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JAMES CHRISTIEGlobe and Mail UpdateNovember 12, 2008 at 7:23 PM ESTThe Hatashita International judo tournament, formerly known as the Ontario Open, has drawn a field of more than 575 judokas to Mississauga's Hershey Centre Sportzone for this weekend's competition.One of North America's largest events for the Olympic sport, the tournament, which includes Olympians and a strong contingent of 175 from the sport's Canadian hotbed of Quebec, takes place Saturday and Sunday. For the first time, spectators will be able to follow the tournament live on the Internet at www.splitdraw.com.Saturday features the under-17 cadet classes and international juniors while Sunday is the showcase for the under-15 juveniles and the seniors.The event retains a historic flavour, named for one of the cornerstone families of Canadian judo. Roman Hatashita, a four-time Canadian champion and 1988 Olympian, is title sponsor.The role of the Hatashita family in the sport goes back to the 1920s when Frank Hatashita, Roman's uncle, along with the founder of the sport, Japan's Jigoro Kano, pioneered the introduction of judo to Canada. The Hatashita Cup, which goes to the tournament's Grand Champion, was bestowed in the 1930s by the Japanese Kodokan, the legendary home of the sport, as St. Andrews is the home of golf and Cooperstown the home of baseball.In the Second World War's dark days of the internment of Japanese Canadians, judo grew quietly in the shadows as Frank Hatashita and 22,000 other Japanese Canadians were rounded up by a suspicious government.Frank Hatashita, who died in 1994, went on the become a three-time Canadian champion and was the coach at matside when Doug Rogers won Canada's first Olympic medal in the sport in 1964 at Tokyo.

MARA MARKOVIC-SILADI  





In recent years, Mara has represented Judo with distinction.  She has frequently medaled locally and internationally in both Kata and fighting divisions. She is a sixth degree black belt and head coach of M&D Siladi Judo Club in Waterloo, which she runs together with my son David.  She is also the female coach for the Southwest Region of Judo Ontario.





In 2008, she received the "Spirit of Judo" award, given by the World Masters Judo Association. Only a small number of athletes in the world have received this award. The award was given in honour of judo achievement and five consecutive years of maintaining first place in the world.

Also in 2008, she received the Sport and Recreation award at the Kitchener-Waterloo Women of the Year Awards.


 We are very lucky in Ontario to have Mara representing us and contributing to the sport of Judo.  Her efforts in teaching, coaching, and competition provide a great role model for our younger athletes, especially our female athletes. Below is a list of her most recent accomplishments: 


Pan-American Senior Championships 


2007 (Canada)
- 1 bronze medal (in goshin jitsu)


World Masters Judo Championships Results


2008 (Belgium)
- 1 gold medal (in -57 kg division)
- 2 bronze medals (in open weight division and team competition)


2007 (Brazil)
- 1 gold medal (in -57 kg division)
- 1 silver medal (in open weight division)
- 1 bronze medal (in team competition) because Canadians did not have a team, she fought as a member of the U.S. team and also against much younger competitors (i.e. F1 and F2) 



2006 (France)
- 2 gold medals (in -57 kg and open weight divisions)

2005 (Canada)
- 2 gold medals (in -63 kg and Koshiki no Kata)
- 1 bronze medal (in open weight division)

2004 (Austria)
- 2 gold medals (in the -63 kg and Goshin Jitsu)
- 2 silver medals (in open weight category and mixed age)
- 1 bronze medal (in Katame no kata)

Pan-American Masters Championships


2007 (Canada)
-1 gold medal (in open weight division)


2004 (Canada)
- 3 gold medals (in the -63 kg, open weight and team divisions)


Canadian Senior National Championships


2005 (St. John’s)
- 1 silver medal (in goshin jitsu)


2004 (Kitchener)
- 1 bronze medal (in goshin jitsu)  She also won 5 medals at the All Women’s Championships

Once again, the RVC tournament was held in Montreal, Quebec. Judo Ontario was represented by thirty athletes who competed over two days. Two of our top junior athletes did extremely well at the senior level and came away with gold medals. Congratulations go out to Kelita Zupancic and Renee Guggino for their gold medal performances. Four other athletes from Ontario won medals. Ian Alexander, Katy Bryant, Yousef Yousef and Tony Walby all won bronze medals. In addition, Aneta Mozdzen and Nedjo Sarenac placed fifth.


Following the tournament, Judo Canada organized a one-week training camp which was very well attended by Judo Ontario. Head Coach, Bob Zettl, stayed on for the camp to assist our team.

Just a reminder to those of you who have not registered for the Hatashita International Judo Tournament yet and have plans on doing so... registration closes October 31st.Register and pay online to ensure your place in the tournament.Keep your email receipt for proof of registration and payment, and bring it with you to the event. PLEASE NOTE (members of Judo Ontario only): For club owner's who plan on promoting a Judoka in time for Hatashita, please ensure you log into your website account using your username and password, click on 'Club Profile' and then select the individual Judoka you wish to edit, change their belt colour and save the changes.  Do this BEFORE the Judoka registers for Hatashita as the system uses your personal profile information to calculate the divisions you qualify for. 

Judo Ontario was well represented at the 2008 US Open Judo Championships which were held at the Olympic Training Centre in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  Some of our top junior and senior athletes competed very well. After two days of competition, Judo Ontario won four medals and had one fifth and one seventh place finish. 


Aneta Mozdzen, Renee Guggino and Diego Sanchez all won bronze medals.  Our silver medal went to Katy Bryant in the open category, after a strong fifth place finish in the -70 kg division. Katy lost a very close match (koka) to the - 70 kg champion from Great Britain, Michelle Holt. Special mention goes out to Nedjo Sarenac with his 7th place finish. Nedjo nearly defeated 2008 USA Olympic Team Member, Adlar Volmar, in a very close match. After being down by keikoku, Nedjo threw Adlar for wazari, only to be caught by a koka early in the match.


The Judo Ontario team showed great pride and confidence after winning four medals with only eleven athletes. The team now tunes up for Rendez-Vous Canada.