Twelve members of Judo Ryu Jacksonville traveled to Tallahassee on Jan. 31 for the Florida State Judo Championships, placing in 11 divisions. The tournament hosted about 300 participants from all over the state, and was a qualifying tournament for this year's junior and senior nationals.

The tournament marked the first time many of the winners competed in a state championship. The competition pairings consisted of separate age and weight groups.

Winners included Harley Mueller (second place, 8-year-old division), Jasmine Reyes (second place, 12-year-old division), Harry Glisser (third place, 8-year-old division), Richard Rosada (third place, 8-year-old division), Raymond Alton (second place, senior light novice division), Odis Reyes (second place, senior heavy novice division), David Berlin (third place, master's light heavyweight division), Joseph Nicholas (first place, 11-year-old division), Robert Santiago (second place, senior heavyweight division) and Richard Bradley (second place, master's heavyweight division). Greg DiFranza, the team's coach, won the master's heavyweight division.

Judo is the most widely practiced martial art in the world. Judo Ryu Jacksonville practices Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. For more information, call 904-241-4112 or visit www.judojax.com.

Twelve members of Judo Ryu Jacksonville traveled to Tallahassee on Jan. 31 for the 2004 Florida State Judo Championships, placing in 11 divisions. Winners were: (back row, from left) Raymond Alton, Odis Reyes, David Berlin, Joseph Nicholas and coach Greg DiFranza; (front, from left) Harley Mueller, Jasmine Reyes, Harry Glisser and Richard Rosada; and (not pictured) Robert Santiago and Richard Bradley.