Wayne's Pick of the Week

After it was graded and the child brought it home, she returned to school the next day with the following note:

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Dear Ms. Davis,

I want to be very clear on my child's illustration. It is NOT of me on a dance pole on a stage in a strip joint. I work at Home Depot and had commented to my daughter how much money we made in the recent snowstorm. This photo is of me selling a shovel.

Mrs. Harrington

Coming Soon: Uni Judo Paintball Smackdown!

Judo Psychology Research Project and Book

Ajamu sent the following invitation to Judokong. Perhaps, you feel that you have something to offer. You can find Ajamu's details via judokong's profile on Facebook.

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Dear Judo Player:

I am so grateful for your email. I have high hopes for this book and feel that your efforts will be invaluable. The elements that you suggest will make this book an even more powerful resource for judo players all over the world. If you can suggest books or articles on judo or have photos or video available on Youtube.com I would love to review it in preparing this text. My expertise is the mind and the mental preparation of athletes and performers. I rely upon you for your judo expertise and am very willing to learn from your wisdom, discoveries and experiences gained in this incredible art. I have included a list of 25 questions for you. I thank you in advance for sharing insights into your world.

All the Best,

Ajamu “A.J.” Ayinde, M.A., A.C.H.

Master Mental Coach

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1. As a coach/competitor what do you do to get out of a slump?

2. What does judo mean to you?

3. How do/did you prepare yourself mentally the night before a big match?

4. What is your most memorable match?

5. What personal challenges did you overcome as you were working toward your black belt?

6. As a coach what advice do you offer to players who try to rely on power rather than technique?

7. Which colleges in your country have strong judo programs?

8. When was the "golden age" of judo in your country? Was there a time when your country was winning more medals in international competition?

9. What are the biggest issues facing judo on a national level in your country?

10. What are the issues that players need mental skills training to address?

(fear, doubt, hesitation, low confidence, slumps, choking, procrastination, giving up early in match, being intimidated, low self esteem, etc.)

11. How would your rate the following mental skills in order of importance: relaxation, self talk, imagery, mental toughness, goal setting, motivation, and concentration?

12. How does judo influence and enhance your daily life?

13. What pearls of wisdom have you learned from Kano Sensei or a personal teacher or coach?

14. How do you let go of past mistakes, losses and setbacks?

15. Name three ways that you help athletes foster belief in themselves?

16. Can you explain the role that superstition or good luck charms play in lives of judo competitors?

17. Please give an example of a bad call that you received as a player or witnessed as a coach. How did you handle it? (The venues and names will be changed in the book.)

18. What are some typical injuries you have experienced in judo?

19. What are some common fears that players have? (Being injured, looking foolish, losing a scholarship, disappointing one’s coach or team, etc.)

20. What is your experience with hypnosis?

21. What is your experience with sports psychology?

22. What role does Zen or spirituality play in your practice of judo?

23. Is meditation important to development in judo? (If so, should it be done once a day, 3xs a week, once a week, as needed, or not at all?)

24. Do you know of any players who have gone on record about the importance of psychology or mental training to the sport? Please cite books, magazine or newspaper articles.

25. If you were to construct a "judo cyborg" that had the best elements of different players past and present, who would be included and which elements? Please give special attention to mental skills like confidence, focus, work ethic, composure, determination, or ability to bounce back from adversity.

Thank you for your time.

Last Days (part three of three)

The morning of the 26th saw everyone worse for wear – or perhaps that was merely a projection through jaundiced eyes.

The day passed lazily. We took full advantage of the Western-style, all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet at K’s (I assume it was all-you-can-eat? but whose going to tell a team of Judo players otherwise).

By the afternoon we were bound by train to the airport in Osaka, and before long we were cruising at 40,000 ft. Sleeping was easy.

On landing we had the transit lounge of the Christchurch International airport largely to ourselves. The excess of personal space was intoxicating. Through the wide glass windows you could look up at the alps, resplendent and fresh in the bright New Zealand sun. The contrast, between New Zealand and Japan could not have been more stark. After a short break we were back on the plane for a flight home to Auckland. And so ended the NZ Masters Tour. Some good Judo. Medals. Defeats. Cultural enrichment, an international sporting relations coup for NZ, good food, and a few good beers thrown in for good measure. At this point all that is left to say is thank you.

The Auckland University Judo Club would like to offer official thanks to Bob, Carl, Sensei Rick, and Yumiko. We would also like to thank Toyoko Inns, K’s backpackers, Suntory, and whoever the genius was who decided to put vending machines everywhere in Japan.

Last days (part two of three)

The evening kicked off with Sensei Rick taking the Tauranga boys to an exclusive, traditional restaurant to say thank you on behalf of Auckland University Judo. (The club, till that point, had failed to buy any beers and it can only be regarded as miraculous that anyone from the club found their wallet to contribute at all).
[Richard looking happy considering he has a fractured shoulder]

[Clayton, with a broken rib, and Bob, with very little skin left...You have to wonder why Tauranga folk are so fragile]

From what I gather the restaurant specialty was a very special chicken broth or near equivalent. I think there was a reasonable amount of Saki had too.
[Carl]

When we encountered team Tauranga (just outside K’s as we were leaving) they were falling out of the Taxi. They were also semi-coherently talking about Samurai ways and the future of NZ Judo. Sensei Rick had, apparently, been inspirational.

We all headed off to an English pub. On the way we banged into Conan and his son (they guy who broke Clayton’s rib) who we had encountered several days earlier on the mat. Given they were Muslims they declined to have a drink with us.

The pub was much like the archetypal English pub the world over – boring. Kong lobbied to go to Sam and Dave's. For the sake of a public record I’ll say that no one else wanted to go.

Before long we were parting with a cover-charge and getting the full pat-down and metal detector wave-over. Sam and Dave’s was expensive and the music questionable. There were, however, some interesting people. There was the French exchange students, who were fun to interact with. There was also one Japanese girl who had come up from Osaka for the night. She had lived the previous year in Cambridge and had spent her time riding horses.

[Here is a PG-rated photo of some bikini clad women who look nothing like the girl who lived in Cambridge or the French exchange students. I don't really have a valid excuse for posting it other than I’ve got no other photos at this point. All the photo takers were at home in bed]

At this juncture this record becomes slightly more suspect than usual. Somehow we got back to the English pub. Hilarity ensued and we got thrown out because someone from Tauranga took exception to a gaijin Bono-wannabe. So it was back to Sam and Dave’s. Here it was not much better. Before long one Dorklander and one Tauranga-ite were expelled for unknown reasons. The others...who knows...

Coming soon: Home, the resplendent alps, and final thank-you's.

Aaron's Pick of the Week

Last Days in Kyoto (part one of three)

On the morning of the 25th the NZ Masters moved to K's backpackers, our new, temporary, head-quarters. Cute French backpackers; Cute German backpackers; Cute Japanese at the desk. Good bar. Good breakfast. Good facilities. Clean, airy, and light, etc …The question quickly became why didn’t we stay here longer? The only point of contention was who was going to have to share a room with Bob (who can only be described as a snoring machine).




Having bid Dennis and Khan farewell (they were flying out as Dennis was going to compete in the Nationals at home) everyone went their own separate ways. The youthful contingent of Team Tauranga got on it. Wayne, Pat, and Kong went to BIC CAMERA. While sales reps watched us like Hawks we took the time to enjoy what can only be said to be the Mercedes of massage chairs. Legs, arms, layback...Kong lobbied to go get a six pack and just hang out there all day.


[From the evening before at Kyoto University]

Wayne and Pat seemed to think Kong’s plan was implausible. They had another plan that involved having lunch in the underground city (beneath the station) and drinking coffee in a Starbucks on the corner just across from the Kyoto station.


[From the evening before at Kyoto University]

The Starbucks coffee was shit. The panoramic vista provided by the place itself, on the other hand, was an unparalleled point from which to observe the civilized yet bustling throng of humanity that is Kyoto. It would have been easy to spend the day there. Energy levels were low and plans of racing around to see everything evaporated quickly.

Coming soon: Part two -- Kyoto at night and almost a fight with a Bono wannabe.

Karo Parisyan in UFC 94

[From http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2009/1/27/738258/karo-parisyan-is-in-a-must]
Everyone is rightly focused on the main event of UFC 94, but there are a number of intriguing matches on the card below it. One of the most intriguing is Karo Parisyan vs. Dong Hyun Kim.
A year or so ago, Karo was just one win away from a title fight at 170. After losing to Thiago Alves and canceling a fight in September, a number of people have questioned whether his heart is really in it. There are also a number of questions about Dong, who came into the UFC with a lot of hype and got off to a good start, but nearly dropped the ball at UFC 88 with a close decision win over Matt Brown.
Both guys are only a win away from getting into the mix of contenders at 170. Neither is close to a title shot, and Karo probably won't even take one now that he trains with GSP, but he badly needs a win both for his ranking status and for his own self confidence.
Karo spoke with Fight Hype, where he made his intentions very clear:
"I'm going to come out from bell to bell and just try to crush him. I want to run through him like a tractor, bro; like a tank....I have to bring the old Karo back. I have to bring that aggressive style back to be a contender and become a champion."
Both men are well versed in judo, which should make for a very interesting fight. Karo has the better judo pedigree, but Dong is no slouch. Hopefully this marks the return of exciting Karo Parisyan fights.

Rick Littlewood Open 08' Photo's Available

Thank you Marc for the exceptional photo's of the Rick Littlewood Open 08'. Clearly, your skills with the camera are legendary. The full album can be accessed using the slide show in the right column.

Ni Dan Ko Soto Gari by Okano

Seoi Nage to Ko Uchi by Okano

O Soto Gari by Isao Okano

Towards Shodan

Wayne brought a brand new, high-grade silk black belt from the Kodokan when the NZ Masters were in Japan. Because he is only a brown belt (1st Kyu) he asked Sensei Rick, before buying it, if it was bad etiquette and/or whether there were any karmic repercussions for buying it before it had been formally earned and awarded. Sensei Rick just laughed and said “go for it!”

After buying the belt, Wayne said that he’d put it on the mantle piece and then he and his son Luke, who is also a brown belt, would have a race to see who can earn it first. The winner takes the goods.

As it stands the contest is shaping up to be an epic struggle. At the last club contest the victory went to Luke (which may well have been because his Dad made the choice not to monster him on the ground where he has a decided edge). But Wayne (46 yrs) and Luke (16 yrs) have quite different requirements to fulfil according to the NZJF rules and regulations for getting to black belt. Luke, being young and fit, needs to earn far more contest points. Wayne, by contrast, can take advantage of his age and supplement his contest points with other things.

To make the race, which will undoubtedly be sorted out this year, more interesting there are 11 other brown belts training regularly at the club who will be joining in: Max, Jack, Vivek, Jacky, John, Dennis, Maren, Andrew, Aaron, Alex, and Mario. If Barney is back (which he intends to be) the number will be 12. And if Khan continues going the way he is going it will be 13. The sum total then will be 15 registered and affiliated members of Auckland University Judo that will be looking to gain the required points and perform their kata this year. Needless to say it looks like it will be a fun year at the club. Let the race begin…I think a box of beer to two ought to be wagered? Any takers?
[NZJF requirements for shodan are coming soon]

From Around the World

Carlo Grava (Italian Judoka One-Legged) says hi to the club via Facebook. Carlo says: "I have had a first competition with new rules and my pupils was't no bad ....I things is good new rules... maybe we could arrive to have only waza ari and ippon for next Olympic game !!!"
Cheers Carlo. The Club wishes you good health and good fighting!

NZ Masters in Kyoto

The saga of the NZ masters continues….(two more episodes to go).
[I’ll add more photos soon]

Back in Kyoto the agenda for the day was to look around and then make our way to Kyoto University for Judo in the afternoon.

It was a day where everyone went their separate ways. Some had bikes, others grovelled. Dennis was off with Yumiko buying a Kimono. Khan and Kong got culture but quickly became templed out. Sooner rather than later they found themselves in a noodle house, talking shit and discussing the similarities and differences between striking arts and Judo, soap land, and Japanese sword making.

As luck would have it, later in the day, a contingent of AKL uni club met up with Sensei Rick outside a sword shop not far from the Kyoto Budokan. After a short adventure in the tourist shop, talking to a mute who made jewellery and buying the best pair of jandals yen can buy, team AKL Uni went to the Budokan.



At the Budokan we saw a retiree’s ping-pong tournament in one building. In the other were two Americans having what appeared to be a private Aikido lesson. One American came up to us, bowed four times (improperly) as he was making his way over, and told us that it was a closed session. Sensei Rick was aghast. He started muttering… something about “hundreds of fights there”…. something about…”no one can own the Budokan”… The gravity of his response was lost on the younger masters (who simply laughed it off) until Sensei suggested that we should have told the guy to fuck off. Sensei Rick then went into a monologue about brain-washed Westerners – apparently not an uncommon phenomenon in Japan in martial arts circles. In retrospect we probably should have just punched the guy and got into a fight. Judo vs Aikido – could have been interesting.



Eventually we rode up to the University. As we approached the Uni there were brass musicians – trumpet, saxophone, etc… -- practising everywhere around the campus. Soon we were getting changed in one of the strong-holds of Kosen Judo. Here we found out that it might have been a good idea to hang our gi’s out to dry from the night before. We also got a taste of the strength of the Kosen tradition.

The kosen Judo of the Kyoto Uni club was very different from everything we had encountered in Japan before. There was a different style of warm-up with lots of new exercises specifically for ground work players. Needless to say the encounter took everyone by surprise. There were lots of tomoenage’s (that bordered on a drag-downs) going down. And, when you tried to avoid the tomoenage, there was no shortage of “conventional” big forward throws. And on the ground… they were superb.

Towards the end of training we got talking to a Texan who was studying and playing Judo at the Uni. It was interesting to watch him play. He had been there for a while and was trying very hard to ensure that the fight stayed off the ground. He was reasonably successful. More interesting than his Judo, however, was what he had to say about 25 French foreign exchange students. Apparently an entire swarm of nubile French co-eds were going to Sam and Daves Club the following night. Kong was intrigued, especially after seeing one earlier at K’s looking every bit of what a dangerous mind would imagine a nubile French co-ed to look like and some.

It was the end of a tour. Every one was wasted. We left politely. I think everyone wished they had saved more energy for this encounter.

Next: Last days – K’s backpackers and getting thrown out of Kyoto’s night clubs.

Kosen Judo With Sensei Mike Bond (6th Dan)

This week the club enjoyed a return visit from Sensei Mike Bond (6th dan). Sensei Bond is an old legend of the Club. His Judo is in the Kosen tradition and he has studied with he same Sensei’s as Rick.

The following describes two moves he demonstrated. I am sorry that I do not have photo’s or video footage and that you have to put up with my description in writing (I will refine the description when you point out my mistakes).

Variation on Ippon Seionage
Uke and Tori begin, both with a conventional right handed grip.
Tori drops his weight slightly.
At the same time tori releases his left sleeve grip (on Uke’s elbow). Tori brings his left arm up the inside of uke’s right arm and looks to wrap, coming in over the top, uke’s right arm.
Tori’s grip then captures ukes right arm and ends with a grip under ukes right sholder. At the same time tori brings his head and upper body forward, looking to ensure that his head is to the left of uke’s.
The next phase, tori’s right hand shoots forward to push against uke’s thigh, with the palm (just below the hip bone).
Having effectively wrapped uke up you can expect a big reaction, usually in the form of a psuh. As uke pushes back tori moves his right arm to a position under ukes sholder as per ippon seinage. He also pushes his right leg forward to his front-left (uke’s back-right). The further the leg goes the better.
Tori then completes the throw by rotating right, turning upside down under uke. Uke will then go over fast, with very little effort. Tori will finish the move in a perfect position to continue with newazza (if he doesn’t get the ippon).

Hell-strangle take-down (I am sorry I don’t know the Japanese name)
Tori begins with a lapel grip and looks to pull uke forward, simultaneously steeping away with his left foot, taisabaki style, into a T-shape position.
As uke comes forward, tori encircles the head with his left hand, setting up a guillotine type position (using the right hand to help feed the left hand deep).
At this point there are two alternatives. If uke looks to stand up then tori maintains a high right lapel grip, slips the forearm over ukes head for a strangle.
If uke does not look to stand then there is another option.
Tori slides his right foot forward-left (more left than forward).
As tori’s begins to fall sideways he pushes his right arms between ukes legs and entraps ukes left leg.
Tori then completes the throw by rolling over his left sholder. If you do this properly uke will be out cold by the time he hits the mat. If not, he will be shortly.

Hopefully we will have more of Sensei Bond’s Kosen Judo techniques to share soon.

Koga's Ippon Seionage and Variations

Variations from the same entry

No One Tells Black-Belt Putin His Painting Is Worse Than Helen Clarke's

Picture by "new artist" Putin fetches $1.1 mln. Sun Jan 18, 2009 11:11pm IST. PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) - A picture sketched by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has fetched 37 million roubles ($1.15 million) at a charity auction.

The painting of snowfall seen through a window, finished by a professional artist, features a sprawling "Putin" signature and was introduced at Saturday's auction with the words: "Here is a new artist".

The auctioneer started bidding at 20,000 roubles ($620), the same as the other lots, only to meet cries of "Let's not be penny-pinchers" from the buyers, who demanded a starting price of five million roubles.

A black belt in judo, Putin has cultivated an image of a tough man, lionised by Russian media but so far not known for artistic talent.

An auction organiser said Putin had painted the picture in 20 minutes and then a professional artist filled in the details.

"Of all the paintings presented there, this was the best one," said a spokeswoman on Sunday for "Our Artists", the Moscow-based gallery which bought the painting.

The gallery, located in an exclusive wooded avenue just outside Moscow favoured by oligarchs and top officials, said it would exhibit the painting to the public.

Newazza with Kashiwazaki

Three Women Naked in a Sauna

Three women, two younger, and one senior citizen, were sitting naked in a sauna.
Suddenly there was a beeping sound. The young woman pressed her forearm and the beep stopped. The others looked at her questioningly. "That was my pager," she said. I have a microchip under the skin of my arm.
A few minutes later, a phone rang. The second young woman lifted her palm to her ear. When she finished, she explained, "that was my mobile phone. I have a microchip in my hand."
The older woman felt very low -tech. Not to be out done, she decided she had to do something just as impressive. She stepped out of the sauna and went to
The bathroom. She returned with a piece of toilet paper hanging from her rear end.

The others raised their eyebrows and stared at her.
The older woman finally said ".........well, will you look at that....I'm getting a fax!!"

Sensei Rick's Pick of the Week: Koshiki no Kata

Performed by Jigoro Kano and Yamashita Yoshiaki.

26 Throws

Judo Podcast: Episode 39

Lance Wick's first Judo pod-cast for the year can be found here. In this episode, Mike and Gene talk with Lance Wicks about the new IJF rule changes and the announcement of the 2009 World Masters to be held in the USA. Gene recently attended a clinic focusing on the new rule changes, and the three talk about the implementation of the rules in a recent tournament. There is some talk about the recent no matside coaching rule too, which neither USA Judo nor BJA adopted.

Training is ON for 2009!

Training has officially resumed for 2009. Training times are the same as last year. Seniors train Mon, Wed, and Friday at 6 pm to 7.30 or/8 pm and Sat 12 pm -1 pm. All existing members must register to pay fees by automatic payment (AP). Contact Aaron for details: Aaron@judokong.com.
Please keep in mind the "Fiend get Friend" recruitment plan is in operation. Get a friend to become a financial member and you will play FREE for a term.
Lastly, if you were ever contemplating starting Judo (any age is a good time to start) or returning to the mat after a long break, NOW is the time! Just turn up and try it for FREE. If you end up liking it then we will happily take your money.
Hope you all had a great summer break – ‘cause it’s now over!