Amiens Hosts Two Major Judo Tournaments This Weekend
Get ready for a weekend of thrilling judo action at Les Quatre Chênes in Amiens! Two major tournaments are set to take place on Saturday, January 18th, and Sunday, January 19th, attracting judokas from across France and beyond.Saturday will see the National Label A Mini tournament, a crucial stepping stone for young athletes preparing for upcoming regional qualifying championships for the French Championships. While this tournament serves as preparation, don’t underestimate the level of competition. Many clubs, including ASC judo, Judo Club Longueau, and representatives from Ile-de-France, Belgium, Reunion, and Puerto Rico, will be vying for victory.
Thibault Denis, a judo teacher at ASC, highlights the value of this diverse participation: “this allows our young judokas to meet athletes from different backgrounds and gain valuable international experience.”
Sunday’s event is the highly anticipated Excellence Tournament for Juniors,a qualifying event for the prestigious French First Division Championships. Finishing in the top 10 guarantees a spot in the national competition, making this tournament a must-attend for aspiring champions.
Thierry Dambrine, president of the Somme departmental committee, emphasizes the high caliber of competition: “We have almost all the hope poles, the France poles of the territory competing on Sunday. It’s going to be a truly extraordinary event.”
Thibault Denis has high hopes for his ASC judokas, particularly Maia Pecqueux, Ossama Akaouch, Santiago Segura, and other athletes in high-level structures. “We have high expectations and it’s fantastic to host this event at home, in front of our own audience,” he shares.
This weekend promises to be a showcase of judo excellence, highlighting the sport’s growing popularity and the dedication of athletes striving for national recognition. Don’t miss the opportunity to witness these thrilling competitions and support the future stars of French judo.
Adding to the excitement, a special Pôle France training session was held on thursday, open to all clubs in the department. Puerto Rican athletes, currently training in Amiens for two weeks, joined the session, providing a unique opportunity for local judokas to learn from international talent. Over 102 judokas participated, making it a truly rewarding experience for everyone involved.
This weekend’s events underscore Amiens’s position as a hub for judo in the Hauts-de-France region, strategically located between Seine-Maritime, Ile-de-France, and Hauts-de-France.
A Bridge Between continents: Amiens Judo Club Welcomes Puerto Rican Delegation
The Amiens Judo Club recently hosted a delegation of 15 judokas from Puerto Rico, further strengthening the bond between the Somme departmental judo committee and the Puerto Rican federation. This exchange program, initiated in 2024, offers a unique opportunity for athletes and coaches from both regions to learn from each other and broaden their understanding of judo.
Young judokas from Amiens Métropole expressed their enthusiasm for the opportunity to train with athletes from a different judo tradition. “It’s fantastic to meet people who practice judo in a different way,” remarked one young athlete.
This year’s training session,led by Thibault Denis,was open to the public and judokas from various clubs,including ASC,Judo Club Longueau,France pole,and of course,Puerto Rico. The two-hour session focused on cross-club training, allowing participants to experience diverse techniques and styles.
Puerto rico, with approximately 1,500 judo licensees, is actively working to develop a high-level judo structure. In comparison, the Somme department boasts around 5,000 licensees, highlighting the different scales of judo participation in the two regions. while baseball remains the dominant sport in puerto Rico, judo is gaining traction, particularly with the support of experienced coaches like Ismael Borboña Luputey, formerly of the Cuban federation.
The Puerto Rican judo program emphasizes technical precision, drawing inspiration from Japanese training methods. They also prioritize international exchanges to accelerate their development. Thierry Dambrine, a key figure in the partnership, acknowledges the progress made by the Puerto Rican federation: ”While the infrastructure is still in its early stages, ther’s a tremendous amount of work being done by dedicated club instructors. The level of judo they’ve achieved is notable!”
This partnership goes beyond athlete exchanges; it also fosters collaboration between coaches. Both French and Puerto Rican coaches participate in the training sessions, sharing their knowledge and expertise.
Thibault Denis, a coach at the Amiens Judo Club, highlights the benefits of this exchange: “It’s always positive and enriching for our judokas in Amiens and the Somme department to experience a different approach to judo. I commend the Somme departmental committee for maintaining this valuable connection with the Puerto Rican federation.”
Ismael Borboña luputey, reflecting on last year’s exchange, emphasized the cultural exchange aspect: “The training, accommodation, and welcome were excellent. Most importantly,the young judokas had the opportunity to discover new cultures.” This sentiment underscores the broader impact of these exchanges,fostering understanding and friendship beyond the judo mat.
International Judo Exchange: A Weekend of Competition and Cultural Immersion
the Quatre Chênes gymnasium is set to transform into a vibrant hub of judo this weekend, hosting a unique exchange program that transcends geographical boundaries. Central american judokas will have the opportunity to experience a highly competitive environment, gaining invaluable experience and forging connections with their European counterparts.
Thierry Dambrine, the driving force behind this initiative, highlights the significance of such exchanges. He notes that while judo techniques remain universal, the competitive landscape varies significantly across regions. In Europe, the density of judo clubs and competitions provides athletes with a constant stream of challenges, fostering rapid development.
This exchange program aims to bridge this gap, offering Central American athletes a platform to test their skills against a wider pool of talent. Dambrine emphasizes the importance of these experiences, stating, “This exchange is a golden opportunity for our athletes to gain exposure to a higher level of competition and accelerate their growth.”
Beyond the competitive aspect, the program also emphasizes cultural immersion. Dambrine shares that participants frequently enough return with cherished memories of the warmth and hospitality they encounter.
“They come back with stories of the kindness they experience and the friendships they forge,” he explains.
the weekend will also include visits to iconic landmarks,allowing participants to experience the rich cultural tapestry of France.
Looking ahead, Dambrine reveals that a potential partnership with the Dominican Republic is on the horizon, further expanding the reach and impact of these international judo exchanges.Mark your calendars!
The Quatre Chênes gymnasium will host a national label A mini tournament on saturday,January 18th,starting at 12 p.m. The following day, Sunday, January 19th, at 12 p.m., the gymnasium will be the stage for the national excellence junior tournament.
Amiens: A Judo Hub Showcases International Talent and National Aspirations
Amiens is set to be the destination for judo enthusiasts this weekend.the city is hosting two major tournaments on Saturday, January 18th, and Sunday, January 19th, at Les Quatre Chênes, offering a spectacle of athleticism and highlighting the sport’s growing popularity.
Saturday sees the National Label A mini tournament, a stepping stone for young judokas preparing for regional qualifying championships. This event has attracted clubs from across France and beyond, including Ile-de-France, Belgium, Reunion and even Puerto Rico, providing invaluable international experience for participants. “It’s fantastic for our young judokas to meet athletes from different backgrounds,” notes Thibault Denis, judo teacher at ASC.
Sunday’s event is the highly anticipated Excellence Tournament for Juniors,acting as a qualifier for the prestigious French first Division Championships. The stakes are high, with a top 10 finish guaranteeing a spot in the national competition.Thierry Dambrine, president of the Somme departmental committee, emphasizes the high caliber: “We have almost all the Hope Poles and France Poles of the territory competing. it’s going to be truly unusual.”
Adding to the excitement, Amiens Judo Club hosted a Pôle France training session on Thursday, open to all clubs in the department.Puerto Rican athletes, currently training in Amiens for two weeks, participated, offering local judokas a unique possibility to learn from international talent.
This international exchange program, initiated in 2024, continues to foster a strong bond between the Somme departmental judo committee and the Puerto Rican federation.Young judokas from Amiens Métropole expressed enthusiasm for training with athletes from a different judo tradition.”It’s fantastic to meet people who practice judo in a different way,” remarked a young athlete.
This program highlights Amiens’s position as a judo hub in the Hauts-de-france region. With approximately 5,000 licensees compared to Puerto Rico’s 1,500, the Somme department continues to nurture judo talent. The partnership between the two regions fosters collaboration not just between athletes, but also coaches, who participate in joint training sessions.
This weekend’s events promise to be a party of judo, showcasing the dedication of athletes striving for national recognition and the growing global reach of the sport. Don’t miss the opportunity to witness these thrilling competitions and support the future stars of French judo.
