More than 40 boys (pictured above) from Pittsburgh Public Schools’ Summer Dreamers Academy day camp participated in AYD Judo during July and August at Pittsburgh King PreK-8 school.  Enrollment was filled in less than one week after registration opened, and the judo class had one of the highest attendance rates throughout the camp.

AYD Photo Journal

Take a look at some select photos from AYD's latest adventures at home and abroad.

Watch AYD on YouTube!

AYD’s assistant judo instructors recently produced a video about this summers judo program. It highlights all the hard work they put in to make the program fun and meaningful. If you have trouble with the viewer please go to YouTube.

Judo Athletes Earn National Ranking

Devante Tiller, right, won a silver medal and Eric Thorne, left, won bronze August 1 in the 81kg IJF-Junior division at the Junior U.S. Open Judo Championship in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.  Devante’s win came one week after earning a bronze medal in the USA Judo National Junior Olympic Championships in Duluth, Ga.  He has placed in all four of his junior point-level tournament appearances over the past year.  Devante is now ranked second in the country, and Eric is ranked fourth, in the 81kg IJF-Junior division by USA Judo, the Olympic sport’s national governing body.  Both athletes are seeking individual and corporate sponsors as they look to compete internationally.  For more information on sponsorship opportunities, call AYD at (412) 766-5040.

Hajime!

As part of the evening’s entertainment at AYD’s 15^th Anniversary Celebration on July 6^th, elite judo athletes Devante Tiller, Donnie Ray Black and Eric Thorne performed a judo demonstration for the nearly 100 guests in attendance at the August Wilson Center for African American Culture.

 (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review photo.) 

Commercial Break

Donnie Ray Black’s national commercial with Jack Nicklaus for The First Tee debuted in May on The Golf Channel, and will continue airing through the fall during PGA Tour events. You can also view it online at The First Tee's website.