Member News

January 19, 2006

From the Desk of the Director of Coaching and Athlete Development

As coordinator of the 2006 USA Judo Winter Training Camp in Lake Placid, N.Y, I am pleased to inform you that the camp was a great success.  The camp took place at the Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid, New York.  With participation of more than 100 elite athletes from nine countries, this camp was very successful and competitive. 

This training camp also mrked one of the first steps in the Destination: Beijing and Beyond development plan in which USA Judo looks toward long-term goals for the advancement of judo in the United States and success at all levels of competition during upcoming years.

USA Judo funded 20 international athletes and also the #1 and #2 U.S. athletes on the Senior National Roster as well as the #1 Junior on the IJF roster. 

The staff and athletes worked very hard which resulted in a truly positive and professional camp.  The camp was led by 1999 World Champion Jimmy Pedro who made an enormous contribution to the camp, both as one of the top coaches in the nation and as an inspiration to athletes of all levels.  The coaching staff consisted of five Olympic medalists: Nicolas Gill, Jason Morris, Israel Hernandez, Jimmy Pedro and Ed Liddie.  Head coaches from all three USA Judo National Training Sites (Jhonny Prado, German Velazco, Israel Hernandez and Ed Liddie) were present as well as several foreign coaches who now run programs within the United States.

Many thanks go to the managers of the event, Sergeant Major Mayfield and Leland Roth, for all of their hard work throughout the camp.

For more information and photos of the camp, please visit our Web site at www.usjudo.org.

Ed Liddie

Director of Coaching and Athlete Development