Stephanie Hata and Sayaka Matsumoto win bronze medals at the Rendezvous International Championships

East Bay Judo Institute members Stephanie Hata and Sayaka Matsumoto continue their
winning ways in international judo competition. Both of them won bronze medals at the
Rendezvous International Championships in Montreal, Canada, held on Saturday, 28
October 2001.

Hata, 17, a senior at El Cerrito High School, competed in the under 48 kg division,
a weight division higher than her normal weight category. In her first match, she
beat fellow American Michelle Sternick with a yuko by penalty point. In her second
match, she lost by ippon (osaewaza – pinning techniques) to Canada. Dropping to the
loser’s pool, she beat fellow American Crystal Brown of the Olympic Training Center
in Colorado Springs by yuko by penalty point. In round 4, Hata beat Canada by a koka
again by a penalty, and in the bronze medal match, she beat Ockedal of Canada by a
koka by a penalty.

Matsumoto, 18, a freshman at UC Be Canadian opponent when the referee called ippon or full point when
Matsumoto was attacking with a sacrifice technique. Dropping to the loser’s bracket,
Matsumoto then proceeded to beat fellow American Williams-Murray by ippon with tateshiho
gatame (vertical quarter hold), and a Canadian by ippon with osoto gari (major outside reap).
In the bronze medal match, Matsumoto threw Laulippe of Canada with uchimata by ippon.

Hata’s sight is now set on the Pan American Judo Union Championships, to be held in Argentina
on 18-20 November 2001, where she will represent the U.S. in the under 44 kg division.

The East Bay Judo Institute is a non-profit organization dedicated to the teaching of Kodokan
Judo. Classes are held Mondays through Saturdays, and are taught by Dr. David Matsumoto, 6th dan.
For more information on class schedules, contact the EBJI at 510-237-0607 or visit their website
at www.ebji.org.