Iqaluit martial artists set to grapple, throw, and sweep legs at Saturday judo tournament

Judo is a Japanese word meaning “the gentle way.”

Iqaluit sports fans can decide for themselves whether this form of martial arts appears gentle, as 80 athletes compete on Saturday in Judo Nunavut’s year-end tournament, held at Aqsarniit Ilinniarvik School.

“There are really impressive throws among the more experienced athletes that will be fun to watch,” said coach Matilda Pinksen in a phone interview. “It’s going to be exciting to watch the standing randori.”

Randori, a sparring exercise, involves grappling, throwing and sweeping the legs out from under an opponent.

Scheduled to take part in Saturday’s matches will be five competitors, ages 14 to 17, who were selected to compete in the February 2027 Canada Winter Games in Quebec.

“All of Nunavut should be very proud of these young athletes,” said coach Michael Smook in a phone interview.

Over the past season, 60 of the organization’s 150 members graduated belt colours or stripes, said Pinksen, who achieved the shodan rank this winter by earning her first-degree black belt.

“People who don’t know what judo is about can see some very good judo happening on Saturday,” Smook said.

The public is welcome to watch the tournament from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is free.