Roman Hatashita, 1992 Olympic competitor in judo, and multiple Canadian National Champion, visited The Bahamas this week and donated 50 Fuji uniforms to the national training center.
"This gift comes from myself, Mike Tamura, president of Judo Canada, and Mark Hicks of the Edmonton International Judo Classic," said Hatashita. "We are delighted to help out our fellow Commonwealth country. We know the effort that is being placed by your president and his team to develop judo in this country and we are very happy to support it."
Hatashita is the president of Hatashita International, a company he has grown into one of North America's leading martial arts and other combat sports suppliers. The gis were a result of the mutual respect and friendship between the president of Judo Canada and Bahamas Judo Federation (BJF) President D'Arcy Rahming.
"When I told my friend Mike Tamura that The Bahamas would be hosting judo in the Commonwealth Youth Games his immediate response was, 'how can I help?' It just shows how international friendships develop through sports," said Rahming.
The judo uniforms will be used at the national training center and the current uniforms will be sent to Freeport, Grand Bahama which is launching judo at Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church this month.
Hatashita also taught a judo class to about 30 members of the national team showing some of the techniques that propelled him to international success.
"We are so grateful to our sponsors. Fuji will be the national training gi of The Bahamas," said Rahming.
Bahamas Olympic Committee (BOC) President Wellington Miller was on hand. He said: "We are very pleased with judo's development in the country. We believe that this program will develop several Olympians. In the meantime, the values of being a good citizen are being taught. Excellence, respect and friendship are the Olympic values that I see in action here."
The public is encouraged to find out more about the sporting discipline of judo in the country by contacting the Rahming at AllStarBahamas@gmail.com.
Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian
