By Tara de Ryk
March 1

IMPERIAL-Kennedy Lewis, 11, has a secret weapon.

It's called a Kesa Gatame, a type of judo hold down, that when Kennedy has a chance to use it, usually signifies the end of a match, guaranteeing her victory.

The Kesa Gatame didn't fail Kennedy at the Saskatchewan Winter Games in Moose Jaw last week. The Imperial resident won gold in the 50-kilogram weight class.

Kennedy, who is the current provincial champion in the under-45 kilogram weight division, went undefeated at the Winter Games.

She won all six of her fights in Monday's round of competition and won another five exhibition fights on Tuesday, Feb. 16.

Although she didn't lose a fight in Moose Jaw, Kennedy says there was a moment when one opponent had her worried. The opponent kept trying to throw Kennedy.

"She kept on almost getting me down and if she threw me, she would have had me by ippon (and would have won the match)," Kennedy says.

Kennedy managed to avoid the throw down.

Kennedy excels at groundwork and says her best move is the Kesa Gatame, a type of hold down.

"Once I get them in that hold down, they don't have a chance," she says.

She's perfected the hold and can deliver it from both angles, either left or right.

Kennedy has been practising judo since she was six years of age.

Her father Trevor, who used to study judo, encouraged her to give judo a try, enrolling Kennedy and her brother at the Ju No Ri school in Watrous.

Judo wasn't for her brother, but Kennedy enjoyed the martial art. Trevor also got back into it.

"Prior to that I hadn't been on a mat for 13 years," Trevor says.

Father and daughter attend classes weekly in Watrous.

She worked her way through the judo skills and has achieved an orange belt and fights in the 50-kg-weight division. Her next goal is to try to get her orange and green split belt.

Kennedy enjoys judo, and although she is having success at competition, Kennedy says she does judo because it's fun, particularly when it comes to going to tournaments.

"I get a whole bunch of new experiences and I get to meet new people. Some of my really good friends, I have met through judo. That's a really big part of it," she says.

Her dad agrees, noting that tournaments and events such as the Winter Games are excellent ways to promote sport and physical activity.

"They work hard and don't know it because they have so much fun," Trevor says, adding the well-organized games in Moose Jaw were a wonderful experience for the kids. "The kids enjoyed the experience from start to finish."

Kennedy's next major tournament to prepare for is in April in Watrous where she will compete in the 2010 Judo Saskatchewan Provincial Championships.

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