Japanese Visitors Tonight

The Japanese youthship is in town and will be visiting University Judo tonight - lets turn up in force (whether as a spectator or as a fighter).

Rick is going to be on his best behaviour!

NZ Judoka Adopt International Best Practices

Dear NZ Judoka,

As you are now, undoubtedly, aware, I am founding the NZ Yawara Dan Commission to serve as the new vehicle for the administration of higher-level Judo in this country.

All officials seeking appointment to the new commission need to be aware of this set of measures to ensure compliance with the international best practice for procuration of technical examinations:
1. Stay awake.
2. The focus of attention should be on the people being graded, i.e. the judoka who pay the commission's airfares and whose entry fees pay for the free food after the exam (the free food will still be there when the grading is over).
3. All examiners should have been on a Judo mat at least once since 'new' kata like Go Shin Jitsu were accepted by the Kodokan (1954).
4. Regarding the aforementioned, being seen on a judo mat does not include wrapping on a too small judogi and parading the red and white (obviously sponsored by KFC) belt whenever a VIP visits.
5. This is may be a novel idea but it would be great if any kata grading panel could demonstrate the finer points of kata themselves or, better still, give a demonstration.
6. In light of the last point, all grading panels should have members that have recent (i.e. within 5 years) international kata training.
7. Finally, past history has shown that the grading yourself shouldn't guarantee the individual's technical knowledge .

I, Ramses Gold, will return NZ Judo to an ethos of "lead and people will follow" instead of "do as we say not as we do". Imagine if all NZ Judoka followed the example of the NZJF? By contrast the NZ Yawara Dan commission will not force compliance costs on club instructors by developing meaningless web based coaching courses (that instructors must force junior members of their clubs to complete) to register. We will lead NZ Judo from the front. NZ Yawara Dan officials will be active judoka, inspiring and interested in promoting the sport and developing people. They will have technical knowledge and be passionate about sharing that knowledge.

Yours in Judo,

Ramses Gold
(12th dan, NZ Yawara Judo)

New Zealand Yawara Dan Commission (est. 2010)

Dear NZ Judoka,

I am writing to advise you of an executive decision to bring me out of retirement and appoint me to the position of Director of the newly formed New Zealand Yawara Dan Commission. In place of full disclosure of a history of scandal to the news media, or a protracted legal battle, we have decided that this--the direct route--is the best way to serve Judo in this country. Ergo, I will be founding a new Dan Commission. In the next few weeks we will be assembling a commission comprised of Judoka who fulfill the following criteria.
Judoka who:
(a) Actually play Judo.
(b) Participate as players in Masters Judo tournaments.
NZ Judoka please be advised that from 01 February 2010 all Dan grades, from shodan, will be awarded by the NZ Yawara Dan Commission. The existing commission will be considered defunct and absolved of all formal powers. Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience. If it is any consolation, we will be equally hard on everyone. More details will be available shortly from our website (currently under development -- but already assured a #1 ranking by Google).

Yours in Judo,

Ramses Gold
(12th dan, NZ Yawara Dan Commission)

NZ Dan Commission Scandal!

Kong was amazed to witness an impressive display of technical expertise at the 2009 National Judo Champs.
At the end of the tournament, as tradition dictates, an opportunity was provided for senior Dan grades to demonstrate the kata .
A black belt from Gisborne put on a wonderful display of the Go Shin Jitsu. Unfortunately he forgot the defences against unarmed strikes.
Not a problem, the NZJF Dan Grading Commission complimented the aforementioned black belt on his achievement and offered him a silver medal for the second best kata display that day. Feeling disappointed in himself and concerned about the technical competence of the people grading him the back belt pointed out that he had forgotten a whole section of the kata.
There was mumbling and shuffling of feet and on checking their marking sheets they found that according to the sheets the punching techniques had been done. Kong can only speculate on what was said but through the magic of satirical re-construction we can present the following summary:
Dan Commission (DC): Well done. Very well done here have another dan. Have a silver medal. We just wanted to say that this is one of the best examples of Go Shin Jitsu we have seen…
Black Belt (BB): But I forgot to demonstrate a whole section!
DC: What? Never! We are the technical experts
BB: No honestly I forgot the unarmed strikes
DC mumbling to each other:
DC 1: Are there strikes in the Go Shin Jitsu?
DC 2: Yeah there are
DC 1: What! I didn’t think we hit each other in Judo?
DC 3: Yeah Go Shin Jitsu came in 1956. So I’m pretty sure that we have been able to hit people since at least then
DC 1: Oh that explains it how silly of me. You have to remember. I haven’t been on a Judo mat since 1952!
DC 2: So what are we going to do?
DC all together: Instead of grading you to fifth dan. We have decided that based on the high level of technical expertise demonstrated in the bits that you did do we are going to grade you to sixth dan and still give you the silver medal – Just don’t tell anyone about this little mistake
BB: I can’t do that
DC: Shhhhh don’t be too loud you might wake up the audience. It’s just lucky that there are only two homeless judo bums are here at the moment. They are sleeping off their hangovers. Luckily, their cauliflower ears mean they are hard to wake up, but if you go on protesting like this they might find out and tell someone about your mistake.
BB: My mistake?????
DC: Yes don’t forget you were the one that forgot to do a whole section of the kata
BB: You wouldn’t have even known if I didn’t tell you!
DC: A minor technical inconvenience – You know how sometimes when you are judging kata you don’t really watch whats happening because you are talking to each other. The important thing to remember is that WE are the technical experts not you.
BB: No I have always taken grading people pretty seriously
DC: Shhhhh that one with the beard from Wellington looks like he is waking up. Listen we’ll do you a deal – How would you like to be seventh Dan? Just play along and I’m sure that we can find you a nice job somewhere would you like to be the NZ Coach? No…. we have better idea how about coaching the NZ Women’s Team (the panel nudges and winks) lots of trips and don’t worry, if there are any nasty rumours about inappropriate behaviour, they will be investigated and found to be “unsubstantiated” yuk yuk
BB: But that’s not right what about the principles of Judo and the integrity of the NZJF as a technical body
The bearded judo bum yawns, stretches, farts then rolls over in the empty stands
DC: Look the audience might wake up soon so this our final offer we’ll give you the gold medal, an eighth dan, six steak knives, a partridge in a pear tree and you can be the newly appointed Technical Director responsible for checking the quality of catering at NZJF Tournaments. This is a very important job as you know the NZJF places great weight on the quality of catering for officials. It must be both free and filling.
Another judoka fart from the almost empty stands echoes around the hall
BB: No I don’t want any of that. I just want to know why I’m here being graded by people that don’t know the kata – I’m out of here
DC: What, what you can’t do that we are the technical experts – we are the technical experts – WE ARE THE TECHNICAL EXPERTS ……..When’s lunch? More importantly is it free?
The most senior dan grade present was Jim McPhee.

Japan women dominate first day of judo meet

Kyodo News

Misato Nakamura defeated Laura Gomez in the 52-kg final as Japan struck gold in all four women's weight categories on the opening day of the Masters in South Korea on Saturday.

Nakamura won all of her matches by ippon while Yoshie Ueno scored an ippon win over local favorite Kong Ja Young in the 63-kg final at the tournament featuring the world's top judoka.

Asami Haruna took out Tomoko Fukumi in the 48-kg semifinals before going on to beat another Japanese rival, Kaori Kondo, in the final. Kaori Matsumoto beat Nae Udaka in another all-Japanese final in the 57-kg division.

Hiroaki Hiraoka was the hosts' best performer in the men's events, finishing runnerup to Uzbekistan's Rishod Sobirov in the 60-kg final.

Men and women from 14 weight divisions were invited to join the two-day $200,000 event at Suwon Indoor Stadium.

Japanese cops cross-dress for bag snatch dragnet

TOKYO — Patrolling in high heels, wigs and designer bags, Japanese black-belt policemen have been cross-dressing in a bid to beat off bag-snatchers, a report said Wednesday.

The all-male squad has been deployed since last month on night patrols in central Aichi prefecture, wearing skirts and stockings and carrying eye-catching handbags as bait for potential thieves, the Asahi daily reported.

So far the unit has failed to nab any muggers, the Asahi said, and Aichi police declined to comment to AFP on the report.

To qualify for the special squad, police have to be young, slim and hold the top rank of a black belt in a martial art such as karate or judo, the report said.

A 26-year-old officer -- measuring 1.71 metres (5.6 feet) in height and weighing in at a dainty 61 kilograms (134 pounds) -- expressed pride in the mission, telling the daily: "It's cowardly to target women who are weak."

The operation has not been without its pitfalls. Some of the stylish policemen have become targets themselves -- of cat-calls and lewd propositions.

One 25-year-old officer said he "panicked" one night when a male driver leaned out of his car window and asked if he wanted to go for a drive.

The O for Owesome Judo BBQ - Tomorrow (Wednesday, 20 January 2010)

Yesterday's BBQ was cancelled because Rick sensei didn't believe people were enthusicastic enough about having a BBQ. However due to overwhelming demand we have decided this will take place!

Therefore, BBQ this Wednesday (tomorrow, 19 January 2010) after Judo!

Cost $5.00

(Bring your own drinks and anything else you wish to share... Drinks can also be brought from the fridge)

Come join the fun! because EVERYONE is turning up to this one!

Judo BBQ (Monday, Jan 18)

Monday next week there will be a BBQ after training to celebrate the beginning of Judo for the new year. The cost will be $5 per player. Sensei Rick says "if you can't afford $5 bucks then you shouldn't be playing Judo." He also noted that fees for the new semester are due (which applies to everyone not on AP).

Ben Greg and tim beware the cougers Are in town