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The Cupertino Judo Club put together some impressive performances this summer. Above, (l-r) Sam Kang, Winston Wey and Matt Kang each placed at the USJA Junior Nationals. At right, five club members won medals at the United States Judo Federation Junior Nationals in Monterey. Medal winners included (from row, l-r) Kimberly Knudsen and Jason Ino, and (back row, l-r) Wey, Colm Pruvot and Kevin Chen.
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Wey wins judo gold--three times
Cupertino club shines in national events
By KENRICK KIN
There proved to be little competition at this year's United States Judo Association (USJA) Junior Nationals for the competitors sent by the Cupertino Judo Club.
Matt Kang and Winston Wey fought through the competition to win gold medals for Cupertino, and Sam Kang finished fourth at the Junior Nationals held in Toledo, Ohio.
It was the third straight weekend of successful competition for Cupertino.
The week before the Junior Nationals, six Cupertino Judo Club members competed in the USA Judo Junior Olympics in Louisville, Ky. The Kang brothers joined Wey as Junior Olympic champions with Kevin Chen finishing third and Kimberly Knudsen nailing fifth. Bryant Chen also competed in the tournament.
"The kids did great," said coach Rose Knudsen. "Many of them just outclassed the competition."
The week before the Junior Olympics, 26 Cupertino club members traveled to the Price Fitness Center in the Presidio of Monterey for the United States Judo Federation Junior Nationals.
Wey and Colm Pruvot each won titles with K. Chen and Knudsen each placing second and Jason Ino finishing third.
Four Cupertino team members--Wey, Pruvot, Ino and K. Chen--joined with Mathew Dias of the San Jose Buddhist Judo Club to win the team tournament held in Monterey. The five-member team won five straight matches to claim the title.
"Every year the kids are improving," said coach Frank Kang. "I expect them to do even better at next year's nationals."
The Cupertino Judo Club has won the team championship at the nationally recognized San Jose Buddhist Judo Club annual "Sensei Memorial" Invitational Judo Tournament six times in the past nine years.
Founded in 1964 by Jim Baker, the club holds practices at the Monta Vista Recreation Center, where students practice on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Tuesdays from 7-9 p.m. Baker is the head coach and holds a sixth-degree black belt in judo. The club is co-sponsored by the city of Cupertino.
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Cupertino, California Since 1947
