IRVINE : 900 Youths Open Judo Competition

Nearly 900 youths from the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Bahamas are competing this weekend in the U.S. Judo Federation’s 1995 Junior, Youth and Team National Championships at UC Irvine.

The first of three youth tournaments that make up the “triple crown” of judo, the competitions award points toward competing in the European circuit when the athletes are older.

“My ultimate goal is trying to make the U.S. Olympic team in the year 2000,” said Aya Kanbe, 18, a graduate of St. Margaret’s Episcopal School in San Juan Capistrano who discovered judo while studying in Japan.

“I didn’t know what it was, and my teacher just said, ‘Why don’t we try judo?’ ” Though she is an avid long-distance runner and soccer player, she found the Japanese sport “defined” her.

Judo is a martial art that concentrates on using momentum, timing and balance to overcome an adversary.

The championships begin at 9 a.m. today and Sunday at UCI’s Bren Events Center. Cost of admission is $5 a day or $8 for both days. Children under 5 are free. Information: (310) 867-7709.