TJC represented at Elite 8 judo competition

Invitation-only event taking place in Montreal this week

Summerside’s Toshidokan Judo Club (TJC) is sending three members to the Elite 8 – national championships in Montreal this weekend. From left: Chris Townsend, head sensei at TJC, George Madumba, Ellen Gillis, Mikey Perry and Sebastian Nash. Perry is a member of Charlottetown’s Rikidokan Judo and Martial Arts, who also occasionally trains in Summerside. He is also on Team P.E.I. for Elite 8. - Colin MacLean

SUMMERSIDE – Summerside’s Toshidokan Judo Club (TJC) is sending three fighters to the prestigious, invitation-only Elite 8 – national championships in Montreal.

The event is scheduled for Jan. 13 and 14 and is, in addition to an opportunity to gain national team points, also a selection event for the under-18 European Spring Tour.
TJC members going include George Madumba, 16, of Summerside, Sebastian Nash, 16, of Middleton and Ellen Gillis, 15, of Miscouche.
George and Sebastian are nationally-ranked first and second, respectively, in their -90-kg weight category. Ellen is ranked sixth in the +70-kg category.
This is the first time fighters from TJC will attend this particular contest and head sensei Chris Townsend could not be more pleased with his students.
“Judo is more than just a sport. I’ve seen all three grow from children to fine young adults and I’m super proud of all three of them,” said Townsend.
“I’m their training partner sometimes and I find it hard to hold my own with them now – they’re getting good. They’re starting to surpass their teacher and as that teacher I’m very proud of that,” he added.
The fighters are eager to hit the mats.
“It’s been a journey. It’s taken a year to get this far and to get as good as I am with the help of everyone else. It’s worth it, every moment,” said George.
Some of them even hope to turn a win at Elite 8 into the start of a long career in a sport they love.
“I’ve been looking forward to this for more than a year” said Sebastian.
“This is just the start. I want to become an Olympian.”
This contest will be the culmination of their judo careers to date, and is incredibly meaningful for all three of them, said Ellen.
“It’s an honour,” she said.
“I’m proud of myself for how hard I’ve trained and where I’ve come from.”
Team P.E.I., whose head coach is Robin Enman from the Lennox Island Judo Club, is sending five fighters in total to Elite 8.
In addition to the three from TJC, Charlottetown’s Rikidokan Judo and Martial Arts is sending Mikey Perry, coached by Kent Hardy, and the Enman-coached Lennox Island Judo Club is sending Karlyn Shea.