Sensei Rick’s Pick of the Week: “No Bull!”

A dairy farmer needed a bull to service his cows and he borrows the money from the bank to buy it. His banker happens to be visiting a week later and asks how the bull was doing. The farmer complains the bull just eats grass all day and won’t even look at the cows. The banker suggests that a vet be called to check the bull over.
The next week the banker called in to see if the vet helped. The farmer looked pleased.
“The bull,” he said, “has serviced all my cows, broken through the fence and serviced all my neighbours cows as well!”
“Wow!” says the banker, “what did the vet do?”
“Just gave him some pills,” repliers the farmer.
“What kind of pills?” asks the banker.
“I don’t know” says the farmer, “but they tasted like chocolate.”

There is (Almost) Always Someone Bigger and Stronger...

It is often said that Judo affords the little man - through efficient use of energy - an opportunity to triumph and overcome a bigger, stronger adversary. This is generally considered good as there always seems to be someone bigger, stronger, faster, etc...

This maxim, that "there is always someone bigger," may, however, not apply to the guy standing to Andrew’s left. Andrew fought this guy in Qingdao in 2006. He stands 7ft 2" and is 184kg of lean mass.

After running around for 3 minutes, Andrew says he got thrown by Makikomi. He also said that he may have been able to take him...with a baseball bat.

Club Sanctioned and Verified Theory of Intelligence

'Well you see, Norm, it's like this . . . A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members.

In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Now, as we know, excessive intake of alcohol kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine. And that, Norm, is why you always feel smarter after a few beers.'

Do You Have Photos or Video From the Contest?

If you have some good photos or video from the contest can you please share. Kong would like to make them available to the compeditors so they can, at least, laugh at themselves and each other. Please email the goods to: judokong@gmail.com.

Robert Levy Successfully Defends his Judo Title

[Vitaly and Rob (with his back to the camera)]

Robert Levy has successful defended his title, winning the Rick Littlewood Open 2008. Levy, who won the event in 2007, held off Vitaly, former two-time World Sambo Champion, in the final. The Women’s open was won by Deney Hayward.

[Tammy and Deney]

During the contest there were a number of performances that deserve special mention:
* Alex, Sam, and Steve - for performing well in their first contest.
* Deney - for her display of Spartan virtue and perseverance in the face injury (not to mention smashing several heavier men in the Open).
* Yoshio - for the finest throwing technique -- uchimata and tai otoshi -- on the way to the semi-finals.
* Khan - for the best break-fall from uchimata.
* Luke Schuler - for a historic win over his Father.

Special mention and thanks also goes out to Sensei Rick, Darren Cutfield (Judokwai), Jacky for draw, Wayne for doing the BBQ, and everyone who came to support the contest. The Club wishes you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Congradulations Little Humans!

The University Judo Club would like to congratulate all its junior members that took part in the Little Humans contest on Monday (15 December 2008). In the picture above we see the first three place-getters. The winner, Nic Schuler (standing on the left holding the trophy), took out the final by throwing Keanu with a very clean ippon seionage.
Judo for the Juniors has now finished for the year. It will resume when school starts again in 2009. Well done everyone. Thank you for a good year and we will see you on the may in 09.'

Sensei Rick's Pick of the Week: Vintage Prof. Kano

Joel Tudor, Pro Surfer Turned B(asically) J(ust) J(udo) Addict

This week on The FightWorks Podcast our guest is Joel Tudor. Tudor is a brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, but he is more widely known for being the best surfer in the world when it comes to long boards, having won world championships for years in a row. When he is not in first place, he finds himself in second or third place. However, as you will hear him explain in this episode, he says that, “I competed professionally [in surfing] for seventeen years... I don’t think I ever got as much satisfaction winning a surf contest as I did in jiu-jitsu”. We’ll discuss the similarities and differences of BJJ and surfing as sport, lifestyle, and addiction.
Also, in addition to a rundown of the latest in BJJ news from all over, we’ll have an episode of the fan-favorite Black Belt Corner. Our guest on this week’s show is none other than Kyra Gracie.
To get the podcast and original article go to: The Fightworks podcasts.com [http://thefightworkspodcast.com/2008/05/04/joel-tudor-surfer-bjj/]

Playing Judo with the Japanese Police

Kyoto is easy for a Judo player to navigate. Ichi, ni, san, Shi, etc... and you’ve got all the main streets sorted. Add a bike to the mix and you have total access. Fortunately, Sensei Rick hooked us up. Dennis and Khan got the good bikes. Kong got the lame white one (and he remained sour until he handed the bike back and only had to pay 250 yen for 3 days bike hire).

October is a great time of year to be in Kyoto. Not too warm, not too cool. Kong wore his shorts; his NZ winter-white legs beaming at the locals. Only gaijin wear shorts and only gaijin run the gauntlet of the main street of downtown on old bicycles with less than adequate brakes (apparently a no cycling area).

Our second Judo session in Kyoto was at the Police College Dojo. Technically it was not the Police Dojo proper but a high school club run by police for the local kids. What this means is that a large proportion of the seniors on the mat are police – big ones.

The Judo was superb and everyone had a great time. Everyone except Clayton (whose ribs were still broken) and Wayne (whose wrist still hasn’t mended properly after Akita) because they had to stand on the side of the mat when they would rather have been playing.


[Jack sweating a little bit]

As per all the Judo sessions we encountered in Japan there was no instruction. There was a warm-up (following a closely prescribed pattern -- it was almost exactly the same as what we had encountered in Doishisha). Then there was some newazza (which was considered to be part of the warm-up), and then there was randori, followed by more randori, followed by more randori. And then there was getting smashed by the guy who had the fastest yoko-tomoenage on record...followed by more randori.

[Dennis Vs. young Japanese man destined to be police judo thug]

What made the randori even more exciting was all the noise being made by the kids kendo class in the background. Apparently the local judo players hate it for precisely this reason. Kong felt it added atmosphere. Either way, it was great to experience what you’d probably call grass-roots Judo in an every-day club. The Police Judoka were very hospitable and I think it is safe to say that everyone there felt honored to have the opportunity to play Judo with them.

[Andrew Vs. police judo thug]

After training, after helping lift and stack a third of gymnasium worth of mats, and after sweating several litres of beer, it was time to go. True to form Sensei Rick tried to lose us all again by giving us 3 minutes to get fully changed, out, and on the way back to the train.

Next: A visit to one of the strong-holds of Kosen Judo and a brief explanation as to why we should have punched out an American Aikido player.

Ryoko Tani (33 yrs) Aiming for Gold in 2012

[From the Mainichi Daily News] Veteran judo wrestler Ryoko Tani's next tournament appearance will be at the 2009 Paris Grand Slam in France, the All Japan Judo Federation announced Sunday.

Rosters for six tournaments across Europe were announced, with the 48-kilogram class Tani to fight in Paris in February.

"I spoke to Tani, and she said 'I'm going to keep going until the London Olympics,' " said Ryuji Sonoda, manager for Japan's women's judo competitors.

The right to a place on the London Olympics squad is determined by a points system, based on tournament results. Results in the Paris tourney carry more points than non-Grand Slam competitions.

The 33-year-old Tani has won a record seven world titles and two Olympic gold medals.

Rick Littlwood Open: If I Was a Betting Man?

Kosen Judo: A Brief Study in Sankaku

Sensei Hirata demonstrates Senkaku (towards the end)




Kashiwazaki's Sankaku one and two.

Old Footage Demonstrating Kansetsu-Waza

More on the Guard Pass by Katsuhiko Kashiwazaki

“No effect of blue on winning contests in judo”

Author(s): Peter D. Dijkstra and Paul T.Y. Preenen
Publication: Proceedings of the Royal Society
Issue: Volume 275, Number 1639 / May 22, 2008
Pages: 1157-1162
Abstract: A study by Rowe et al. reported a winning bias for judo athletes wearing a blue outfit relative to those wearing a white one during the 2004 Olympics. It was suggested that blue is associated with a higher likelihood of winning through differential effects of colour on opponent visibility and/or an intimidating effect on the opponent. However, we argue that there is no colour effect on winning in judo. We show that alternative factors, namely allocation biases, asymmetries in prior experience and differences in recovery time are possible confounding factors in the analysis of Rowe et al. After controlling for these factors, we found no difference in blue and white wins. We further analysed contest outcomes of 71 other major judo tournaments and also found no winning bias. Our findings have implications for sports policy makers: they suggest that a white–blue outfit pairing ensures an equal level of play.

Sode Guruma Jime by Katsuhiko Kashiwazaki

Getting Past the Legs (passing the half guard) by Kashiwazaki Katsuhiko

Demonstrated during contest (...with an "interesting" sound track).

King Kong On A Roll in Akita

Here is the new footage of Rick Littlewood (U90's) without the ref standing in the way.

Replay: Simon's Pick of Week From 08.10.08

[Khan, is this what you meant?]

Kong Expands into Youtube

http://www.youtube.com/judokongdotcom

Coming Soon: Judo Stories From Kyoto

[Deney, Khan, and Andrew in front of the Budokan in Kyoto]

Judo's Answer to Beach Volley Ball

Studies in Harai goshi

[Japanese Imperial Police]


[Harai Goshi in the MMA]


[By Mike Swain]

NZ Masters Tour 08': Higashihiroshima and the Missing Hotel

Laughing at the misfortunes of others is not only the sport of champions, it’s intrinsic to capitalism. In fact, you could argue that tales of others misfortune are essential to our late-phase of capitalism because bad news make the good news of advertisings possible. Bad news and tales of misfortune promote satisfaction with the status quo, and induces survival-reward buying behaviours. Sensei Rick, being a dedicated capitalist, celebrates laughing at others. He takes great satisfaction in re-telling the story of how Pat Toner’s Japanese is so bad that when he went into a store with the intention of borrowing a pair of scissors he ended up asking for a crocodile (To his credit, it becomes funnier with every telling). He also took great pleasure in finding out how we got very lost after he sent us on a wild goose chase in search of the wrong hotel.



There are three Toyoko Hotels within a relatively close distance to the station at Hiroshima. Despite the itinerary that Sensei Rick wrote us and his extensive and labored verbal instructions that clearly stated that we were staying at the Toyoko Hotel in front of the station in Hiroshima, none of them was ours.

Our hotel that he booked was in Higashihiroshima – not even the same city. Higashihiroshima is an “academic city with harmony between humans and nature” adjacent to Hiroshima.

[the Judo master adapts quickly to his environment and is able to sleep anywhere]

On this particular night Pat may as well have been asking for crocodiles, the receptionists English wasn’t working, and no one had any answers. The next few hours were a bit like chewing on broken glass. Eventually Dennis’ blood sugars must have hit critical lows as she stormed in to take control. Before long we were on the Shinkansen bound for Higashihiroshima. It was funny insofar as we knew that the Tauranga group (who had become separated from Sensei Rick) behind us were sharing in the same set of misfortunes.


All was forgiven and forgotten when we made it to our hotel and Khan made the discovery of the tour — 300 Yen hip flasks of Whiskey in the local seven eleven (the bottle on the left. The Suntory was 500 yen (roughly equivalent to the price of five packets of chewing gum). After a few drinks in the lobby we went to the bar around the corner (the only place open close by). We meet up with Sensei Rick who had, mysteriously, been saved the trouble and managed to get straight to Higashihiroshima.

Some measure of revenge was metered out quickly, stealthily, and by the dram. We had smuggled the Whiskey in and, as Rick talked, Wayne poured…and poured…and poured. The waza of the ever filling cup (that had been used to such great effect on Pudgey only a few nights before by the Japanese masters), was again shown to be a powerful waza! Sensei-I only drink Ibsu Green Tea-Rick, didn’t manage to finish a story without it spiraling into at least five others. Getting a prostate exam, visions of Russian tarts, and borrowing money from Japanese Businessmen to go to the Munich Olympics all blended into one of the most entertaining series of stories you’ve ever heard. Rumour has it he was not so flash the next day -- but we were laughing.

Next: No more tourist stories. It's Judo again as we get back to Kyoto, play Judo with the Police, and visit the "heartland" of Kosen Judo at Kyoto University.

Kano Jiu-Jitsu Contest Rules: The Original Kodokan Judo Tournament Rules

1. Each contestant shall wear coat and belt.

2. A contestant shall be deemed to have been defeated when his two shoulders and hips shall have touched the floor, provided that said contestant shall have reached this position on the floor through having been thrown down.

3. A contestant shall be deemed to have been defeated when in such position on the floor, if said combatant cannot free himself from his opponent's arms within two seconds' time.

4. A contestant shall be deemed to have been defeated when from any cause or causes he may become unconscious. But it is not permitted to use serious tricks when the wrestling bout is between friends. Such tricks as kicking and the breaking of arms, legs, and neck are barred.

5. A combatant shall be deemed to have been defeated when he has been reduced to submission through the employment by his opponent of any hold or trick.

6. When a defeated combatant finds himself obliged to acknowledge his submission, he must pat or hit the floor or his antagonist's body, or somewhere, with his hand or foot. This patting with foot or hand is to be regarded as a token of surrender.

7. When a defeated combatant pats or hits the floor, or anywhere, in token of submission, the victor must at once let go his hold.

8. It is understood and agreed that the Jiu-Jitsu man, whether he fights a boxer or contests with a wrestler, shall be allowed to use in his defense any of the tricks that belong to the art of Jiu-Jitsu.

9. It is further understood and agreed that the Jiu-Jitsu man assumes no responsibility for any injury or injuries caused by any act or thing done during the contest, and that the Jiu-Jitsu man shall be held free and blameless for any such ill effect or injury that may be received during the contest.

10. Two competent witnesses representing each side, or four in all, shall see to it that these articles of agreement are properly drawn, signed, and witnessed, to the end that neither contestant or other participant in the match shall have cause for action on any ground or grounds resulting from any injury or injuries, or death, caused during the contest.

By H. Irving Hancock and Katsukuma Higashi, The Complete Kano Jiu-Jitsu (Judo), (New York: Dover Publications, 1905). Taken from: http://www.judoinfo.com/rules.htm

New Date & Time For Club Judo Contest!

The Rick Littlewood Open 2008 has been rescheduled. The new date is Wednesday 17 December 2008, beginning at 6pm. The date has been changed on logistic grounds (The NZ College Games are on the 14th December). The club extends its apologies to those who have scheduled around the 14th. Despite the change the format remains the same — mens and womens open. We will be fighting for the trophy won by Robert Levy last year.

The Rick Littlewood Little Humans Judo Open will be held next Monday, 15 December 2008, starting at 5pm. The small people will be battling it out for the Lion Red Trophy (which stands at least half as tall as some of them).

Any questions, inquires, etc… contact Rick Littlewood. Tel: 0275 989 585 or Email: r.littlewood@xtra.co.nz



[event mood music...admittedly for strikers but it kind of works]

All Australian MASTERS Judo Champions Update

[7th Dec.2008] Yesterday was the last day for entries into the all Australian Masters Judo Championships. If you have not done so sent off today or as soon as possible, its not too late.
Response to my mass email was good plus l have heard from Joyce that entries are coming in.
Geelong is a very nice city, close to Melbourne.
If you wish to enquiry as to how many entries that may be in your age/weight division please contact the organisers direct: www.AustralianMastersGames.com should get you there.
A New Zealand team will depend on the entries and while anyone can enter a master’s event without being registered to a national body our new president has indicated that only those who are registered with Judo New Zealand may represent Judo New Zealand
World masters in 2009
Please note that this has been changed from Budapest to possibility the big apple New York in late July[politics again]

See you all in Geelong

Rick Littlewood
Auckland Uni Judo Club

[From left to right: Simon, Wayne, Snoopy, Greg, Plumb, Jack, Jordan, Denney, Khan, Andrew]

Akita Judo Party From a Different Angle

[What began as a good idea...]


[Gave birth to more ideas]


[Friends, being who they are, offer their support]


[And before you know it the bottle's empty]


[You are in the company of interesting people]


[On the other side of the world]


[Unable to speak the same language, yet united by a common pursuit]

[...and then...]

NZ Masters Judo Tour on Miyojima: The Shrine Island

Mysterious are the ways of Sensei Rick. No sooner had he invested the time and care into ensuring that everyone assembled, as a group, outside the memorial, he immediately set about trying to discourage all and any group-type movement and activity. He raced ahead through the ticketing station where we purchased tickets to Miyojima. When, after struggling to catch up, we found him he was relaxing in the park drinking iced coffee. Hurry up….hurry up…became…wait….wait….. Seriously, it was impossible to win.

[Sensei Rick Littlewood at Miyojima]

The Tauranga faction stayed and waited. The Uni faction simply abandoned their exalted Master and Sensei and went with Pat Tonner. Pat is an interesting character. He’s been in Japan on and off since the 1950s. Not only is he a 78 yr old, 7th dan, who is still fighting and hitting the mat, he’s, apparently, guaranteed a seat (or whatever you get) in heaven on account of having walked a prescribed series of Temples (more details soon).



There’s plenty to tell about Pat but the essential matter was that we were in safe hands. Safe hands, however, turned out to be slow hands. We rode the lamest train out to the Ferry terminal, stopping nearly every 2 minutes.


Frustration gave way to satisfaction as soon as we made the Ferry. As soon as we got to the island it became apparent why the it is a UNESCO world heritage site.



On the island deer walk about freely. As soon as the Bambie comparison has worn off you get to see them as being not unlike NZ seagulls, just bigger, lesser in number, and without the power of flight. All the same, Kong did feel some sympathy for one of the deer when he saw a fat German tourist punch it in the mouth when it came to steal his wife’s food. Presumably there is/are some karmic repercussions given that the deer were once protected as divine messengers of Itsukushima Shrine.





Since there is no Judo involved in this part of the story I will leave the rest to the tourist brochures. Heading “home” we find out about Rick’s second mistake (the first, he says, was taking us).


[Team Tauranga at the oyster joint]

Coming soon: half finished tales about missing hotels, 300 Yen Whiskey, and Sensei Rick’s experiences with Russian tarts, prostate examinations, and the Munich Olympics.

New IJF Rules Tested and Approved

The International Judo Federation have recently announced that the new rules recently tested in Bangkok are APPROVED! The new rules come into effect 01.01.2009. For further details please visit the IJF website. Exponents of the too-tight, European-style Judo gi's will be sorely disappointed by the newly instituted sokuteiki rule.

NZ Masters Judo Tour in Hiroshima

It was the day of the Kurama Festival (one of the three most remarkable festivals in Kyoto) and it seemed as if all Japan was descending upon the city. Beyond the immediate delights in the hotel-lobby (and I am not talking the Yankee wife of long-established Japanese martial arts entrepreneur who was chatting up Pat), women, fire, and dangerous things were on offer.

Despite the myriad of opportunities and possibilities, however, we were headed to Hiroshima. For the first time since the beginning of our voyage we moved with little friction. The reason was simple. After having watched and laughed at team Tauranga haplessly lug several tons of luggage through crowded train stations for days, Sensei Rick imposed a strict luggage ban.

On arriving at Hiroshima station we jumped the tram heading for ground-zero. It is a strange thing to be heading, essentially as a tourist, to a site where over 140,000 people died as a result of a single bomb blast.



The “strangeness” did not abate. Soon we were standing at the epicenter of the blast from “Little Boy.” The bomb was deployed over the city August 6, 1945. While it has been said that the bomb helped bring WWII to an end, it did so by searing nearly everything living in the city to death.

The park that contains the various memorials was teeming with Japanese school children. For the most part they were being directed around in orderly lines, singing, laughing, and generally being kids. They had tied thousands of prayers to various monuments around the park.

While we were in the park Kong spoke, briefly, with a man who offered free tours of the region. He claimed that he had survived on account of being in his mother’s womb at the time of the blast. Now, he said, he devotes his life to teaching people about Hiroshima and what happened there. He had a guest book that had entries from over 80 countries.

Next we went through the Museum. It was also hot, noisy, and there were millions of school kids a little over waist high running around. It was hard to find the emotions to fit with the situation.

Coming soon: A visit to Miyojima with Pat Toner and the case of the "missing" hotel

And then back to Kyoto for more Judo

Recent Release: Yawara! “A Fashionable Judo Girl” TV Series Box Set 1

Inokuma Yawara just wants to be an ordinary high-school girl. Unfortunately for her, she's been trained since she was a toddler by her grandfather, Jigoro, to be a judo prodigy. Nothing less than an Olympic Gold Medal and the coveted National Merit Award will satisfy him, and he'll do anything to ensure that she achieves it.

And if that isn't enough, a pesky sports reporter is on her trail, convinced she's Japan's next superstar -- and that picture of her taking down a mugger (with her panties showing) on the front page of his cheesy sports newspaper isn't helping matters at all!

AnimEigo is proud to be releasing one of Japan's most popular and long-running Anime TV series, based on the sweet and hilarious hit manga by Naoki Urasawa -- Yawara, the Fashionable Judo Girl.

The entire first season (40 episodes) is now available. This is a special limited edition set, and may go out of print fairly quickly. We are pressing a relatively small amount of copies, and there is no guarantee we'll make more.