It's fitting that the Moose Jaw Koseikan judo club is hosting the provincial Cadet/Juvenile Championships Saturday.

After winning five of the last six overall provincial point titles, the local club is home to the most - and usually the best - young judo athletes in the province.

The reason is simple.

"It's because our club is so large in the Cadet and Juvenile age division," said Koseikan instructor Jim Wiens.

"We have so many of them we've actually split our Cadet and Juveniles into three different classes in the club alone just to accommodate that many people."

Because the club has their own dojo and a strong group of coaches, they can afford the luxury of streaming athletes of the same age into classes that better suit their experience.

"So the kids who have the intent to compete are moved into that much more advanced classes," said Wiens. "So they don't have to go back and learn the basics every year. They get to advance a lot quicker."

The Moose Jaw Koseikan Annual Tournament and Cadet/Juvenile Championships will feature more than 100 competitors in both the older classes and in the provincial tournament.

The competition will begin at 10:30 a.m. at the 15 Wing gymnasium.

Though it is a provincial tournament clubs from Medicine Hat and Portage la Prairie have confirmed that will be attending.

Cadets are born in 1995 or younger, while the Juveniles are born between 1992-94.

The event will also feature a Senior Open cash competition which sees competitors enter regardless of age, weight or gender and pony up a $10 entrance fee. Last year 15 competitors entered with the winner earning $112.50.

Sunday after the competition, Ralph Ibanez will run a provincial team training camp. Ibanez is a former Cuban national champion who won the world masters last year.

Appeared in the Moose Jaw Times-Herald March 1, 2008