Kids Kick Butt at 2025 Governor’s Cup

On March 15th of 2025, nearly an hour before the adult competition, Sensei Ryan Hanssen led a squad of five (5) young Judoka from our children’s judo program as they took to the mat for the honor of our dojo and personal glory. Jayce and Brayden Hanssen, Cillian Nizzi, Brogan Lindsey, and Aurora Wright all took to the mat in their respective divisions to demonstrate the skill and athleticism developed through long hours of training, and test their mettle against the best competitors they could find.

While each competitor’s matches were action packed and worthy of review, this author would only expound upon each competitor’s best performance for his loyal audience.

Brayden and Cillian each rapidly defeated the third competitor in their bracket and met one another in a heated match to determine who would take gold or have to settle for silver. Brayden tried his best to bring his opponent down with Hanssen family’s signature Koshi-Guruma, but Cillian presented a competent defense each time, hipping in and posturing up. On offense Cillian demonstrated a far more mobile style of judo, using circular motion to disbalance his opponent to create openings for Uchi-Mata and O-Soto-Gari. Unfortunately for Cillian, Brayden, being a seasoned competitor was able to meet and overcome this tactic through strategic us of grips and defensive posturing. After a reset by the referee, both combatants switched tactics, opting for a brief exchange of foot sweeps, with Cillian bringing Brayden to the ground for a non-scoring Tai-Otoshi. The two continued in this fashion for a short while longer before Cillian was finally able to catch Brayden off-guard with a will timed Uchi-Mata for victory by Ippon. The two fought well.

Aurora’s determination and aggression allowed her to take a bronze medal in her division, with her most exciting match being against Isabella from Sempai Judo Academy. Both girls came out guns blazing, charging one another to immediately grip up and throw a flurry of O-Soto-Gari at one another. While Aurora was the first to fall in her match, immediately escaping her opponent’s attempt at Kesa-Gatame, she was quick to follow up with an O-Soto-Otoshi, scoring a yuko, and to capitalize on her success by using Kesa-Gatame herself. The next bout yielded a solid Waza-Ari for Aurora off O-Soto-Gari, prompting her opponent’s team of coachs to prompt Isabella to make a drastic change in tactics. After another hard fought bout with no score, Aurora and Isabella clashed again, with Isabella disbalancing Aurora mid-attack, knocking them both over. In the mad scramble for position, Isabella was able to out scurry Aurora and secure a firm pin via Kesa-Gatame, which she maintained long enough for Ippon. While Aurora might not have won this match, which lasted over three minutes, she was in the lead when the final bout began, had maintained a lead for most of the match, and fought hard to the bitter end. Aurora should take pride in her accomplishment and in that it took her competitor benefitting from the combined experience of Sempai’s extended coaching staff to overcome her.

On his path to silver medal, Brogan faced off against Luca from Teikiatsu Judo, in a match lasting only fifteen (15) seconds. Luca assumed an aggressive and forward stance from the onset of the match, immediately charging to grip up with Brogan. Rather than meeting Luca’s charge directly, as many of our other junior competitor’s would have, Brogan embraced the teaching of “Seiryoku Zenyo” or “maximum efficiency",” shifting to the side and out of Luca’s path as he attempted O-Goshi. Luca stopped his forward charge in time to spin Brogan in almost a complete circle, which Brogan responded to by shifting neatly into Harai-Goshi followed by Kesa-Gatame on the ground. The pin was unnecessary, as the throw’s satisfying “thawp” told both the referee and the crowd Brogan has scored an Ippon.

Lastly, Jayce got to meet his rival, Asher Bruner, in the most recent in a long line of contests between the two. The most recent match was a furious affair, both upright and on the ground, ranging across the entirety of the tatami. The first bought ended with Jayce up a Waza-Ari from De-Ashi-Barai, with the follow up on the ground resulting in no further score. The second bout, in which both competitors were making textbook demonstrations of the down then up method of kuzushi, saw Asher tie the score using Uchi-Mata, with neither judoka able to score on the ground as follow up. After two bouts with the young judoka’s duel ranging to the edges of the mat and yielding no score, the rivals clashed a final time. Jayce managed to get his lapel hand around Asher’s neck and began to drag him into the Hanssen’s signature Koshi-Guruma. As the two spun with Jayce creeping his hips into position to reap his final score, Asher, familiar with the familial technique from prior encounters, shouldered into Jayce and threw out a leg, brining Jayce to the ground with Tani-Otoshi for Ippon. Jayce took home a well earned silver medal, and this author looks forward to seeing what Jayce brings to overcome his rival when next they meet.

Honor and glory to our young competitors! We all look forward to great things from you in the future!

Rokkyu Duo Clean Up at 2025 Governor’s Cup

On March 15th, 2025, two yellow belts or “rokkyu” from the Des Moines Judo Academy made their competitive debut at the Iowa Governor’s Cup Tournament, which was hosted by Teikiatsu Judo in Ames, Iowa. Adult competitor turnout was a sharp decline from 2024, during which sensei and academy founder Bret Parkhill made his final regular appearance coaching. Despite adult participation being thinned by scheduling and recent injuries, Karsten Lappe and Jon Milledge made up for quantity with quality.

Karsten, is a young man of 22 years of age who attends most, if not all, weekday classes at our dojo and occasional Saturday open mats. Standing 6’7”, Karsten fought in the 220lbs+ senior men’s open rank, winning both his matches against the green belt, or “yonkyu,” Brent Shipley from Sempai Judo. Karsten’s first match was won by application of the “renraku waza'“ (combination technique; when two or more attacks are made in sequence) Uchi-Mata, followed by O-Soto-Gari, earning an “Ippon” (full point, which wins a match). His second match was won by scorring Ippon via “Osae Komi” (pin), a varient of Yoko-Shiho-Gatame (commonly referred to as side control in jujitsu), after taking his opponent to the ground without scoring, securing the gold medal for his division. A southpaw, Karsten is known in our club for his explosive strength, preference for extremely high collar grips, and his love of Uchi-Mata, which he’s striven to improve since he first arrived at the Des Moines Judo Academy.

Jon Milledge, a man of 35 who stands at approximately 5’8”, fought in both the senior men’s middle weight novice, and the senior men’s 161lbs & Under open rank divisions. Jon, an mma fighter in the process of winding down his mma career, is one of a pair of far travelling Judoka who consistently grace our dojo at Saturday open mats and the occasional Thursday class. Jon fought five total matches between the two divisions. While Jon lost his first match by throw for Ippon, he went on to only have one more loss for the day, by submission while attempting to pass guard. Jon’s extensive drilling of “ashi waza” (leg/foot techniques), particularly foot sweeps, showed, as he scored “Waza Ari” (half point, two of which are required to win a match) by both Sasae Tsurikomi Ashi, and De Ashi Barai. While he did win one additional match by submission, the highlight of the adult competition of this tournament was an Ippon scored using Nidan Ko-Soto-Gari as a counter to Uchi-Mata, further demonstrating Jon’s ashi waza dominance. Sensei Parkhill, reviewing a video of the match, commented that the counter was “a thing of beauty!” Jon took gold in the open rank, and silver in the novice.

Despite being the only adult judoka to take to the mat or “tatami” to represent our Academy at this tournament, they were not alone. Ian, Jon’s long time training partner and travelling companion, was also present to give his support despite being wounded. Jon’s family was also present to cheer him on, and were enthusiastic, if frequently confused. The three are seen together in the cover photo for this entry, celebrating their victory.

Jujitsu Promotion

Logan Ballanger was promoted this past Sunday, November 10th, 2024, at an open mat, receiving his first stripe on his white belt. Logan currently holds the rank of “gokyu” or orange belt in Judo and frequently represents the Des Moines Judo & Sambo Academy at competitions through out the midwest. Logan’s recent use of ground fighting techniques at the 2024 Iowa State Championship the day before his promotion, no doubt contributed to the decision to award his first stripe.

Jujitsu, unlike judo, does not , typically issue a new belt with each rank, instead adding stripes to a black area on the practitioner’s belt until they accumulate their 4th stripe, after which their next promotion results in them being awarded a stripeless belt of a new color.

Great Performance at 2024 Iowa State Championship

Des Moines Judo & Sambo Academy had seven Judoka compete at the 2024 Iowa State Championship, hosted at Teikiatsu Judo in Ames, Iowa, on November 9th, with several wounded members making an appearance to coach and support.

Junior competitors Brayden and Jayce Hanssen each earned silver in their respective divisions after obtaining a win each. Senior women’s medium competitor Olivia McBee also took silver in her division. Josh Pohl, the regular instructor for Thursday evenings, took to mat to claim gold in his division, winning both matches by throw for Ippon. Upon winning his first match via his well honed drop seoi-nage, some crowd member was heard to exclaim “it’s funny when it happens to someone else!” between burst of riotous laughter. Recently joined white belt, but long time wrestler, Christian Wilson was able to claim gold after stepping onto the tatami for the first time and looks to have a strong future in his new found passion.

Lastly, the long standing rivalry between training partners and close friends (some say too close) Logan Ballanger and Jacob van Cleaf had an unexpected upset, with Jacob claiming his first two victories on the competition mat, and the Masters Heavy weight gold medal over Logan. Ballanger found some measure of revenge in the Senior 220+lbs division, claiming victory by pin with Kesa Gatame.

Dojo Represented at 2024 Paul Owens Memorial Tournament

The Des Moines Judo & Sambo Academy was present at the Paul Owens Memorial Tournament, held Saturday, October 12th, 2024. A sole Judoka from our dojo, Jacob van Cleaf, made the trip to the Lincoln Martial Arts center to attend this annual event. In addition to the hosting school, several other dojos were present in force, including Uprise Judo Club from York, Nebraska, and Sempai Judo Academy from the Omaha area, both of which were welcoming and willing to adopt the rogue attendant from our Academy for the day. Numerous competitors of all sizes were present, offering the super heavy weight competitor not only several matches with new opponents, but the rare opportunity to compete in the masters age bracket, had he chosen to do so.

Jacob, an orange belt or “gokyu,” competed in the novice and open divisions for his weight, earning a bronze and silver medal respectively.

Upcoming Tournament in Ames

The Iowa State Championship will be held in Ames, Iowa on Saturday, November 9th, 2024. Check in and on site enteries 8:30 to 9:30am Nov.9th. Referees meeting will be held at 10am. Tournament competition will begin at 10:30am. All competitors should register via SmoothComp at the link below.

https://usajudo.smoothcomp.com/en/event/19661

Kids Place at Minnesota Classic

Brayden (5th Junior Rank) and Jayce Hanssen (4th Junior Rank), students at the Des Moines Judo & Sambo Academy, and sons of instructor Ryan Hanssen, both participated in the Minnesota Classic. The tournament was held at the North Dale Recreation Center in St. Paul Minnesota on September 15th, 2024. The boys placed 3rd and 4th in their respective weight classes and generally made an impressive showing. Their proud papa was proud to show off footage of each taking down an opponent with “Koshi-Guruma” (“Hip Wheel”) a hip throw performed on an opponent held in a headlock. Both boys are regular competitors, and we look forward to seeing them on the mat more in the coming months.