James Lewis represents UK on American soil
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James Lewis, Medway and GB judoka, has returned from Florida where he competed in the Junior US Open. He finished seventh in the juvenile (15 to 16-year-olds) under-73kg category. The event featured 690 athletes from 25 countries. James had four fights against players from the USA, Mexico and the Dominican Republic. James fought a player from USA in his first fight and won by ippon, the maximum score in judo, awarded for throwing the opponent on to his or her back. James came up against another US player in his second fight. The fight was close but when our recently-crowned British Schools' Judo Champion moved in for a throw the American avoided it and was then able to use James' own momentum to throw him for ippon. The Mexican was a foot taller than James and a great deal stronger. This third match became very tactical and James was able to win the bout with a single low-grade score for throwing his opponent on to his side. |
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At this point a medal seemed in sight but James' hopes were dashed when he was injured in his fourth match. The bout became technical and involved a lot of ground work.
James attempted a stranglehold and in the process his knee got trapped and twisted under the fighter from the Domincan Republic, who capitalised and put on a stranglehold of his own. James had to submit and settle for a record of two wins and two losses from his four fights.
The result put James seventh, based on the total points scored in each fight.
"The experience was good," said James, "and all part of the learning curve.
"I was able to fight players from different countries with different strengths and weaknesses, which you don't always get to do in competitions in this country."
James now heads off to an England training camp in Kendal, Cumbria before returning to Chatham Grammar School in September.
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