[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 105 (Wednesday, September 8, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1536-E1537]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING RHADI FERGUSON

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN L. CARDIN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, September 7, 2004

  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend Rhadi Ferguson, a 
Maryland resident who proudly represented the United States as a member 
of its Judo Team in the games of the XXVIIIth Olympiad.

[[Page E1537]]

  A three-time national Judo champion, Rhadi was born in Portland 
Oregon, and earned a football scholarship to Howard University where he 
also wrestled and ran track. Rhadi won the 2004 U.S. Judo Trials in 
June and a bronze medal at the 2004 Pan American Games.
  Rhadi Ferguson is an academic champion as well, having earned a 
master's degree in teaching at Howard University with a perfect 4.0 
grade-point average, and he is now pursuing his doctorate in education.
  Although many consider judo to be very similar to wrestling, the 
sport has as its origins in the ancient Japanese art of jujutsu, a 
system of hand-to-hand combat that is more than 2,000 years old.
  Dr. Jigoro Kano, the founder of modern Judo, introduced many of the 
current techniques used today, and he is largely credited with Judo's 
inclusion in the 1964 Olympic Games. Kano described the sport as ``the 
way to the most effective use of both physical and spiritual strength. 
By training you in attacks and defenses, it refines your body and your 
soul and helps you make the spiritual essence of Judo a part of your 
very being. In this way you are able to perfect yourself and contribute 
something of value to the world. This is the final goal of Judo 
discipline.''
  I am proud that one of my constituents, Rhadi Ferguson, has achieved 
the status of national champion, and I urge my colleagues to join me in 
congratulating him on his participation in the 2004 Olympic Games.

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