JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
Members of the Joint Base Charleston Samurai Judo Association competed in the Ultimate Challenge Judo Championship, Aug. 18, in Atlanta, Ga.
The Samurai Judo Association is a Morale Welfare and Recreation-associated judo school which instructs military members and their dependents in self-defense (combat jujitsu) and sport judo. The current tournament team includes a mix of novice and advanced judo athletes. Members of the club have been practicing for months in preparation for the fall competition season.
Lieutenant junior grade Lisa Capriotti, Naval Nuclear Power Training Command, placed first in the Women's Middleweight division, winning each of her fights in less than a minute. She also won second place in the Women's Heavyweight division.
In the Men's Novice Middleweight division, Electrician's Mate Third Class Petty Officer Dahmahnic Mace-Nocera, also of NNPTC, won second place in his first tournament. In the same bracket, Machinist's Mate Third Class Petty Officer Edwin Warner, NNPTC, won third place, also in his competitive judo debut.
Also competing were Health Services Technician Second Class Petty Officer José Varela of the Maritime Law Enforcement Academy (Federal Law Enforcement Training Center Charleston) and Tech. Sgt. Sergeant Michael Ocampo, 437th Maintenance Squadron.
The club practices Mondays, Wednesdays and the first and third Fridays of each month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the MWR Athletics Facility at Joint Base Charleston - Weapons Station. A typical practice session includes vigorous calisthenics, rolling and falling techniques, instruction on throwing techniques, hold-downs, chokes and joint locks.
Club members plan to compete in several upcoming tournaments in the region, including the "Hometown Heroes" tournament in Fort Bragg, NC.
The judo and jujitsu club at Joint Base Charleston's Naval Weapons Station is the largest judo and the largest jujitsu club in the United States Judo Association, with free classes for active duty personnel.
For more information, call 553-6702 or visit the club's website at
www.judostamps.org/samuraijudoassociation