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ILLINOIS JUDO NEWSLETTER – IPPON!!!
August 9, 2007
President:
Tim Schultheis
VP:
Chuck Clark
Secretary:
Mary Gail Ford
Treasurer:
Frank Oliveri
Editor:
Kei Narimatsu
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Illinois Judo Newsletter – IPPON!! is the voice of Illinois Judo, sent whenever convenient to
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Contents:
Editorial – THE GRIP
Local News
USA JUDO NEWS
Jigoro Kano Cup Selection Criteria
Beijing – 8-8-08 at 8:00
USA Judo
Continues Its Growth in All Fronts…
Judo in the News Travis
Stevens, Valerie Gotay, Grace Ohashi,
Marina Lambert, Brian Olsen
USA Judo Invests
More than $800,000 in America’s Athletes
Dewall and Martinez Place Fifth at Blind Worlds, Team USA Earns
First Slot for Beijing
Christella Garcia Places Fifth in her Blind World Championship Debut
2007 Continental Crown
KRA Cup Korea Open
International Judo Tournament
All Women’s Championships
– Kalamazoo MI
Something to Think About
– Crabby Old Women (and Men)
Upcoming Events
USA Judo Life Members
***************************************************************************************
EDITORIAL – THE GRIP
The GRIP has become THE
hot topic in today’s Judo scene. With Jimmy Pedro’s DVD and handbook,
GRIP LIKE A WORLD CHAMPION, recently released, everyone is excited. I
purchased it when it first came out, got an autographed copy and have studied
it. Not withstanding that it is an
excellent resource, it can also be said that this has been around a long
time. Well, not exactly and not exactly in the format presented. In
one concise study guide, one can learn the collective experience of many top
players from all over the world, intergenerational and intercontinental.
But gripping, as with anything in Judo, has been around a long time. The
basics are the key to understanding technique and gripping is no
different. A player with a strong grip will do better than a player with a
weak or ineffective grip. Before getting started however, it is necessary
and obvious that basic knowledge of judo throws is a prerequisite to good
judo. A strong grip without technique does not work. Likewise, a
weak grip with great technique can overcome weaker opponents sometimes, but
will not work on equally strong opponents.
So what comments can be
made about GRIPPING:
THE
COACH: Understanding
that without gripping, there can be no Judo is the basis of this video.
Jim Pedro Sr knew this and encouraged his son to
concentrate on strong grips. The key to getting the right grip is
constant practice which is something that was not always stressed when I was
growing up. Let’s face it, it is not too sexy. A great Uchimata is sexy. Getting a strong Russian grip is
not. But what is the first thing we learn about a throw – even before the
name? It is the KUZUSHI or the pull/push, the off balancing.
Getting a good grip on your opponent is the key to getting strong kuzushi. What is next? It is the TSUKURI or the
fitting in. The fit relies on getting your opponent’s body off balance
and onto your back, off your leg, or over you. The key to maintaining off
balancing is the KUZUSHI and of course, the GRIP. The last part of a
throw is the KAKE or the finish, the follow through. The KAKE is the
completion, the landing of your opponent largely their back with speed and
force. Again, the key to a perfect throw is a strong grip.
During any part of the throw, if a grip is lost, the chances
that your opponent will escape is great. The GRIP then is the key
to strong judo.
Besides knowing how and
where to grip, one must also train to get a stronger grip. Squeezing
rubber or tennis balls use to be a favorite and cheap way to increase gripping
power. Extending both your arms straight out in front of you and gripping
1000 times per night with power is another way. Uchikomi
gripping practice is a method that the Pedro’s teach to increase your ability
to grip. More importantly, this exercise helps to increase your reaction
speed to grab your opponent and to maintain your grip. If you do not get
the grip you want, learning to break the grip and start again is part of the
overall drill and discipline in getting a GRIP.
THE
PLAYER: Once a player
knows the throw and then the grip, it is important to be patient – this was
made quite clear in the DVD. The point of competition is to make your
opponent do what they do not want to do – get thrown. Resistance to this
basic instinct makes Judo the difficult sport that it is. The beauty of a
throw however is the discipline of maintaining your balance from the beginning
of the grip to the completion of the throw. It is equally important
to understand that strong gripping is not just a function of throwing, but is
also critical in newaza (ground techniques) – osae (pinning), shime (choking)
and kansetsu (arm locking). A person who does
not have a strong grip will ultimately lose the contest because (s)he could not hold on or could not prevent their opponent from
getting the superior grip.
THE
REFEREE: Too often,
because a referee does not understand or appreciate the role GRIPPING plays in
Judo, Matte(stop) is often called and a penalty is
given, in error, when players are trying to find the grip. While there
has to be a limit, there is generally no defined point in time when looking for
a grip and non-combativity becomes
distinguishable. It is the knowledge of competitive judo that separates
the advanced referees who allows a Bobby Lee and Nick DiPoppalo
to fight for two minutes without an attempt at a throw and the novice referee
who would give each of them a non-combativity penalty
at precisely 25 seconds. The rules state that a penalty of non-combativity should be given when there is NO ACTION for 20
– 30 seconds. Movement only however, does not constitute action. A
kicking action with no off balancing is not action. Actively looking for
a grip, off balancing of the opponent, putting yourself
at risk is action and should not be penalized. As more and more players
become better at gripping and its importance, it is also necessary for the
referee to understand the difference between looking for a grip and non-combativity. Understanding of this concept is when a
penalty should be given correctly. Knowing this distinction is critical
to your continued improvement.
THE
GRIP: This part of Judo
has been around a long time, it was just never stressed in the same way.
The greatest Judo players are complete Judo players. Their basic Judo
excels, their grip is strong, their discipline in
practice is exemplary. The grip is just one more aspect of this practice
that they must perfect. There is no shortcut. This video and training handbook are highly
recommended and should be a part of any serious Judoka’s library. Editor
Ltr to the Editor – Video Camera
The problem is the
parents have convinced the child that refs cheat and by complaining you can
win. They argue without knowing the rules. We are creating a world of children
that show no respect and believe everything is owed to them. They don't
understand the world is not fair and they better be able to roll with the
punches or they will become basket cases. At best, they will become their
parents.
Ciao
MA
LOCAL NEWS
USA Judo News
Complete coverage of
these articles available at the USA Judo website. Click on the link http://www.usjudo.org/ and click on the What's New page to see all the recent news items. The
items listed below may or may not be linked already. To get further
information on any of these stories, it is better to go to the USA Judo
website.
Jigoro Kano Cup Selection Criteria
The Jigoro
Kano Cup, a USA Judo Senior D-Level Point Tournament in the Tournament Not
Listed Category, will be held December 4-9 in Tokyo, Japan.
One of the premier invitational judo
tournaments in the world, this event will include women’s divisions for the
first time as well as men’s.
Teams are scheduled to arrive on
Dec. 4 with the draw being held on Dec.
Competition schedule is as follows:
Friday December 7: Men’s 60kg, 66kg
and Women’s 78kg, +78kg
Saturday December 8: Men’s 73kg,
81kg and Women’s 57kg, 63kg and 70kg
Sunday December 9: Men’s 90kg, 100kg
and +100kg and Women’s 52kg and 48kg
Athletes will be selected for the
team based on the Senior Elite National Roster dated Sept. 17. The
opportunity to compete will be offered to the highest ranked athlete on that
roster. Should that athlete decline to participate, the slot will be
offered to the next highest ranked athletes. Subsequent declinations will
follow down the roster in a progressive manner.
To register, contact Angela Marino
by Sept. 20 at Angela.Marino@usajudo.us.
BEIJING – ON the eighth
day of the eighth month of the eighth year of the millennium at eight o’clock,
the Games begin – 364 days from today.
USA Judo Continues Its
Growth in All Fronts…
During the recently completed Board
of Directors meeting, it was reported that USA Judo membership and club numbers
continue to grow in comparison to years past.
According to figures presented to
the Board and its President Dr. Ron Tripp, USA Judo individual
membership numbers grew by 42% from same time last year (August 2) while club
numbers increased by 58%.
“This growth in membership and clubs
is consistent with the success that we continue to have on the international
tournaments,” Tripp said. “It is based on the overall plan that our Board of
Directors, in cooperation with the national office, designed to achieve growth
within our sport at all levels.
USA Judo reminds everyone that there
are still four months left to become members of USA Judo and be eligible to win
a trip to the 2008 Pan American Championships in Miami. These championships
will be the final America’s Olympic qualifier and will be held at the famous
James L. Knight Center in downtown Miami.
For more information, visit http://www.usjudo.org/2008PanAmChampionshipsTrip.asp.
Judo in the News
Check out some of the latest feature
stories on USA Judo athletes…
Local judo fighter wins gold – Travis Stevens
August 4, 2007
Capital News 9
Albany, N.Y.
If you're not exactly
sure what judo fighting is, a local judo fighter is about to open your eyes.
Our Sumi Somaskanda caught
up with a Glenville resident who just took the judo world by storm and he might
just catch your interest, too.
Pan American Games | Tacoma's Stevens earns judo gold
July 22, 2007
Seattle Times
Seattle, Wash.
Travis Stevens of
Tacoma won a gold medal in the 81-kilogram class in judo Saturday at the 15th
Pan American Games…
Silver not enough to satisfy Valerie Gotay
August 2, 2007
North County Times
San Diego, Calif.
Valerie Gotay had doubts about a comeback after a 12-year layoff.
But when her father voiced his as she entered judo's British Open, Gotay had her motivation…
Gotay's career has included convulsions and kids
July
19, 2007
Associated Press
Valerie Gotay left her sport ill and depressed. Not broken,
however, and that eventually led to her return to judo. And
now to the Pan American Games…
Thrown into action
July 30, 2007
San Antonio Express
San Antonio, Texas
But when the National
Judo Junior Olympics tournament comes to town, that's the norm. With nearly 600
competitors, the event, held July 21-22 at Freeman ...
HELLO THERE ... Grace Ohashi, nearly blind
world-class Judo athlete
July 20, 2007
Times Herald-Record
Middletown, N.Y.
What makes her special:
In the past six months, Ohashi has emigrated from
Japan, figured out a foreign culture, finished second at the USA Judo Senior…
Resolve, feel replace sight: Determined Ohashi defies odds to make U.S. judo team
July 17, 2007
Rocky Mountain News
Denver, Colo.
Even at the Olympic
Training Center, with its assortment of world-class boxers, swimmers and weight
lifters crowding gyms and training rooms, Grace Ohashi
is an attention grabber …
Chesapeake teen places fifth in judo at Pan American Games
– Marina Lambert
July 20, 2007
The Virginian-Pilot
Norfolk, Va.
Marina Lambert of
Chesapeake placed fifth in her weight division Friday at the Pan American Games
in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil…
Brian Olson coming out of
retirement to pursue Olympic judo medal
July 6, 2007
Tallahassee Democrat
Tallahassee, Fla.
The Woodville judo competitor confirmed this morning that he will end a
two-year retirement to make one more stab at capturing the…
USA Judo Invests More than $800,000 in America’s Athletes
USA Judo continues to achieve new
marks by announcing that during the 2007 calendar year, more than $800,000 will
be invested in athlete support, including nearly $600,000 dedicated to high
performance and $232,000 spent organizing five major championship events that
provide competition opportunities to more than 1200 athletes, from grassroots
to elite to masters.
“I think it is important to note
that the success that our USA Judo athletes have had at the Pan American
Championships in Canada and later at the Pan American Games in Brazil did not
“just happen,” but is the direct result of the programs that we have invested
over the last two years,” said USA Judo CEO Jose H. Rodriguez… more>
Dewall and Martinez Place Fifth at Blind Worlds, Team USA Earns
First Slot for Beijing
(Colorado Springs, Colo.) – With
just over a year remaining until the 2008 Paralympic
Games, newcomer Greg Dewall (Chico, Calif.) got
one of the most difficult aspects of Paralympic
preparation out of the way – qualifying the division for the United States –
when he placed fifth at the World Championships for the Blind in Sao Paulo on
Friday.
With just over a year and a half of
experience under his belt, Dewall was a rookie on a
U.S. Team that included a Paralympic Champion and
several World Team veterans.
The World Championships were the
first opportunity for countries to qualify the ability to send a representative
to the Paralympic Games in Beijing and the men needed
fifth-place finishes while the women needed to earn a medal… more>
Christella Garcia Places Fifth in her Blind World Championship Debut
(Colorado Springs, Colo.) – Although
Christella Garcia (Chicago, Ill. / Tohkon
Judo) picked up judo less than two years ago, the 28-year-old
totally blind player appears to have been a quick study, placing fifth in the
63kg division at her first World Blind Judo Championships in Sao Paulo on
Thursday.
After a first-round loss to eventual
champion Elvira Kivi (SWE), Garcia dropped
down to the repechage where she beat Chui Man Tang
(HGK) and Angelique Quessandier (FRA), a
bronze medalist at the 2004 Paralympic Games and 2006
World Championships.
In the bronze medal match, Garcia
lost to Naomi Soazo (VEN) to place fifth.
One of the most watched athletes
coming into this event, 2000 Paralympic gold medalist
Scott Moore (Englewood, Colo. / Denver Judo) had a familiar draw in the
73kg division with a first-round bye and a second round against Wang Yunfeng (CHN) who beat Moore during the early rounds of
the 2004 Paralympic Games en route to winning the
gold while Moore earned his second Paralympic bronze…
more>
2007 Continental Crown
Mark your calendars… The Continental
Crown, a USA Judo Senior E-Level Point Tournament, will be held on November 10
in Seattle, Wash.
KRA Cup Korea Open
International Judo Tournament
The Korea Open, a USA Judo Senior
B-Level Point Tournament, will be held Nov. 30-Dec. 1 in Jeju,
Korea.
Competition is restricted to one
athlete per nation (outside of the host country) per division.
Athletes will be selected off the
USA Judo Senior Elite National Roster, dated Oct. 22. All individuals
interested in competing must submit their name to Angela Marino at Angela.Marino@usajudo.us by October 24. If more than
one athlete registers in any weight division, the slot will be allocated to the
athlete ranked highest on the Oct. 22 roster.
Hotel room and meals will be
supplied by the local organizers; however, athletes must arrive no earlier than
Nov. 27 and depart no later than Dec. 2.
Competition will take place on Nov.
30 for the men’s 81kg, 90kg, 100kg, +100kg and women’s 48kg, 52kg and 57kg and
on Dec. 1 for the men’s 60kg, 66kg, 73kg and women’s 63kg, 70kg, 78kg and +78kg
divisions.
Draws will be held on Nov. 29.
All Women’s
Championships
The third annual All Women’s
Championships will be held Nov. 2-4 in Kalamazoo, Mich. The tournament
will feature female junior, senior, masters and kata
divisions.
The tournament will be held on Nov.
3 with a coaching clinic taking place Nov. 2-3 and a referee clinic taking
place on Nov. 4.
For more information, visit www.southsidedojo.com.
Something to Think About –
Crabby Old Woman (and Men)
When an old lady in the Ashludie Hospital Geriatric Ward, near Dundee, Scotland,
died, it appeared that she had left nothing of value. Then the nurse, going
through her possessions, found this poem.
What do you see, nurses?
What do you see?
What are you thinking
When you're looking at me?
A crabby old woman, Not
very wise,
Uncertain of habit, With faraway eyes?
Who dribbles her food And makes no reply
When you say in a loud
voice, "I do wish you'd try!"
Who seems not to notice The things that you do,
And forever is losing A stocking or shoe?
Who, resisting or not,
Lets you do as you will,
With bathing and
feeding, The long day to fill?
Is that what you're
thinking? Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes,
nurse, You're not looking at me.
I'll tell you who I am As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding,
As I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of ten
With a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters, Who love one another.
A young girl of sixteen With wings on her feet
Dreaming that soon now A lover she'll meet.
A bride soon at twenty, My heart gives a leap,
Remembering the vows That I promised to keep.
At twenty-five now, I
have young of my own,
Who need me to guide And a secure happy home.
A woman of thirty, My young now grown fast.
Bound to each other With ties that should last.
At forty, my young sons Have grown and are gone,
But my man's beside me To see I don't mourn.
At fifty, once more
Babies play round my knee,
Again we know children, My loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me, My husband is dead,
I look at the future, I
shudder with dread.
For my young are all
rearing Young of their own,
And I think of the years
And the love that I've known.
I'm now an old woman And nature is cruel;
'Tis jest to make old age Look like a fool
The body, it crumbles,
Grace and vigor depart
There is now a stone Where I once had a heart.
But inside this old
carcass A young girl still dwells,
And now and again, My battered heart swells.
I remember the joys, I
remember the pain,
And I'm loving and living Life over again.
I think of the years All too few, gone too fast,
And accept the stark
fact That nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people,
Open and see,
Not a crabby old woman;
Look closer . . . see ME!!
UPCOMING EVENTS - 2007
Please note the following events on the horizon for
Illinois and the Midwest. Communication and download information can be
gotten directly through this email by attachments or by going to
www.judofdl.com (Brett Wood Taylor Welcome Mat
Judo). OR www.judocalendar.com (Jim Carmer). Either site is a wealth of information on
Judo events. Both have more events listed than I have, so visit their
sites often. Thanks.
2007 dates
Sep 1 – 2
Ladder and Fall Classic – Florida
-
Referee EVALUATION Site
Contact Sherrie Phillips Wilson Phillips, Event Manager
SportsConsult@aol.com
Sep
29 “THE ROCK & ROLL
CAPITAL OF THE WORLD” JUDO TOURNAMENT - Brunswick OH – near Cleveland
Contact Joe
Schmidt
Shane Hudson
(330)
273-1573
440-781-3444
schmidtjudo@verizon.net shane-hudson@sbcglobal.net
Oct
6
LORAS
COLLEGE SHIAI – Dubuque IA
Contact Terry Smith – details to follow
Oct
20-21 USA Judo Senior Open
Atlanta, GA
-
Referee EVALUATION Site
Contact
Sherrie Phillips Wilson Phillips, Event Manager
SportsConsult@aol.com
Nov. 2-4 3rd
Annual "All Women's Championship," Kalamazoo, Michigan
Jr.
Sr. and Master competition (Kata, Shiai)
, Referee, Coaches, Kata Clinics
Contact Deborah L. Fergus at defrgs6@cs.com or 269 208 1068
Nov
10 Continental
Crown – Seattle, WA
-
Referee EXAMINATION Site
Nov
24-25 Dallas Invitational –
Dallas, TX
-
Referee EXAMINATION Site
Dec
1-2 Santa’s Shiai – Fond du Lac WI
Contact Brett Wood-Taylor welcomemat@charter.net
Information available www.judofdl.com and tournament package available soon
2008 dates
Jan
2008
.LIFE MEMBERSHIPS INFORMATION – USA
JUDO
For more information on Life
Membership in USA Judo, please contact USA Judo and click on “LIFE
MEMBERSHIP”
Nat’l Order Name
030
1 Henry
Okamura(deceased)
041
2 Kei Narimatsu
065
3 James
Colgan
122
4
Richard Fukuyama(deceased)
125
5
Joanne Barthold(deceased)
139 6
George Stanich
148
7 Mary
Gail Ford
161
8 Kevin
Narimatsu (CA)
162
9 Scott
Narimatsu (CA)
164
10 Byung Chul Cho
167
11 Yung Kim
177 12
Kyu Yoon
181
13 John Bek
189
14 Quentin Thompson
201
15 Michiyuki Sasa
216
16 George Weers
271
17 Susan McConnell
289
18 William Jaconetti
291
19 Jean S Narimatsu
292
20 Susan Narimatsu
324
21 Timothy Tremaine
342
22 Stephen Bergren
349
23 Timothy Canty
355
24 Tim Schultheis
358
25 Bradford Lee
(NV)
363
26 Frank Oliveri
364
27 Michael Ogata
(FL)
370
28 Jeanette J Narimatsu
371
29 Julie K Narimatsu
374
30 Joe Kajita (CA)
378
31 Eiko Shepherd
381
32 Bill
Dunning(deceased)
382
33 Yasko Odagiri
383
34 Wren Odagiri
385
35 Cary Yamanaka
(MN)
387 36
Don Bordeau
There are currently only 36 Life
Members in Illinois. You can start a membership for $75 minimum start
payment and $25 per payment thereafter until completed. You can pay by
cash, check or credit card. For more information, please contact www.usjudo.org and select “LIFE
MEMBERSHIP” Let’s do our share in Illinois. Thanks.