Our Tradition: Kosen + Contemporary Olympic

The Auckland University Judo Club style fuses Kosen and contemporary Olympic Judo. The current Sensei is Rick Littlewood (7th Dan, from Kodokan Judo and the NZJF). Sensei Rick has trained extensively at Doshisha University, Kyoto, and studied under Kimura Mitsuro (8th Dan), affectionately known as “Mr. Sankaku,” and Ebii Goichi (9th Dan), the “god of Newaza.” His present Judo Sensei is Isao Okano from Ryuzukei University. The Club was founded in 1960 by Jerry Van Kylenburg. We are an affiliated member of the New Zealand Judo Federation (NZJF).

06 July 2009

Sensei Rick’s Judo Coup: The Most Exciting and Enjoyable NZ Judo Contest in a Decade!?

[Saturday, July 04, 2009, Auckland, NZ]
Team Judokwai have defeated Auckland University Judo to win the first round of the New Zealand North Island Batsugun Judo contest. Judokwai made the final and earned the right to challenge the host team by defeating Western and then Waikato. The final was a tense affair with great judo and side-line ridiculousness in equal admixture.

As the hosts of the event, University Judo would like to congratulate the deserved winners, and unofficially declare Darren “Cutty” Cutfeild man of the final. With several injured players on the sidelines, Cutty showed real fighting-spirit, skill, and determination.

University Judo would like to thank:
First and foremost, the players (especially the Wellington team for travelling up to the event). We would also like to offer a big thanks to Dave Browne (aka Ramses Gold), the referees, and the timekeepers. Everything ran smoothly. The judging was of exceptional quality and it was great to see the full and proper definition of Ippon being applied (despite no shortage of partisan hecklers). We also need to thank Jackie (as always, busy behind the scenes). And offer thanks to the hecklers. You make it colorful and much less bland (Donald, leading the charge again). A special mention of thanks also needs to be made to the Judokwai and Western players who were looking to brawl one another off the mat. That s#^t was like when you accidentally stumble across two drunken homeless people, bathed in their own urine, trying to copulate on Queen St late on a Friday night — hilarious and entertaining . . . yet also embarrassing (not to mention contrary to the spirit of Judo and the event itself).

Honourable mention:
* The masters: still fighting! Greg, Tuffy, Wayne, Kumar, Rob, Ben (and those I have forgotten).
* The kyu grade players: while the standard of Judo was high and there were some formidable players you represented your respective clubs and fought as hard as you could.

More details, photos, and video footage coming soon!

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