09/28/2011
Hello everyone. The Texoma Judo Team went to Tulsa, Oklahoma this past Saturday, 09/24/11. The team took second place overall as far as points. My sister fought in the women’s division and took Gold. This is her 10th or 11th Judo tournament and is still undefeated!! The McDonald Boys went and each brought home a Gold medal. As well as Jennifer. We had another young boy, Drew, bring home a gold. Plus a guy named RJ brought home a silver. Then Josh and Benton brought home a bronze medal. As for me I did not have anyone to fight in the Junior division. I just fought in the men’s. I had 2 matches, each did not last long. The first one I threw the guy for a wazari then pinned him for a win. The second fight I took my power grip right away and threw the guy for an Ippon. I also was asked to fight a competitor who was not in my division. He is a little taller and a little heavier. He had won his division but we had fought several months back and I beat him both times prior. He wanted to go with me again because we are almost the same height. I liked this final fight. I knew that this guy came from a good Judo club and he had strength. I had pinned him twice, once getting a wazari. Yet he was able to get out of my hold downs. Finally he tried to do a sacrafice throw. He did not get it right and since he was on the ground I pinned him. This time I was able to lock down the pin. I won. I was very happy with this fight. Okay now we have to go to College Station this weekend. Talk to you guys later. Thank you for all the support!!
I need to tell you all that we have decided to send me to France in December to fight for the United States and also do a judo training camp. We decided this one over the Pan Am games because we believe that the trip to France will help in my Judo development with not just the tournament but with the camp. Also I will be exposed to so many different players from other countries. I look forward to this new experience!!
09/2011
Okay so far I have traveled to 2 tournaments this month, September. My first on was in Wichita, Kansas. I have never fought there. My sensei and I decided I needed to get out to different places so I can get different players. I also want to get as much mat time before I go oversea to a tournament. So with that in mind I am also fighting in both the junior division as well as the men’s. I am suppose to work new throws and use my left. I did as I was told and won the juniors. Then it was the men’s division. I played my first match well and won with a pin. I was ready for my second match. I do need to tell you that the mat we were fighting on was only about 6′ x 6′. Which is extremely small. Yet at the same time it makes you think, ok grip then throw fast. I countered the guy, he landed to me on his back. But the ref so it as not so I got a wazari. Then we started again, this time my competitor countered me and he won. My final match I just did not focus so I lost. So I took bronze. It was a good lesson learned. I have to remember that I have to keep my mind focus not dwell on mistakes.
The second tournament was this past weekend on 09/17/2011 in San Antonio, Texas. Again I signed up to fight in the junior and men’s division. Plus again I am to work different grips, throws and my use my left. My first fight in the junior’s was over fast. My competitor “walked in a throw” , so I won within about 6 seconds. Now my second fight went a little longer. I decided to take my time, working what my sensei told me to do. My first throw in this particular fight was great but since he was about 30lbs lighter than me I over threw him so he landed on his side. My coach told me to do it again so I did but not going with full force so he would land on his back. He did so I won. I took gold in Juniors. My men’s first fight went well and fast. I countered my competitor low on the ground for an Ippon. Then on my second fight I won with an pin. This secured the gold in the men’s division for me. Now we will be going to Tulsa, Ok this weekend, 09/24/2011. I am still working out daily and I have now introduced agility cardio to my workouts. I am still sprinting but now I am also doing latters and using the jump rope. I really like the later two. It is a challenge and very different from what I am use to. I will talk to you later. Thank you for your support!!
09/2011
Hello. I hope everyone is doing well, especially for those who have started school for the fall. I normally take August off to give myself a rest but this year I made the Pan Am Team so I needed to keep it going. I did not have any tournaments in August but I did go to San Antonio for a heavy weight training camp. It was hosted by Universal Judo, Sensei Hrbek and Sensei Ernesto Perez of Diamondback Judo Houston. The camp had quite a few judo players from various areas of the United States. My sensei, Carl Plummer, also attended with me. This was the first camp I went to that was given just for 90kg plus. I got to train with men my size, 6’4″ to smaller but just as heavy if not heavier. We also had 4 great women judo players. I went away with a lot new judo.