Eleven-year-old Katrina Phillips is a girl who won't have much worry about bullies.

She's just recently recieved her orange belt from the Moose Jaw Judo Club and lost only two fights during the judo season.

Phillips has been active in judo since September, 1980.

Phillips said she wanted to get into judo for a long time but had to wait until she was a bit older before she could start.

Since she started she has fought in four tournaments in the junior girls under 60 pounds category and placed high in all of them.

She took first place in the provincial open held in Regina, in the Moose Jaw invitational judo tournament, and in the Swift Current-Moose Jaw inter-club competition.

At the last tournament, the Swift Current open tournament she places second.

She said she felt pretty good about all her wins. The second place standing did not phase her as she was fighting a girl wearing a green belt indicationg she had more highly developed skills.

Judo beginners start off with a yellow belt.

Phillips said she works out for her judo twice a week from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Tuesdays and thursdays and practices sometimes with her brother, Kenric, 10, who started judo the same day she did. However, she practices mostly with another girlfriend.

Len Partridge and Cliff wiens are her instructors, she said.

She said she feels she is learning at a steady pace but quickly leared a few tricks and maneouvers from her instructors shortly before going into some of the tournaments.

Her involvement in gymnastics has enhanced her flexability, he said, and she can easily throw with either her left or right arm which makes it possible to confuse the opponent who does not know what to expect.

Phillips said judo for this year has reached the end of its season but she intends to continue with it when it starts again in September.

Appeared in the Moose Jaw Times-Herald Spring 1982