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Training For International Competition

Dear Friends,

Ju-Do, the ¨Gentle Way¨ is a Japanese martial art that emerged out of the ancient discipline of Jiu-Jitsu. In Judo, the goal is to throw your opponent onto their back or to submit them in grappling techniques. Central to the philosophy of the sport is that gentleness can overcome power which is why, though there are weight categories in the Olympic sport, size does not matter as much as the application of sound technique; a smaller person yielding to a larger opponent's power is able to beat her opponent with his own strength. Judo's founder, Jigoro Kano, envisioned a martial art that would instill discipline, self-awareness and respect in its practitioners.

When I began to learn Judo in the summer of 2006, I dedicated myself completely to mastering this martial art. Over the course of the last seven years I have honed the mental and physical skills necessary for elite competition. I have put the skills I have learned during this time to use, continuing to train diligently and compete regularly. In April 2013, I won a bronze medal at the Senior National Judo Championships in Virginia which helped improve my national ranking to 3rd in the nation. I have now set my sights on qualifying for the U.S. national Judo team in order to compete on the world stage for a gold medal at the 2016 Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

In order to qualify for the U.S. national team, I must first train and compete internationally. I have recently spent time in South Korea training with the athletes at a prestigious martial arts university under the tutelage of my Judo instructor's father for the second time. I spent three months training with some of the best athletes in the world while receiving world class coaching. It is my plan to return again this Winter for further training and to compete in a high level international tournament hosted by South Korea. In order to make these invaluable opportunities possible I need to raise capital for my living expenses, plane tickets and enrollment fees. With your help I can take the next steps towards competing in the 2016 Summer Olympics and the chance to win gold for the U.S. in a sport that is underrepresented in our country.

Unfortunately, there is little financial support for aspiring Judo athletes in the U.S. Those who choose to engage in elite competition do not do so for monetary perks and often make great sacrifices to pursue their dream. I have chosen to tread this path because I believe I have what it takes to attain success at the international level.


I deeply appreciate any support you can offer, and hope that you will share this journey with me and feel pride in my future successes.


Sincerely,
Melissa Templeman



Please read about my journey on my blog!
http://emintraining.wordpress.com
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  • Jeanne Templeman
    • $50 
    • 8 yrs
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Melissa Templeman
Organizer
Carmichael, CA

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