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Portage Daily Graphic

Alumni By: Tyler Crayston

Alumni Spotlight – Rick Williamson

BRANDON – Judo was off the radar when Rick Williamson first tried his hand at the sport as a 13-year-old farm boy from Belmont, Man.
 
"My dad said, 'do you want to try judo?' That was kind of unheard of at the time in a small town. I can remember the first day clear as a bell. I believe it was 50 cents a lesson."
 
Rick realized his calling through a connection to a more obvious sport of choice -- baseball.
 
His dad, Harvey, was a standout with the Belmont A's for 25 years and was inducted into the Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002. Rick's brother, Bob, was also enshrined in 2004 after an excellent run with the Riverside Canucks.
 
Harvey and Jack Denbow played against each other for years on the ball field. 
 
Jack had returned from a year in Japan where he mastered his craft as a judo instructor and took Rick under his wing.
 
"The sport grew on me and I have no idea why. I think I was just in the right place at the right time. It all fell together for me in that respect."
 
"I remember my first tournament was in Regina and I had never been anywhere before. It was the furthest that I had ever been and gosh, I thought I was in New York City. The bright lights of Regina."
 
The road less travelled soon became a rite of passage for Rick.
 
A defining moment came during his high school days. His Brandon-based judo team travelled to Minneapolis to compete in a nine-state tournament. Williamson and his teammates returned home with four of five division titles.
 
"It was an exciting thing for us to do. The tournament officials were quite impressed with how strong a team we had."
 
Rick represented Manitoba four times at national championships and in 1971 he took part in the Canada Winter Games in Saskatoon. He never reached the podium, but received something of far more personal value.
 
"When I was staying in the athletes village I got a telegram and it was from my hometown and everyone had signed it to wish me well. That is what a small town will do for you."
 
3138He also kicked things up a notch as a student-athlete at Brandon University in 1971. That year, BU hosted the Western Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Association Judo Championship. Rick won the middleweight division and defeated an opponent from the Alberta Golden Bears in the final.
 
"It was great with all my friends watching and it was exciting to do it at home. The University of Alberta always seemed to win everything so I was able to break their monopoly on it that year."
 
In 1972, Williamson successfully defended his judo title at the westerns in Winnipeg.
 
He also never shied away from tackling new challenges. He became a Bobcat during the 71-72 season as a member of the football team.
 
"I remember being out of my league that is for sure. They were looking for some people with athletic ability, so I joined up. It was another great experience to learn the football drills. There were some neat guys on that team and I made some new friends."
 
Rick will get the chance to re-live the glory days on the gridiron when BU hosts a football reunion as part of Homecoming from October 13-15.
 
"It sounds really cool. I am looking forward to seeing some people that I haven't seen in years, it will be great."
 
After graduating from Brandon University, Rick became a teacher and spent 29 years at Arthur Meighen High School in Portage la Prairie.

He remains heavily involved in martial arts and is the head jiu-jitsu instructor in Portage where he has trained over 40 of his students to black belt level.
 
"It has been a very rewarding experience and obviously I am biased towards martial arts, but I think it is a great thing for kids to learn. There is more to it then kicking, punching and throwing people. There is a code and we try to make our students adhere to it and I think it makes them better citizens and people in the future."
 
Rick remains hooked after 53 years in martial arts and his contributions are being recognized.
 
The World Kobudo Federation recently promoted Rick to seventh degree black belt in jiu-jitsu. According to the WKF, Rick is among a select few to reach seventh degree or higher in Canada. The top ranking in the world is tenth degree for jiu-jitsu. The federation considered Rick for the honour based on his years of training, teaching and development of the art of jiu-jitsu.
 
A special ceremony will be held in Portage on April 30 where Rick will be presented his official certificate.
 
"I am very humbled by the whole thing and sometimes it seems surreal. You don't get here by yourself. Everyone that I have been involved with in martial arts has helped me reach this position. I appreciate everything that people did for me to get here."
 
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