Member News

April 15, 2007

Cohen Wins Silver Medal at Swiss Open

Aaron Cohen (far left) receives his silver medal in the 81kg division of the Swiss Open.

Aaron Cohen (Buffalo Grove, Ill. / NYAC / Cohen’s Judo / 81kg) won a silver medal on Sunday at the Swiss Open, an EJU B-Level Tournament, in Lucerne.

The medal marked Cohen's first trip to the podium at a major senior European tournament.

Cohen, who went 5-1 during the day, won his first match against Jose Leon Ruiz (ESP), throwing Ruiz for ippon (instant win) with a tai otoshi (body drop throw).

In the second round, Cohen threw former Italian National Champion Emidio Centracchia for ippon with an o uchi gari (inner leg throw) before going into Golden Score (overtime) with 2006 European U23 bronze medalist Tom Reed (GBR), throwing Reed with an o uchi gari to win the match by a yuko (quarter-point). 

In the quarter-final Cohen threw Azamat Sidakov (RUS), a 2006 Minsk World Cup medalist, for a waza-ari (half-point) with a sode (sleeve throw).

To advance to the finals, Cohen threw 2006 Finnish Open bronze medalist Thomas Davis (GBR) with a beautiful uchimata (inner thigh throw) in the semis for ippon. 

Cohen attempted to throw Alexandre Lhomme (FRA) in the final, but got caught with a switch and thrown for the yuko (quarter-point) that gave Lhomme the match.