COACHES

SENSEI RICK LITTLEWOOD (7th DAN, KODOKAN & 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.

Sensei Rick represented New Zealand as a middleweight at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. Today he is still representing New Zealand. He fights regularly at the All Japan Master's, Kodokan High-Grades Shiai and the World Masters.  Tel: 0275 989 585. Email: r.littlewood@xtra.co.nz.


ROB LEVY (4th DAN)

Rob Levy has represented New Zealand for over ten years. As well as being a New Zealand weight division and open weight champion he has medalled at Oceania, US Open, Maccabi Games and Commonwealth Championships. Rob represented New Zealand at three World Championships and has spent a substantial amount of time living, competing and training in Asia, the UK and Europe. He is currently assistant coach for the New Zealand Junior Squad (judoka 17 - 19 y/o).


Over the years Robert has benefited from the time and energy of a number of coaches; these include Ivan Willis; Jimmy Tuhroa; Pat Mahon; Chris Reynolds; Steve Corkin; Juergen Klinger; Sven Loll; Steve Pullen and of course Rick Littlewood.

Rob's passion for ne waza comes from an extreme lack of co-ordination when trying to stand-up... this has been compounded by the fact that every standing waza Rob gained a basic understanding of, has been declared illegal under modern competition rules.

Rob has a disturbing passion for avocado and believes there is no such thing as "bad touching". Rob devotes much of his time to discussing what judo was like "in the day" and is the proud owner of a yellow "Frosty Boy" tee-shirt. Rob is a naturally modest individual and he feels very humble when his boyish good looks and athletic physique are discussed in mixed company.


Rob is hugely grateful for the opportunities that Judo (and being a New Zealander) has created for him during his thirty years of participation in the "pyjama game".


BEN STALLWORTHY (1st DAN)

New Zealand’s longest serving Shodan. Ben was graded Black Belt in 1990 and spent his youth pontificating about “How real martial artists didn’t worry about Gradings….. Yeah man”.  One day soon he intends to Grade to Second Dan but is too lazy to practice for the kata exam. 

Unfortunately because Ben believes in earning grades in contest and is now so old and fat that he doesn’t win many fights anymore Second Dan will probably be his limit.  

In his day Ben was a handy fighter with a couple of national heavyweight titles and experience playing Judo throughout New Zealand in Japan, Britain and the Solomon Islands. He has also competed successfully in Olympic Wrestling and Ju Jitsu.

Ben’s Judo is as not very attractive and he is known more for being a mauler and having a hard head than for his aesthetic style. His specialty is fighting on the ground and he has a solid technical knowledge based on 28 years of rolling round on the mat with dudes.

Ben also has a good knowledge of self-defence techniques and has taught self-defence courses. Ben’s enjoys instructing and is currently building a solid Friday night class. 

TIM (Slydog) SLYFIELD (3rd DAN)

Tim is the University Judo Club’s best looking instructor. He is not as old, grey and generally crusty as Rick and Dave, nor is he fat like Ben and does not have cauliflower ears like Rob. Aside from being good looking Tim was once a formidable international player winning a Commonwealth Games Bronze Medal at the Manchester Games in 2002 and represented New Zealand at the 2004 Sydney Olympics. Tim spent his twenties and early thirties living, training and competing internationally and his experience in both Japan and Europe has earned him a 3rd Degree Black Belt.

Tim’s area of specialty is stand up Judo and he has four master class ( dai sensai shihan kanjo - 1st Order of Judo Mastery for Prodigious Study and Most Empowering Efforts) level techniques:
• Tai otoshi - body drop throw.

• Kiai - a loud shout made by a player to take advantage of the fact that their opponent has tripped over or slipped, the shout is designed to convince the referee that the opponent fell because of something the shouter had done rather than because their own clumsiness.

• The pistol grip - While currently illegal this grip was legal last century when Tim was at his prime and he is a master of this devilish ‘Euro – Judo’ technique.

• Lying on the ground and crying for mummy while Rob teaches him about ground fighting - While seldom enticed to the ground for real Judo, Tim has learnt a range of useful techniques to deal with the unpleasantness of ground fighting generally relying on crying for Mummy, looking at the referee imploringly and scuttling for the sideline as quickly as possible.

In summary, Tim is an asset to the University Judo Club. Amongst a nest of Kosen Judo trained masochists who revel in the grim reality of ground fighting he is a ‘little ray of sunshine’ dancing gracefully across the mat using his tai otoshi to defeat opponents steadfastly avoiding ground fighting. Rather than ‘ground and pound’ he is ‘Dancing with the Stars’ and which provides balance within the club and complements the other instructor’s areas of expertise.

Coming soon...
DAVE MAIR (4th DAN)