NEW YORK, NY – The New York Open Team Judo Championship will be a showdown of Canada, Germany, Italy and USA on Sunday, March 6, 2011, in NYC at the New York Athletic Club. The teams in the Judo tournament include some of the strongest players in the world, featuring World Champions. The tournament is sponsored by Film Annex and the New York Athletic Club. Each team consists of five athletes in the following weight divisions: 66 kg, 73 kg, 81 kg, 90 kg and over 90 kg. The winning team will receive a $2,000 prize as well as a coveted champion's plaque to proudly bring back to their native country. In the first round, Team USA will face Team Italy, and Team Canada will face Team Germany. The competition will be in a five-man team format where each team member will fight two matches with the opposing team, and the team with the best of 10 matches advances. The coach of Team USA is World Champion Jimmy Pedro, two-time Olympic Medalist and the Coach of the 2012 US Olympic Judo team. Team USA members are US Ranking #1 Brad Bolen (66kg), Grand Prix medalist and US Ranking #1 Nick Delpopolo (73kg), Grand Slam Medalist and US Ranking #1 Travis Stevens (81kg), Pan American Medalist and US Ranking #3 Garry St. Leger (90kg), and World Cup Champion and US Ranking #1 Kyle Vashkulot (+90kg). The tournament will also have five-time US National Champion Carrie Chandler as live commentator on the action. Team Judo is considered to be the most exciting in the world to watch, and cheering for your favorite country is encouraged. Fans wave country flags and root for players, rocking the room with energy and good-natured rivalry, and at this event a DJ will add to the spirited atmosphere. The judo tournament will be held at the New York Athletic Club, located at 180 Central Park South on the 6th floor. Spectators are welcome, and tickets can be purchased for $25 at the door, free for kids 15 and under. The tournament action will begin at 1 pm, semi-finals at 3 pm, and finals at 6 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