Fort Simpson athlete returns with silver medal

Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, April 3, 2014

EDMONTON, ALTA.
A member of the Fort Simpson Judo Club won a silver medal earlier last month during a large competition in Alberta.

Chris Stipdonk placed second in the senior men's intermediate level in the minus 81-kg division at the Edmonton International Judo Championships March 16. Stipdonk won two of his three fights against competitors from Alberta.

"I was happy that I won a couple of matches," Stipdonk said.

"It's nice to go home with an achievement."

Stipdonk, a green belt, has been practicing judo for three years. He competed at the championships for the first time two years ago, but didn't place. "It was a learning experience," he said.

Stipdonk said he knew what to expect this time. All of his matches took place within the space of about an hour March 16, the third day of the competition, which was held in the West Edmonton Mall. Stipdonk was accompanied by Michinori Yanase, the assistant coach with the Fort Simpson club.

The first match was over in about a minute. Stipdonk won with a takedown after landing his opponent flat on his back on the mats. In his second fight, Stipdonk threw his opponent, but he landed on his side. The Fort Simpson athlete was able to gain side control and pin this competitor to the mat for the win.

In his third fight, Stipdonk tried to counter a throw, but they both fell to the mat with Stipdonk on the bottom, which gave his opponent the match.

Each match can last a maximum of five minutes, Stipdonk's second and third fights lasted about a minute and a half each.

Living in the North you have to travel for sports competitions, even if it's all the way to Edmonton for just four minutes on the mats, he said. Stipdonk said the championships is a good opportunity to get competition and to see if what he is practicing is working.

It's also a good motivator that shows you what you have to work on, he said. Stipdonk plans to return to Edmonton next year and hopes that Yanase will also be competing along with some other members of the Fort Simpson club.

Yanase and Stipdonk practice four days a week along with Aaron McNab who coaches them.