FREEDOM — Zach Cavanaugh dips his shoulder into Kevin Holman, demonstrating one of his judo moves.

Cavanaugh, 9, of Evans City, is a bundle of energy when he talks about judo. His hands flail when he speaks and he sways back and forth, almost like he is anticipating a competitor's attack on the mat.

"My parents wanted me to know how to defend myself," Cavanaugh said, explaining why he took up judo to begin with. "Now I do."

Cavanaugh knows a little more than how to merely defend himself.

Representing Eugene Kim's Martial Arts in Freedom, Cavanaugh won an international judo competition over Memorial Day weekend in Buffalo, N.Y.

Cavanaugh was one of four students at Kim's to do well at judo competitions this season.

Holman recently won a national competition in Toledo.

Grant Colton, 13, of Cranberry Township, placed third at the junior nationals and second in the Liberty Bell competition.

Tanner Kim, 8, of Kennedy and son of Eugene Kim, placed third at the junior nationals.

Judo is best known for its throws, but there is a considerable amount of grappling involved as well.

"Judo is a totally different discipline," Kim said. "There are so many different ways to do judo."

A judo match is won when a participant either throws a competitor on his back or pins him on the mat for 25 seconds.

A participant may also concede at any time.

Cavanaugh accomplished his international title with his brain, more than his brawn, winning with a throw carefully thought out.

Judo is all about executing — and knowing when to strike.

Kim said Cavanaugh is particularly adept at knowing when to attack and what attack to use.

"He's smart," Kim said. "He is a very smart student. He is a different type of kid. He uses his technique at the right time."

Cavanaugh said he was excited to win the final match at the international competition and take home the championship.

"It felt great," Cavanaugh said. "At the end, I went at the kid and won it."

Cavanaugh shows off his winning move again, using Holman has his willing subject. He smiles when he is done and offers up some insight.

"I felt like I had no choice," Cavanaugh said, explaining his winning technique. "That was the last move I hadn't tried yet."

There are more than 100 different throws a person can pull off in judo. It's one of the things that makes the sport so popular.

Cavanaugh likes just about all of them.

"I like learning all the different throws," Cavanaugh said. "And all the different techniques."

While Cavanaugh achieved his first place by thinking his way through the tournament, Holman took a different approach.

All out attacks.

"Kevin is a bull," Kim said. "He grabs him and slams him. He's tough and he works hard. He loves it. He never complains about working and he has the right mental attitude. Judo is hard work. It's not for everybody."

Holman got involved in judo because his dad works out at the Tri-County Soccer Complex, the building where Kim's dojo is located.

"I saw the mat and the people inside," Holman said. "I wanted to try it."

When Holman won his national competition, he said he was very excited.

He also has a way of looking at the sport that belies his youth.

"You can't be afraid to lose," he said. "Sometimes you are facing yourself, too. You just want to do better and better and maybe you'll win a gold medal. I did better than I thought."

Both Cavanaugh and Holman plan to practice judo and other martial arts disciplines for a long, long time.

They have plenty of time to do it.

"My mom says I'll probably keep doing this until I get a black belt," Cavanaugh said. "Then I'll try other stuff."