FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE See Olympic and World Champions compete here in New York! NEW YORK, NY- The 2011 New York Open Team Judo Championship takes place Sunday, March 6, 2011 at the New York Athletic Club. The tournament is sponsored by Film Annex and the New York Athletic Club (NYAC). The teams competing in this tournament are top world athletes, holding World Championship titles. Each team has five players in the following weight divisions: 66 kg, 73 kg, 81 kg, 90 kg and over 90 kg. The winning team will be rewarded a $2,000 dollar prize and a coveted champion's plaque to honor their country. During the first round Team USA will take on Team Italy, and Team Canada will face Team Germany. The competition format requires each team member to fight two matches with the counterpart and the best of 10 matches advances to the next round. Team Judo is said to be one of the most intriguing tournaments to watch in the world, giving fans the opportunity to show support for their favorite country. The Tournament will be held the New York Athletic Club, located at 180 Central Park South on the 6th floor. Spectators are welcome, and tickets are available for $25 at the door and free for children 15 and under. The tournament action begins at 10 am with the finals scheduled to start around 2 pm. For more information about the New York Open Judo Championship, visit the New York Open Judo website at www.newyorkopenjudo.com. To discover original judo content, including fictionalized judo videos produced by the Film Annex team, tune into www.judoarts.com. About Film Annex Film Annex is an online film distribution platform and Web Television Network with 220,000 registered users and over 1.5 million viewers a day. The company creates free Web TV channels for content providers and supports them financially through an ad-revenue sharing model. A meeting point for filmmakers, film festivals, film enthusiasts, companies, and organizations, Film Annex educates and entertains audiences by making meaningful, diverse, and high- quality films available to a global audience. For more information, visit www.filmannex.com. About Judo Judo debuted as an official Olympic sport in 1964 and is practiced by millions of people throughout the world today. The discipline of Judo is a Japanese martial art and combat sport that originated in Japan in the late nineteenth century. Best known for stunning throws, Judo also involves much grappling on the ground like wrestling, using controlled holds, pins and arm locks. Judo, translated as "gentle way," teaches balance, leverage and flexibility in performing throws and other skills, and helps to develop complete body control and fast reflexive action. Skill, technique and timing, rather than brute strength, are the essential ingredients for success in this sport. Worldwide, over 20 million people practice judo, with all age groups, both sexes and disabled persons all able to participate in learning and practicing in the sport. Judo develops self-discipline and respect for oneself and others, and helps teach self-confidence, concentration and leadership skills. It's no coincidence that several world leaders have also studied Judo, including Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, former Prime Minister of Canada Pierre Trudeau, former U.S. Senator of Colorado, Olympian Ben Campbell, and former President Theodore Roosevelt, as well as many celebrity judo practitioners, including director Guy Ritchie, actors Chuck Norris, James Cagney and Peter Sellers. Watching a Judo Competition After a ceremonial bow, each judo match begins with each opponent grabbing each other by collars and sleeve of the judo uniform, the judogi. The objective of the match is to score an "ippon," which wins the match – this is akin to a knockout in boxing or a pin in wrestling. Scoring an ippon can occur from a) throwing the opponent to the ground so he lands on his shoulder or back; b) pinning him to the ground on his back for a length of time; or c) subduing him in a choke, strangle hold or armlock. Any of these score ippon and win the match. Although an ippon is the objective, there are also partial points scored during the match. Points can be awarded when a variety of throws or blocks are successfully accomplished. At the end of the match, the highest quality score wins. #### CONTACT: Carrie Gray ( 516) 967-4729 publicity.judo@gmail.com Eren Gulfidan Film Annex (646) 485-8792 (ext.4) eg@filmannex.com