Good Sports: Fresno State Judo Club women's team claim national championship

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The Fresno State judo nine is flying high.

"They earned it they deserved it," judo nine caput manager Randy Imamura said.

For the archetypal clip since 1989, the nine claimed a nationalist rubric acknowledgment to the women's team.

"Winning this tourney was the cherry connected apical of my judo career," judo nationalist champion Sara Beberian.

"Lose and instrumentality 2nd oregon you person to bushed her and strive for golden and you got to conscionable instrumentality it," judo nationalist champion Vanessa Luna.

Earlier this month, Beberian and Luna grabbed golden astatine the NCJA Championships successful Texas.

WHILE A RELATIVE NEWCOMER TO THE SPORT -- ANNABELL XIONG, SNATCHED SILVER

"I showed my parents they're truly arrogant of me," judo metallic medalist Annabell Xiong.

"If it wasn't for her we wouldn't person been capable to instrumentality first," Imamura said.

Imamura says helium had a bully feeling months earlier the tournament.

"You guys tin marque past present truthful I planted that effect but expectations was conscionable person them bash their best," Imamura said.

The girls would marque past - beating retired San Jose State to assertion the women's archetypal outright title.

"Big schools who person Olympians successful their practice truthful for america to spell successful determination and bushed them was a beauteous large deal," Imamura said.

So what is judo?

"You're trying to usage your opponent's momentum to propulsion them," Berberian said.

On their back, to people a point.

"Similar to wrestling but the accent is throwing the opponent," Imamura said.

A 19th period martial creation started successful japan, judo consists of throwing, limb locks and chokes.

"As soon arsenic you deliberation you're bully you get thrown," Berberian said.

"Everybody has this saying astir you get thrown down you got to get backmost up, these guys are doing it daily," Imamura said.

For the Imamura's, judo is simply a mode of life.

"And these are his sons that are carrying connected his legacy," Berberian said.

Brothers Robert, Richard and Randy person been grooming unneurotic for astir 50 years.

"We grew up 4 boys, we each did judo together, my dada was our teacher slash coach," Imamura said.

Their begetter Haruo was a aggregate clip judo nationalist champion.

A pedigree that built the blueprint for the Fresno State Judo Club.

"He brought that acquisition and precocious level to Fresno and the Valley and we've been producing champions ever since," Imamura said.

With 3 nationalist champions nether Haruo. His youngest lad present brings a 4th to the household table.

"He'd laughter and accidental bully job," Imamura said.

With hardware successful hand, Fresno's archetypal household of judo is bare for more.

"Build up the programme to beryllium a nationalist powerhouse," Imamura said.

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