intensive summer training camp,

and tournament results in the Bahamas Open held in August.

The team is preparing by training 20 hours per week under the watchful

eyes of Federation Coach D'Arcy Rahming. The team consists of

Elaina Cuffy (age 11) Eastwood Judo, Tajaro Hudson (age 13) Western

Judo Jiujitsu, Artio McPhee (age 11) All Star Family Judo, and

Andrew Munnings (age 11) All Star Family Judo.

"I want to bring home the Gold," says Andrew, who will be fighting in

his first international tournament outside the Bahamas. "The kids have trained

very hard for this," said Federation President D'Arcy Rahming. "This

will be quite an experience for them. We are not concerned with

winning or losing at this stage, just competing well."

The Bahamas Judo Federation has began the development process

that is used by other countries for producing Olympic Champions.

This requires athletes to begin serious training for international

competitions by the age of 11.

For further information or to sponsor future athletes, please contact

the Bahamas Judo Federation at 364-6773.

###

Photo: Athletes L to R: Elaina, Artio, Andrew, Tajaro

Coach: Federation President D'Arcy Rahming

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Bahamas Olympic Committee Sends Judo Coach to European University

When Chrisnell Cooper took a Judo class at the College of the Bahamas in January 2008, she had no idea that this would lead to world travel as well as a scholarship to study for four months in Hungary. She has been awarded a scholarship by the Bahamas Olympic Committee to study Judo Coaching at Semmelweis University in Budapest, Hungary.

After passing the COB Judo class with an A, Chrisnell became a Junior Coach for Federation Affiliate All-Star Family Center focusing on preschool and primary school development. She also joined the National Team practicing 20 hours a week while at COB. She represented the Bahamas at the World Cup in Brazil and at the Pan American Championships in Miami.

"When I was younger I enjoyed wrestling with my cousins. Judo has afforded me many opportunities that would have been virtually impossible and it has helped me to shape my character, dig deeper and discover new things about myself." said Chrisnell. "I am from a large family of 4 sisters and 5 brothers, so I could not afford to study abroad on my own."

"I am grateful to the Bahamas Olympic Committee and the Bahamas Judo Federation who have had the confidence in me. I look forward to giving back when I return and advancing the sport of Judo in the Bahamas."

Anyone seeking more information on the Bahamas Judo Federation can contact the Federation at the Headquarters All Star Family Center on Joe Farrington Road. Or call 364-6773 or visit the website atwww.bahamasjudo.com.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Cynthia Rahming defeats the Indian Champion at the Youth Olympic Games

Cynthia Rahming became the first Bahamian
ever to win a match at the world level in Judo
at the Youth Olympic Games (YOG). She defeated
a very capable opponent from India who was
a medalist at the Asian Games.

The Bahamas Judo Federation extends thanks
to the Bahamas Olympic Committee and Adidas,
sponsors for the Youth Olympic Games.

Cynthia practices at the national training center
on Joe Farrington Road 24 hours a week during
the school year. She is also an honor roll student
at St. Augustine's College, and has an active
church and family life.

"So much time is idly spent by children in our
society," says D'Arcy Rahming, President of
the Bahamas Judo Federation.

"Between video games and the internet we are
losing the fact we all stand on the shoulders of past
generations who know how to work and commit
themselves to something."

"This is a significant milestone in our program",
said Rahming, "My hope is that we will inspire
others to do much with very limited resources."

The Bahamas Judo Federation is signing up new
students for the fall semester. Persons interested
may call 242-364-6773 for classes.