Yellowknife celebrates judo
James McCarthy
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, June 3, 2009
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - It was one last "ippon" for Yk student judokas on May 28.
The NWT Judo Association held NWT Judo Day at the Multiplex's DND Gymnasium to celebrate the end of the inaugural season of the school judo program in the city. Sensei Mario Des Forges, the president of the association, said everything went off without a hitch this year.
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - It was one last "ippon" for Yk student judokas on May 28.
The NWT Judo Association held NWT Judo Day at the Multiplex's DND Gymnasium to celebrate the end of the inaugural season of the school judo program in the city. Sensei Mario Des Forges, the president of the association, said everything went off without a hitch this year.
"Take a look around," said Des Forges. "Everyone's having fun and they're happy, and so am I."
This was the first year for the program, which went to Weledeh, Ecole Allain St-Cyr, William McDonald and K'alemi Dene Schools this year, but it's not the first time Des Forges has taken judo to schools in the North. Des Forges has taught judo in Nunavut in the past and said it would be good to bring it to Yellowknife.
"The last year I did it in Nunavut, I taught over 1,000 kids," he said. "I just showed the kids here how to do judo in a fun way. We did a little bit of wrestling-type judo on the mat and we had games. It shows them how to be respectful."
The gym was filled with more than 100 students taking part in demonstration matches, an obstacle course, target practice with Frisbees and mock duck hunting. Twelve-year-old Kenya Parent, a student at Ecole Allain St-Cyr, said learning judo in school was fun.
"I learned all the moves and the ground techniques," she said. "When you have your opponent on the ground, you have to hold them down to win. If they get out, you have to try and do it again."
Parent used to do judo when she was younger, but came back to do it again this year with the club in Yellowknife. She said getting her black belt would be the best thing for her.
"I'd like to get that far," she said. "For the Olympics, I don't think so. Maybe in a different sport, like wrestling or boxing or something like that."
Seeing as this was the first year for the program, Des Forges said he was happy with the success.
"Next year, we'll do it bigger because this was the first time we did in this concept," he said. "It will take time, of course. I hope to make our association the top one in Canada. Right now, we're in the top-10."
There was a medal ceremony planned at the end of the day to honour the top student from each school, but Des Forges said it would be better to give the medals out at the various schools at a later date.
"It would be too crazy to give them here because they could get lost," he said.
This was the first year for the program, which went to Weledeh, Ecole Allain St-Cyr, William McDonald and K'alemi Dene Schools this year, but it's not the first time Des Forges has taken judo to schools in the North. Des Forges has taught judo in Nunavut in the past and said it would be good to bring it to Yellowknife.
"The last year I did it in Nunavut, I taught over 1,000 kids," he said. "I just showed the kids here how to do judo in a fun way. We did a little bit of wrestling-type judo on the mat and we had games. It shows them how to be respectful."
The gym was filled with more than 100 students taking part in demonstration matches, an obstacle course, target practice with Frisbees and mock duck hunting. Twelve-year-old Kenya Parent, a student at Ecole Allain St-Cyr, said learning judo in school was fun.
"I learned all the moves and the ground techniques," she said. "When you have your opponent on the ground, you have to hold them down to win. If they get out, you have to try and do it again."
Parent used to do judo when she was younger, but came back to do it again this year with the club in Yellowknife. She said getting her black belt would be the best thing for her.
"I'd like to get that far," she said. "For the Olympics, I don't think so. Maybe in a different sport, like wrestling or boxing or something like that."
Seeing as this was the first year for the program, Des Forges said he was happy with the success.
"Next year, we'll do it bigger because this was the first time we did in this concept," he said. "It will take time, of course. I hope to make our association the top one in Canada. Right now, we're in the top-10."
There was a medal ceremony planned at the end of the day to honour the top student from each school, but Des Forges said it would be better to give the medals out at the various schools at a later date.
"It would be too crazy to give them here because they could get lost," he said.
FONTE (foto incluída): Northern News Services (subscription) - Yellowknife,Northwest Territories,Canada
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