Club de Judo Otoshi / Otoshi Judo Club

Awesome moments caught by the professional photographers

Official podium pictures
Canadian Open Nationals 2026
Calgary, Alberta

Day 1

Katame No Kata
Sonia Boulianne 🥉 avec Hazel Tolentino-McLean de Tani Koi Judo

Day2

U18
Zoé Elément 🥇

Day3

U21
Hayden Thibeault 🥈
Maxime Bourgoin 🥉
Zoé Elément 🥉

U16
Meagan Ward 🥉

Day 4

Seniors
Zoé Elément 🥇
Tylor Collin 🥉

Congratulations to all!

Thank you to our sponsors:
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Judo CanadaJudo NB
Photo credit

Jour 4 du Championnat Canadien Ouvert 2026
Zoé Elément a eu un weekend extraordinaire alors qu'elle a su décrocher une 3e médaille, une 2e médaille d'or et un premier titre canadien sénior pour le Nouveau-Brunswick depuis plus d'une quinzaine d'années. Elle a su gérer ses combats et marquer des points décisifs chez les -48 kg🥇

Tylor Collin, -60kg, s'est ensuite illustré avec une remontée vers une bronze nationale suite à un difficile revers en 2e ronde🥉

Maxime Bourgoin a eu une excellente journée en sécurisant 4 victoires de suite, avant d'essuyer une défaite crève-coeur en finale de bronze, 5e place🔥

Jacob Elément a connu un debut difficile en -66kg, mais s'est par la suite démarqué avec 4 victoires de suite pour terminer avec une 7e place 🥋

Hayden Thibeault a dû se désister suite à une blessure encourue lors de son premier combat chez les -57kg. Prompt rétablissement à toi, Hayden 💪

Bravo à l'équipe!

Merci aux entraîneurs, aux parents et familles pour votre soutien.

Merci à nos commanditaires
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Jour 3 des Championnats Canadiens Ouverts 2026 à Calgary

U21
Hayden Thibeault 🥈
Maxime Bourgoin 🥉
Zoé Elément 🥉
Jacob Elément - 7e

U16
Meagan Ward 🥉
Makar Morev- 5e
Artem Tsydinsky- 0-2

Judo NB
Judo Canada

Thank you to our sponsors
Premium Group
Max Health Institute - Dieppe Blvd
LuMar Electric
Bona fide Studio - Branding • Strategy • Print

Zoé Elément, championne canadienne une 3e fois. Bravo pour l'or U18, -48kg. Elle représentera le Canada aux Championnats du monde cadet à Guayaquil, Equateur en août 2026🔥🥋🥇

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Zoé Elément, Canadian champion for the third time. Congratulations on winning U18 gold, -48kg. She will represent Canada at the Cadet World Championships in Guayaquil, Ecuador in August 2026.🔥🥋🥇

Thank you to our sponsors
Premium Group
Max Health Institute - Dieppe Blvd
LuMar Electric
Bona fide Studio - Branding • Strategy • Print

JUDO SCIENCE LAB EP 8 — WHY GRIP FIGHTING IS A CHESS MATCH (GRIP PART 2)
The Tactical Duel Before the Throw
In Part 1 we looked at the physical chain of the grip. In Part 2 we shift focus to the strategy on the tatami.
Before anyone even attempts a throw, the real contest has already started. It is not loud, and beginners rarely see it, but at higher levels, it can shape the entire match. That contest is kumikata - the tactical duel for grips.
Grip fighting is not random grabbing. It is a deliberate strategy for control, distance, and posture. A dominant grip does not magically score ippon by itself, but it gives you the right to initiate the technique first. That is why many judoka say the grip can feel like more than 50% of the match: whoever wins the grip often gets to play their game first.
The Arsenal: Grip Types
In judo a grip is not just a handle; it is a steering wheel.
• The Standard Grip: one hand controls the sleeve, the other controls the lapel. It controls rotation and posture. At the highest levels, a clean standard grip is highly effective because it gives immediate access to movement and timing.
• The High Collar (Top) Grip: a high collar or top grip controls the upper body and posture. It forces the opponent to carry your weight, but if used only to stall, it becomes negative judo.
• The Cross Grip: reaching across the opponent’s body to control the opposite side. It creates unusual angles and shuts down their strong side. However, modern competition rules are strict: non-classical grips like the cross grip must be used positively to initiate technique immediately. If you hold it only to block or avoid engagement, it can be penalized depending on the rule set and referee interpretation.
The 50/50 Position
A 50/50 position is not one specific grip. It is a situation where both athletes have grips, but neither has clearly won posture, angle, or timing yet. In a 50/50 state, the goal is to break symmetry. The better judoka is not always the one who grips first; it is the one who gives the grip a purpose first and forces a reaction.
Grip Strategy: The Chess Match
Beginners think letting go means losing. Advanced athletes know that holding a "static grip" - a grip that no longer controls or advances the position - only drains energy.
Grip strategy means: hold when the grip gives control, release when the grip is static, re-grip when the angle changes, and advance before the opponent settles. Every grip must have a purpose: break posture, move the opponent, or launch a technique.
Why We Separate Kumikata from Randori
Randori trains everything at once, which is useful but messy. Kumikata training isolates the grip duel. To build grip strategy, athletes use specific drills:
1. First-Grip Rounds: start neutral. The first athlete to secure a dominant grip and break posture wins the exchange.
2. 50/50 Escape: start in a neutral, equal grip. The goal is to break symmetry and gain an advantage without throwing.
3. Grip-to-Action: win a grip and launch a technique within three seconds to prevent passive holding.
Three Practical Takeaways
1. Grip with purpose. Do not just hold fabric. Every grip must control posture, move the opponent, deny their entry, or set up your own.
2. Release static grips. Holding a grip that no longer works only drains your energy. Let go, re-grip, and change the angle.
3. Break the 50/50. When both athletes have equal control, do not just stand and wait. Break the symmetry to earn the right to advance first.
Bottom line
The throw gets the highlight reel. The grip decides who gets to play their game first. Train kumikata as a chess match, and your entries will start from better positions.

Très sincères félicitations à Sonia Boulianne de Judo Otoshi et Hazel Tolentino-McLean de Tani Koi pour leur accomplissements au Katame No Kata aux Championnats Canadiens 2026. C'est une première médaille féminine pour le Nouveau-Brunswick en katas. Quel exploit! Nous sommes fiers de votre progrès et de votre travail acharné. Un exemple à suivre 🔥🔥🔥🥋🥉

Bravo aux collègues John Mallory et Mike Melvin de Judo Shimpokai pour leur médaille de bronze aujourd'hui aussi en Goshin Jutsu No Kata.

*****

Huge congratulations to Sonia Boulianne from Judo Otoshi and Hazel Tolentino-McLean from Tani Koi Judo for their achievements at the Katame No Kata competition at the 2026 Canadian Championships. This is the first women’s medal for New Brunswick in kata. What a feat! We are proud of your progress and hard work. An example to follow 🔥🔥🔥🥋🥉

Congratulations to colleagues John Mallory and Mike Melvin from Judo Shimpokai for their bronze medal today also in Goshin Jutsu No Kata.



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LuMar Electric
Bona fide Studio - Branding • Strategy • Print

Bon succès aux membres de notre équipe qui se joindront aux autres athlètes du Nouveau-Brunswick pour participer aux Championnats Canadiens Ouverts 2026!

Best wishes to the members of our team who will join the other athletes from New Brunswick to participate in the 2026 Canadian Open Nationals!

Destination: Nationals! ✈️🏆

Judo NB is incredibly proud to cheer on the athletes, coaches, and judges heading out to represent New Brunswick on the national stage!

To our athletes: You’ve put in the hours, the sweat, and the heart. Now it’s time to show the country what you're made of!

To our coaches: Thank you for your tireless leadership and dedication.

To our judges: Safe travels as you represent our province with integrity and expertise.

Bring that NB energy!💪🥋🇨🇦🥇

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Destination : Championnats canadiens ! ✈️🏆

Judo NB est incroyablement fier d’encourager les athlètes, les entraîneurs et les juges qui s'apprêtent à représenter le Nouveau-Brunswick sur la scène nationale !

À nos athlètes : Vous avez consacré les heures, la sueur et le cœur nécessaires. Le moment est venu de montrer au pays de quoi vous êtes capables !

À nos entraîneurs : Merci pour votre leadership inépuisable et votre dévouement.

À nos juges : Bon voyage alors que vous représentez notre province avec intégrité et expertise.

Apportez l'énergie du N.-B. avec vous!💪🥋🇨🇦🥇

Judo NB Judo Canada

JUDO OTOSHI — JUDO SCIENCE LAB

WHY YOUR GRIP DIES IN RANDORI

(A practical note for athletes)

The Problem

You are two minutes into randori. Your forearms are burning, your fingers are opening, and your sleeve grip is slipping.

You think you have weak hands. You don't.

You have a disconnected grip system.

Grip is a Chain, Not Just Fingers

A strong grip does not start in the hand. The force travels through:

• The fingers holding the gi.

• The shoulders anchoring the pull.

• The back (lats) generating the real power.

• The posture keeping it all connected.

If your posture breaks — back rounded, shoulders shrugged up to your ears, elbows flying out — your tiny forearm muscles are suddenly forced to do the job of your entire back. That is why they burn out in 60 seconds.

The "Death Grip" Mistake

Holding the gi at 100% tension, 100% of the time, is a fast way to empty your battery. A car engine blows if you drive it constantly at redline. Your forearms are exactly the same.

• The fix: Pulse your tension. Stay relatively relaxed while moving, and spike to maximum tension only when you attack, defend, or break balance.

The Oxygen Trap

The biggest secret to dying forearms is breathing. When fighting for kumikata, many athletes lock their jaw and stop breathing. Static tension plus no oxygen equals instant local fatigue. You are literally suffocating your own grip.

• The fix: Exhale when you pull. If you cannot breathe, your grip will not last.

A Simple Quality Check

Next time your grip dies early in randori, do not immediately think "I need to do more pull-ups." Ask yourself:

• Was my posture broken?

• Was I pulling with my back, or just my arms?

• Was I squeezing at 100% the whole time?

• Was I holding my breath?

Bottom Line

Raw gym strength will not save you on the tatami if you are holding your breath and breaking your own posture.

Fix the chain. Pulse the tension. Breathe.

Judo Science Lab — Episode 7