Mayo Quanchi Winter Camp

The Mayo Quanchi Winter Training Camp was action packed this year with over 200 athletes from 20 states. The biggest teams arrived in Rhode Island from California, Florida, Virginia, and Ohio.

The age range of athletes was large starting with the youngest campers being 5-6 years old all the way to some masters; however, the largest participation group was Juvenile through IJF Junior.

Several of the top coaches in the country were also in attendance showing their favorite techniques and training philosophies. USA Judo Junior World Team Coach, Ari Miller of USA Stars showed some great Ne Waze turn overs; Sensei Ross Nakamura from California and coach for the Nanka team showed his Tai Otoshi and run several of the warm ups; Sensei German Velasco from Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center in South Florida showed his Sode Tsuri Komi Goshi; and Serge Bouyssou from Mayo Quanchi showed the participants a series of newer techniques that are seen on the world level starting with a throw he calls ‘The Georgian’.

“It was great to see so many coaches from around the country be willing to give what they know to everyone that was involved, said Serge Bouyssou. “It really was a great learning and collaborative atmosphere for everyone.”

The Mayo Quanchi Training Camp originally started as a summer camp around 15 years ago. But as the camps began to grow, Mayo Quanchi added the winter camp around 6 years ago. Since then the camps have really exploded with talent coming in from all around the country.

“All in all, I could not be happier with what we have been able to provide to all the judoka involved in this event,” said Serge. “I learned some new stuff and enjoyed every moment of running this camp.I especially like being able to watch these kids improve and how the coaches really treated every athlete like they were their own.”

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