Chronicles of Sensei Rick: One day at the Kodokan high-grades shiai

Tuesday, April 29 2009.
Arrived at 12 with no judogi as I had two in kyoto and didn’t want to bring one more. The foreign section loaned me a new un-bleached size 5, which was a bit big.

Going by the programme there was 1800 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th dans entered (this must make it the largest judo shiai in the world). It was going to be a long day.

We went for lunch and returned at 2 p.m. They were still on the 6th dans. By 2.30 it was the 7th dans and, as I looked around for my opponent, he was nowhere to be seen . Finally, feeling a bit nervous due to my tennis elbow courtesy of Tim the Russkie, the time came when they called out our names. He was a bit bigger and young looking then myself . . . oh oh! This had better be short and sweet I thought.
Hajime!
I danced, said “come on,” and then it was all over as I bent his arm in jujigatame, which took 10 secs. I enquired if his arm was ok and then bowed off. Of course he had been forewarned about my newaza by the other Japanese judoka. It transpired that he was a Budo who practiced Judo, Kendo, Bo, and Aikido.
Many congratulations came my way and you most remember that the Kodokan does not like newaza that much, preferring tachiwaza.

An All Japan Masters party followed where, for 3000 yen, we drank and ate hugely until I got bored with the Japanese constant chatter about Judo. However, one very interesting thing did emerge. Viser the president of the IJF asked Kodokan international division to send some Japanese to the new IJF masters being held in Germany. The international division said yes without asking the All Japan Masters federation first. This caused a lot of laughter and chatter and, to save face for the Kodokan foreign division, it was decided to send 3 token judoka but! the bulk of the remaining judoka would be going to the World Masters.

Next day was the All Japan Open Championships. Last year, when the boring Beijing Olympics were being held, money could not buy a ticket. This year it was easier but still 7/8’s full. The final was between Muneta and Anai where Muneta was thrown off the tatami into the crowd . . . just like sumo it was.


-- Rick Littlewood in Japan