Judo Starts (11 January 2010)

Judo classes will officially start again on Monday 11 January 2010. All welcomed - from beginners to experts. Same place (6 Woodhall Road, Epsom), same time (6:00pm).

However if you can't wait that long, the extra keen are still welcomed to train over the break/holidays.

See you all next year - with freshly washed JudoGi s (this includes you Jordan).

Sensi Rick and Khan are tv stars!

TV3 might not be as good as 2...but atleast they made it!

Merry Xmas From Luke and Wayne Schuler

As always, greetings like this are always welcome!

Black belt Putin offers to join Russian judo team

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Black belted Russian leader Vladimir Putin has offered to join the national judo team after showing off his martial arts skills to members of the squad.

The 57-year-old prime minister made the proposal at a special coaching session on Saturday aired on state television, adding to his carefully-crafted macho image.

Putin, who many observers believe is still paramount leader despite standing down as president last year, entered the hall of St Petersburg's School of Sport Mastery dressed in a white judogi and black belt, to applause from the assembled squad.After bowing, the former KGB spy went onto the mats, throwing squad members half his age and even tackling the chief trainer, Olympic Gold medallist Ezio Gamba.

Then, over tea and cakes, Putin made the suggestion. "If you need direct help, you can include me in the team," he told the trainer, an Italian who won gold at the 1980 Moscow Olympics. Putin, who cultivated an action-man image during his eight-year presidency, is still lionised by the state media despite handing over the presidency to ally Dmitry Medvedev.

Since becoming prime minister, Putin has fuelled speculation that he could return to the Kremlin one day with a series of high-profile stunts, baring his chest while riding a horse in Siberia and even tranquilising a Siberian tiger. Officials praised Putin's technique in the Japanese martial art, and dismissed any hint that he may have been allowed to win. "He has the psychology of a winner, the psychology of the victorious," said Georgy Kukoverov, the school's chief.

Lauded like a superstar inside Russia, pictures of Putin baring his torso have previously provoked excitement in Internet chat rooms from female followers and some gay men.

http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/odd/6608317/black-belt-putin-offers-to-join-russian-judo-team/

BASH 4 CASH!

The South Australian Judo Academy presents Bash 4 Cash - Australia's biggest ever prize pool Judo tournament.


Fighters across 4 weight divisions will have the opportunity to fight for their share of $7000 (AUD). Weight divisions are u/66kg, u/73kg, u/81kg and over 81kg. Each division is strictly capped to 8 fighters.

The tournament will use some modified rules to help improve the excitement of the event to non-Judoka spectators.

Prize money is (aud): $1000 Gold, $500 Silver, $250 Bronze (one bronze medal only).'

Where:
Enfield Community Centre
540 Regency Road
Enfield, South Australia



When:
January 30, 2010 - Doors open 7pm, Fighting starts 8pm



Entries are filling fast, entries close December 24, and final contestants will be confirmed January 2, 2010.

Japanese women dominate at Tokyo Grand Slam judo

TOKYO — Japanese women completed a sweep of seven weight categories but their male counterparts fell short with both Keiji Suzuki and Takamasa Anai losing in their respective finals on the last day of the Tokyo Grand Slam meet on Sunday.

Athens Olympic champion Suzuki, battling in the men’s over-100 kilogram class, was sent to defeat with an ippon by countryman Kazuhiko Takahashi, who dumped his opponent with an outer-leg trip at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.

Anai, the world bronze medalist who won his first national open-weight title in April, lost in the men’s 100-kg class on points to Hwang Hee Tae of South Korea.

It was a bitter defeat as Anai had won all four of his matches by ippon only to fall to Hwang, who pulled out his leg to score a ‘‘yuko’’ point with both judoka tied with ‘‘waza-ari’’ with just 15 seconds remaining in the match.

World champion Tomoko Fukumi beat countrywoman Kaori Kondo at 48 kg, while Misato Nakamura, world champion at 52 kg, also cruised to victory. Hitomi Tokuhisa emerged the winner over Japanese compatriot Kaori Matsumoto at 57 kg.


http://japantoday.com/category/sports/view/japanese-women-dominate-at-tokyo-grand-slam-judo

Japan takes three titles in Grand Slam judo

TOKYO — World champion Yoshie Ueno won the women's 63-kilogramme title leading Japan to win three out of five classes in the Grand Slam judo tournament on Saturday.
Two-time world champion Wang Ki-Chun of South Korea and Euan Burton of Britain won the remaining two categories in the men's 73kg and 81kg.
Japan took the four semi-final places with Ueno beating Nozomi Hirai and Ikumi Tanimoto for the title, but she appeared dissatisfied with her performance as she won by a foul play in the last two matches.
"I'm not satisfied with my performances today, because I wanted to score points with my technique. I must start training from the beginning again," said Ueno.
Meanwhile, world bronze medallist Mina Watanabe claimed the 70kg title by throwing world silver medallist Anett Meszaros of Hungary for an ippon as Japan continued to win all the women's titles.
"I have mixed feelings. I'm very glad because she is an athlete I really wanted to beat... I was disappointed she scored a waza ari first to take the lead, said Watanabe, 24.
In the men's 90kg final, Takashi Ono defeated Daiki Nishiyama thanks to his opponent, who received two warnings to concede a yuko in an all-Japanese bout.
For Wang Ki-Chun, it was a third Grand Slam title, following Paris and Moscow, as he immobilised Japan's Yasuhiro Awano 3m29s into the final.
The biggest surprise came when Burton shocked Beijing Olympic silver and world bronze medallist Kim Jae-Bum of South Korea by scoring a waza ari twice for a combined ippon.
Burton said the biggest key to his victory was his "heart".
"It's against the best technical fighters from Japan and Korea. It's very difficult. I fought hard all the time," said Burton.
"This tournament was one of my targets for the season. After the world championships, this is the biggest tournament, so it was easy to train hard. I now go home and take some time off for Christmas," he added.

PICTURE: Japan's Yoshie Ueno (L) and her compatriot Ikumi Tanimoto (R)

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gq2I8wlEHxNmsAdgI4JB8KmWyV2w

Free Beer!!!

An important amendment to the End-of-year competition and BBQ - you will get a free beer (or ginger beer) with your $10 entry fee. So that's fighting, sausage (cooked), bread (may be tomato sauce) and beer for one low price - at this price you will be practically ripping off the club.

Just remember you are welcomed to bring anything else you wish to share (eg. salad, steak, rat, chicken, beer, softdrink, girlfriend/boyfriend, etc.)

End-of-Year Bash Up and BBQ

The 2009 End of year club competition will be held on 16 December 2009 (next week) starting 6:00pm (turn up earlier so we can get the draw organised) this will be followed by a BBQ, sausages and bread will be provided by the club – bring any food you wish to eat on top of this (eg. salad, steak, etc.).

Entry fee for the competition and BBQ is $10.

All welcomed – turn up even if you’re not fighting to support those that are – it is the last big event for the year!

British Judo sends record squad to Japan

The event is the last of four grand slam events throughout the year which contribute valuable points towards qualification for the 2012 Olympics Games.

And although the British squad are guaranteed participation at the Games as hosts, British Judo head coach Patrick Roux has opted to send ten more judokas than the previous highest from Paris in February.

Britain's sole medallist from August's World Championships in Rotterdam, Karina Bryant will compete in the +78kg while Olympians Euan Barton (+81kg) and Sarah Clark (-57kg) will also be in action.

Other medal hopes include Sally Conway (-70kg), who struck gold at the Belarus World Cup in October, as well as Gemma Gibbons (-70kg) and Ashley McKenzie (-60kg) who each picked up bronze at the European under 23 Championships in November.

The squad will attend a three week training camp before 21 of the 25 will compete in the event which starts on December 11.

PICTURE: World silver medallist Karina Bryant leads a 25-strong squad to Japan for the Tokyo Grand Prix (Getty Images)

http://www.morethanthegames.co.uk/judo/077598-british-judo-sends-record-squad-japan

Happy Birthday Rick!

This is what happened on Rick's birthday 2 years ago (2007). Turn up today and experience the fun for yourself. Will history repeat itself?

Sensei Birthday Drinks

This Monday is Sensei Rick's birthday and he has said "free drinks for all those who turn up and train on monday" - so turn up, train hard and wish Sensei Rick a Happy Birthday with a drink or two.

More Sumo news

Hakuho rules the roost in 2009

TOKYO —

Displaying a ruthless streak that would have had Genghis Khan applauding from the ringside cushions, Mongolian yokozuna Hakuho put Asashoryu in the shade to emerge as sumo’s new ‘‘Daddy’’ in 2009.

Silent but deadly, Hakuho extinguished Asashoryu’s fireworks in Sunday’s final bout at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament to wrap up a year in which he notched a remarkable 86 wins against just four losses, passing the record of 84 set by Asashoryu four years ago.

Over the course of 2009, the calm, soft-spoken 24-year-old has won three titles, two of them with flawless records, and was in the thick of the title race in the other three tournaments before succumbing in championship playoffs.

In winning his 12th Emperor’s Cup in Kyushu, Hakuho also tied one of his idols, yokozuna great Futabayama.

‘‘Before and during the (Kyushu) tournament I was on top form mentally, technically and physically,’’ said Hakuho. ‘‘It was a very satisfying 15 days and I think I have achieved something pretty special.’‘

‘‘By being in title contention on the final day I think I carried out my responsibility as a yokozuna. It was a great way to wrap up the tournament.’‘

‘‘Next year I want to fulfill my obligations just like I have this year,’’ said Hakuho, adding his long-term plan is to reach 22 titles to match yokozuna legend Takanohana.

Although Hakuho proved to be the dominant force, Asashoryu’s contribution to a sport rocked this year by drug offenses, a death threat and a six-year prison term meted out to a stablemaster over the physical abuse of a 17-year-old wrestler that led to his death in 2007, should not be overlooked.

No sumo tournament is quite the same without sumo’s enfant terrible and the colorful yokozuna’s comeback at the New Year meet was a great success.

Ticket sales and television ratings showed a marked increase as Asashoryu’s winning run continued and on the final day he served up a satisfying body blow to his critics with victory over Hakuho in a playoff.

The teary-eyed yokozuna announcing to the crowd, ‘‘I am back. Asashoryu is back!’’ and triggering wild cheers around the arena has to be one of the year’s enduring images in the sport.

Asashoryu also won in September at the autumn basho before fading down the stretch and finishing 11-4 in Kyushu. Harumafuji, another Mongolian, won his first title at the summer meet in May.

‘‘I think Hakuho has found me out. I have to consider (a new fighting style),’’ said Asashoryu after the Kyushu meet. ‘‘I just have to keep taking positive steps forward. I’ll be aiming to win four titles at the very least next year.’‘

No Japanese-born wrestler has won the Emperor’s Cup since now-retired Tochiazuma in January 2006 and that does not look like changing anytime soon.

Kisenosato, tipped by many to be Japan’s next big hope, has failed to live up to expectations. Ozeki Kotomitsuki is not getting any younger and Kaio and Chiyotaikai are both spent forces.

Link to the original article here