Greetings to you all,
 
It's been a long hot summer but the fall is here and our System continues to train hard in the arts. I hope all of you are well and enjoying life to the fullest! Here is some of what went on during the summer:
 
 West Point Judo Team, USMA, West Point, N.Y.
 
  In the first tournament of the AY12, all West Point Judo athletes took on experienced athletes from the tri-state area and abroad at the 45th East Coast Judo Championships at New Jersey Institute of Technology, in Cranford, N.J. There were Olympic and international level caliber athletes from the best clubs in the area participated at this event. The morning started with the novice division where our athletes brought six medals home while participating in six divisions. Cadets Joseph McKenna, Mike Miranda, and Patrick Deihl took first on their respective divisions while Cadets Joel Puritz and Garrett Schubbert took second. CDT Joshua Pennell took 3rd on his first ever tournament as a West Point Judoka. This was also the first experience for Diehl and Schubbert. At the brown belt division, several of our novice players also took part and excelled with 4 overall medals. CDT Austin Bowman, a green belt athlete, demonstrated tremendous skill and beat five brown belts for a second place medal. Cadets Steven Patten and Justin Adkins took second place while CDT Charles Bennett brought home the bronze. Adkins is also a green belt and had an excellent performance. Cadet Richard Kim placed 3rd in the 132lb division.
Our very young women's team, fought with tenacity and high intensity versus national and international athletes. Among these athletes, Kathleen Boyosse, a former Junior World Champion. Cadet Juliet Talavera placed second in the 52kg division while Larisa Tudor mowed all her competition at the 63kg including two black belts to bring home the gold. 
   The biggest surprise to the experienced Judo crowd at NJIT was the performance of the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />West Point athletes that competed in the black belt division. This group was lead by a stellar performance by senior Patrick Singley. Fighting at the under 220 division, Pat faced feared competition and defeat three black belts by perfect throws to bring home a silver medal. Cadet John Barnes '13, after losing his first match with a very controversial decision versus an international athlete, fought through five black belts to place 5th in a division where all top spots went to international players from South America and Morocco. Cadets Sung Won Jung and Patrick Cronin also defeated black belts athletes during their performances. At the end of the event, West Point Judo walked away with 27 perfect throws, 17 pins, 15 matches won by submission, defeated 14 black belts, and brought home 14 medals. In addition, the team has a laundry list of areas to improve before our local event on October 15 and a new earned respect among the Judo community. Photo: Cadet McKenna, Pennell, and Puritz after dominating the 145lb novice division.
 
West Point Judo Women Compete at the 7th All Women's Judo Championship
 
Six West Point Judo athletes traveled to Lodi, Ohio this weekend to compete at the All-Women's tournament. West Point Judo athletes displayed an impressive performance of Judo skills by winning 20 out of the 23 matches they participated on. Cadets Larisa Tudor, Catherine Clarke-Pounder, and Elizabeth Posey took first on their respective divisions. CDT Heather Purkey took 2nd and cadets Candence Webber and Katherine Donohoe took third. CDT Larisa Tudor also competed in an open division where she took second place for a total of seven medals brougt back to West Point from this event. In the attached pictures, CDT Tudor enters to execute a throw and all the ladies with their earned hardware.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> 
 
Horizons Martial Arts, Phoenix, AZ
 
On September 17th, Horizons Dojo participated in a local Karate tournament with both youth and adults “Mudansha” level only. In the 6-8 age-group, “Ashlyn” brought home first place in “Kumite” for “girls-division” on her first tournament ever.  For “boys”, “Brandon and Ben” took 2nd and 3rd.
 
For the 9-10 age-division, “Isaac” placed 2nd in “Kumite” and 2nd in “Kata”. He was so close for 1st in Kumite, but twice his size opponent had much longer arms.
 
Adult division did a wonderful showing.  My guys are big and they should be in “Sumo” not “Karate”. 
They cleaned up the floor in “Male-Kumite”, placing 1st, 2nd, and 3rd fighting each other (Richard and Cory fought for 1st, where Richard’s amazing spinning back kick almost disqualified him, but he ended up taking 1st place).    Richard also took first in “Male-Kata”.  Brad, did not stand a chance against his 2 big dojo-mate guys, but still came in 3rd.
 
Our lovely & amazing “Kanani” took 1st in “Female-Mudansha-Adult-Kumite” and 1st in “Female-Mudansha-Adult-Kata”., at her rank level.
 
We did not participate in “Yudansha” level. Great job done by all!
 
 
Hoteikan Dojo, Brooklyn, NY
 
This summers highlights from August to now were :The Hoteikan Dojo summer camp for the kids finished in august Our best one yet!On Saturday, the 6th of August Sensei Gary and the school he teaches out of hosted a MMA seminar and mini competition.rotating seminars between Soke Reno Claudio, Sensei Gary , Sensei Tom Carrano , and The sensei of the school. A small but well attended event.The 13th we had our Annual beach day with everyone from the dojo.. we started with a class on the beach and enjoyed the beach day after.Hoteikan Dojo Student Christos' was promoted to Shodan after a good exam and will only need to display his skills in front of the board of the Hoteikan System this fall.
We recently promoted 5 students to Ikyu (1st brown). They are now the next Shodan candidates in waiting.
 
 
Desert Warriors, Scottsdale, AZ
 
The Desert Warriors have been hard at work on their sparring and MMA skills this summer. In addition, Sensei V and Kirk have helped in updating the Hoteikan System manual and preparing it for the next phase. The manual will be on display soon, with DVDs and detailed information on the relationship between the Arts that make us “Hoteikan”. On a personal note, Sensei V is off to college but will continue to train with us when she comes home. Good Luck V!
 
Elizabeth Schmidt recently took her exam in Shotokan Karate and is now recognized as a Shodan in Shotokan within the Hoteikan System. Congratulations BA!
We are also hard at work preparing for the upcoming Annual Workshop. This year there will also be promotion exams for Jujutsu Shodan candidates. Candidates Carlos Trujillo and Brad Walker, (SD) will be tested. Soke Claudio, Soke Armstrong and Shihan Paul Farley will reside.
 
We hope to see all the members of the System at the event!
 
 
New Bushido Dojo, Souix Falls, SD
 
The group has been hard at work in the art of Judo. Recently Soke Armstrong paid a visit and taught a seminar at the Dojo working on Juji gatame techniques. Shihan Paul Farley will be teaching a seminar at the Dojo on October 8th as the group prepares for their trip to the Annual workshop in AZ.
The group also recently attended a class of Iaido and works with several MMA members from the school. They are truly becoming very well rounded in the Arts!
 
Well that’s it for now. Stay tuned for the next Blog in November detailing the upcoming seminars and all that’s happening in the world of the “Hoteikan System”
 
Until then, train hard and stay loose!!
 
Soke Saint