Obukan Tournament Portland, OR March 29-30, 2024

This weekend was the annual Obukan Judo Tournament in Portland, Oregon. On the 29th was the kata (forms) competition and on the 30th was the regular tournament.

Shipyard sent two kata teams to compete in different three katas as well as performing another kata for demonstration. Jake and Coach Clayton competed in the Katame no Kata (Forms of Grappling). While they did not place, they gave it a good go. Coaches Brynn and Haley competed in the Ju no Kata (Forms of Gentleness) and the Nage no Kata (Forms of Throwing). They ended up winning both golds, congratulations to them. They also performed a demonstration of Kodokan Goshin Jutsu (Modner Kodokan Self-Defense Kata).

The next day was the regular tournament and we had 8 competitors taking part. We had 5 juniors competing: Owen, Kellen, John, Broc, and Hayden. John and Hayden put in good efforts but went 0-2 in their divisions. Owen won his first match but lost the next two to go 1-2. Kellen lost his first match, won his second, then lost his third to also go 1-2. Broc lost his first match but then came back to win both his follow-up matches to go 2-1 and win the bronze medal.

We had 3 senior competitors: Nate, Sabrina, and Mark. Nate won his first match by submitting his opponent on the mat. He was then thrown in both his next matches to end up 1-2. Mark took part in the Veteran’s division and ending going 2-1 to win gold, despite dislocating his finger in his gold medal match. Sabrina won her first match in the women’s heavy brown belt division via submission and her second by throw to go 2-0 and win gold in her division.

To support all our students, coaches Clayton, Tony, Eric, and Rob were there as well.

Congratulations to all our competitors and thank you for all our coaches for being there so support them.