ILLINOIS JUDO NEWSLETTER – IPPON!!!

ILLINOIS JUDO NEWSLETTER – IPPON!!!

November 1, 2007

President:              Tim Schultheis
VP:                          Chuck Clark
Secretary:              Mary Gail Ford
Treasurer:              Frank Oliveri
Editor:                    Kei Narimatsu

THIS NEWSLETTER MAY BE PASSED ON TO ANYONE IN YOUR ADDRESS BOOK WHO MIGHT NOT GET THIS DIRECTLY FROM THE EDITOR. I DO NOT ALWAYS HAVE CURRENT EMAIL ADDRESSES BUT CLUB INSTRUCTORS, STATE PRESIDENTS AND OTHERS MAY WANT TO LET THEIR MEMBERS HAVE THIS AS WELL. PLEASE DISTRIBUTE AS YOU WISH. IF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WISH TO GET THIS EMAIL FIRST HAND, PLEASE CONTACT ME AT knarimatsu@microlamps.com with subject: Add to Illinois Judo Newsletter

Illinois Judo Newsletter – IPPON!! is the voice of Illinois Judo, sent whenever convenient to members of Illinois Judo and other interested parties. All articles and content are the opinion of the editor unless otherwise noted and do not reflect the opinion of Illinois Judo, its officers or members. Information is gathered from various sources expressly sent for distribution. Contents may contain inaccurate information. If anyone can correct any inaccuracies, they will be published as soon as possible. Information presented will be of a general nature only and will not promote any national organization except USJI/USA Judo or any of its state governing bodies. Tournament and clinic notifications will be made for all organizations and will be guaranteed posted if sent to the editor in electronic format ONLY and in a timely manner. Illinois Judo will make every effort to respect your privacy and never sell, trade, or otherwise abuse the privilege of serving you via this e-mail newsletter.

Cancellation: We're committed to Permission Distribution, so if you prefer not to receive the IPPON!!!, simply send a blank e-mail to knarimatsu@microlamps.com or hit reply with unsubscribe-IPPON in the subject line. You will be omitted from my list FOREVER. It is also appreciated if you would indicate your name in the tag line. I do not use email addresses to segregate emails, only real names. Thank you.

Contents:
Editorial – “I TOLD YOU SO” Hayward Nishioka

Local News

Invitation for participation – USJF Junior Nationals

Newest International Referees

USA JUDO NEWS

35 JR Players to Compet in Peru This Weekend – including Mark Okamura (TOKHON)

Finnish Open

China Qingdao International Judo Tournament Deadline

Midwestern Judo Championships – February 29^th - March 1^st

Rendez Vous Canada Title – winners

#1 Rankings listing

2007 US Open Championships Results – www.usjudo.org

Something to Think About – THE LAST LECTURE – everyone needs to look at this KN

Upcoming Events
USA Judo Life Members

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EDITORIAL – “I TOLD YOU SO”

I haven't written much about judo since the only one making the finals from the USA in many of the international tournaments are the referees. And they don't get to have their National Anthem played for being the best. Unfortunately it’s not the US Judo athletes fault totally. They train hard and run just as much as the foreign competitors and they lift weights as well. Then what is it that makes the difference? Have you really thought about this? Or is it just a passing thought? That may be the problem? We really haven't kept up. Competitive International Judo is really an intense sport and may not just be for the two or three times a week recreational judoka being taught at a club whose sensei is rightly concerned about keeping his drop out rate low by not having the tougher guys use the weaker guys as cannon fodder. On the other hand, they want to keep the tough guys around to maintain a good image for the club. So we cater to the middle.

At the expense of being of being hackneyed, I'll make this a part three continuation of "I Told You so!" In 1998 at the Olympic Training Center we had a Judo coach’s seminar in which I was a presenter. I showed a videotape of some differences between our players and European players. In the audience were many players, some who are now coaching or teaching. There were senseis, coaches, and parent coaches as well. The tape was "Advanced Judo Tactics." The players seemed mildly uninterested and the coaches disturbed. One parent coach came up to me and said "If I have to teach Judo like that, I'd rather have my kids quit!" I was shocked. I think what the person was incensed about were the terms I used in trying to avoid a non-combativity penalties, "a proper false attack." or "one-handed judo" or "running the line" or "off the grip attack."

As the Chief Videographer for USJI (USA Judo) at the time. I watched thousands of miles of video tapes. I also have a Masters degree in Physical Education and have a fair knowledge of Judo which I thought to apply to a sport which I love. It's been more than ten years since this now outdated videotape was produced, but for US athletes, still remains valid. I now see some of the stellar coaches using these tactics, but we're still a long ways off.

You will not hear the Star Spangled Banner played at the World and Olympic Judo Championships on a regular basis until we change our whole culture of how we practice Judo. We are in a small community of Judo enthusiasts of about (realistically) 10,000 practicing judoka in a geo-economically restricting country. Some deeper thought has to be given to how to develop our elite players who need more than just the recreational practice sessions. We need also to encourage a culture of

“studying” Judo. The NFL, the NBA, and Baseball all study videotapes. They go over key points over and over again and then make their players make physical adjustments to contend with the problem. But just watching (ain’t) isn't going to do it alone. When is the last time you saw some grip that a competitor did, that caused you or your player to eventually lose? Did you look at the grip over and over and see the advantage that was gotten from that grip? Did you show your player the mistake? Did you take him aside and drill him to take away that grip so that that advantage was thwarted? I'll bet not! It’s because you’re still in a recreational mode. Don't get me wrong I think recreational Judo is very important, but if you want to play with the big boys, you've got to step it up.

By the way, that coach that admonished me, I saw him using what he had seen at the coaching clinic. Funny, even after all these years in Judo, I still wanted to go up to him and tell him, “I Told You So"

Hayward Nishioka

Hayward is a Nationally renowned Athlete, Coach, Teacher, Author, Lecturer, IJF International (A) Referee and good friend. He has appeared in movies with Eric Roberts and Chris Penn. Was star, director and producer of the very famous Judo movie - Ninja Judo. He was many times National Champion at a time when Japanese born players were coming to the US and competing at our National Championships. Hayward was one of our premier athletes and someone whom I admired for his athletic ability and Judo character.

Hayward was just getting back from India for the CISM Games(World Military Games). This editorial is taken from parts of his blog about these Championships.

LOCAL NEWS

Invitation for participation – USJF Junior Nationals

To all the Illinois area judo clubs,

This coming weekend is the IJI Open Junior workout at the Gurnee Judo Club from 10:00am – 12:00pm. Immediately following the workout I would like to have a quick meeting with all the dojo instructors about the 2008 USJF Jr. Nationals. As you all know by now, we are hosting the event here in Chicago next July 4^th – 6^th. I’d like to brief everyone on our progress thus far and continue strengthening our committee. See you all at Gurnee Judo Club.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please e-mail or call me. 773 865-7268

Doug Tono

Newest International Referees

At the 2007 USA Judo Open Championship 6 candidates to international referee ranks passed their test. They are

To Continental (B):

Daniel Israel - CA

Harold Yamada - WA

Mark Oermann - TX

To Regional (PJU C):

Walter Van Helder - AZ

Karl Tamai - MD

Billy Martin – NY

Achieving these very high ranks is an achievement in and of itself. It takes much dedication, training, study and travel to get there. For each of them, it is a step towards higher and higher accomplishment in the referee world. Congratulations to all of them.

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.

Thirty-Five Junior Players to Compete in Peru This Weekend

(Colorado Springs, Colo.) – A team of 35 junior athletes between 11 and 16-years-old will compete at the Jita Kyoei Cup in Lima, Peru from Nov. 2-3. Athletes on the U.S. team include 2006 Pan American Infantile Champions Carly Patton (Zephyrhills, Fla. / El Mambi Judo Club) and Giovante Ortiz (Jonesboro, Ga. / Waka Mu Sha Judo). Patton, a two-time gold medalist in the 53kg division and 2005 Outstanding Competitor, moved up to 58kg this year. Ortiz, a Grand Slam Champion who won all four major U.S. junior tournaments in 2006… more>

Finnish Open – Deadline TODAY

The Finnish Open, a USA Judo Senior B-Level Point Tournament, will be held Nov. 10-11 in Vantaa, Finland. Teams are scheduled to arrive on Nov. 9 and the competition schedule is as follows:

November 10

Men’s 60kg, 73kg, 90kg and +100kg

Women’s 48kg, 57kg, 70kg and +78kg

November 11

Men’s 66kg, 81kg and 100kg

Women’s 52kg, 63kg and 78kg

Contact Angela Marino by Oct. 29 at Angela.Marino@usajudo.us to register.

China Qingdao International Judo Tournament – Deadline Nov. 9

The China Qingdao International Judo Tournament will be held Nov. 24-25 in Qingdao, China. Registration for this USA Judo Senior D-Level TNL Point Tournament will be held on Nov. 22, followed by draws on Nov. 23.

Competition schedule is as follows:

November 24

Men’s +100kg, 100kg, 90kg and 81kg

Women’s +78kg, 78kg, 70kg and 63kg

November 25

Men’s 73kg, 66kg, 60kg and Open

Women’s 57kg, 52kg, 48kg and Open

Athletes interested in competing must contact Angela Marino at Angela.Marino@usajudo.us by November 9.

Midwestern Judo Championships Date Change

The Midwestern Judo Championships, a USA Judo Senior E-Level Point Tournament, has moved dates to March 1 in Waukegan, Ill. For more information, contact Irwin Cohen at rwin72@aol.com.

Rousey Wins Third Straight Rendez-Vous Canada Title

(Colorado Springs, Colo.) – World silver medalist Ronda Rousey (Wakefield, Mass. / USA Judo National Team FORCE / NYAC) had little trouble earning her third consecutive gold medal at the Rendez-Vous Canada, a USA Judo Senior B-Level Point Tournament, in Montreal on Sunday.

Rousey won her most difficult match of the day in the first round of the 70kg division where she beat four-time World Cup medalist… more>

Ibera, Gotay, Hashimoto, Brestyan and Stevens Win in Canada

(Colorado Springs, Colo.) – U.S. athletes earned gold medals in five of 10 divisions contested on Saturday at the Rendez-Vous Canada, a USA Judo Senior B-Level Point Tournament in Montreal, Canada.

Kenny Hashimoto (San Jose, Calif. / USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University) won his second consecutive Rendez-Vous title in the 66kg division, defeating top-ranked American Taylor Takata (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center) in the finals.

Hashimoto was down by a yuko (quarter-point), but when Takata went in for a harai goshi (hip throw), Hashimoto countered him with a throw for ippon to win gold.

Earlier in the day, Hashimoto earned a key win for the Americans when he beat again came back from being down by points to throw Sasha Mehmedovic (CAN) for ippon. Mehmedovic, a seventh-place finisher at the World Championships in September, beat Takata in the finals of the U.S. Open last week as well as defeating World Team member Justin Flores (Glenville, N.Y. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center) in the quarter-finals.

Flores dropped down to the loser’s pool where he beat Nate Torra (El Cerrito, Calif. / NYAC / East Bay Judo Institute) and Olivier LeMasse (CAN)… more>

Rendez-Vous Early Round Results

Check out http://www.usjudo.org/2007RendezVousDay1ResultsNotes.asp for results from the early rounds of Rendez-Vous Canada including Kenny Hashimoto beating Sasha Mehmedovic (CAN) and Garry St. Leger beating World medalist Brian Olson.

U.S. Open Wins Move New Athletes into #1 Rankings

(Colorado Springs, Colo.) – Five athletes earned new #1 rankings on the USA Judo Senior Elite National Roster following their medal wins over the weekend at the U.S. Open Championships in Duluth, Ga.

U.S. athletes competing at the Open were fighting not only for gold, but also for valuable points toward berths at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Judo, June 13-14 in Las Vegas.

Although athletes will not be announced for the Trials until April 13, the U.S. Open was a large enough point tournament that players who reached the podium could virtually guarantee themselves trips to the Trials.

Also at stake was jockeying for the #1 position on the roster. While seeding at events is always important, whomever is the top seed in each division at the Trials will have a significant advantage over his or her opponents as if the #1 athlete wins the Trials, he or she is nominated to the Team. If that athlete loses a match, he or she then earns the right to a best-of-three fight-off with the winner of the Trials… more>

2007 U.S. Open Kata Championships Results

Visit http://www.usjudo.org/2007USOpenKataResults.asp for results and photos from the U.S. Open Kata Championships, held Oct. 21 in Duluth, Ga.

Reser, Rodriguez, Gotay and Swanson Win U.S. Open

(Duluth, Ga.) – It was a case of podium déjà vu for three Americans on Saturday as they each made return trips to the top step of the podium at the U.S. Open, a USA Judo Senior B-Level point tournament that serves as one of the largest qualifiers for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Judo.

Ryan Reser (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center) and Chuck Jefferson (San Jose, Calif. / USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University) had one of the best-matched battles of the evening.

Both 73kg players were scoreless until Jefferson was given a penalty for non-combattivity with 13 seconds left in the match… more>

Brian Olson Begins Olympic Comeback with Gold at the U.S. Open, Rousey Earns Third Straight Title

(Duluth, Ga.) – It’s been just over three years since Brian Olson (Boulder, Colo. / NYAC / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center / 90kg) walked off the mat for the last time at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens and his comeback was met at the U.S. Open on Friday with much anticipation… more>

Something to Think About – THE LAST LECTURE –

Please take a look. It's worth it. It is equally worth looking at some of the links that are also on youtube. It is at once a sad and uplifting story. KN

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0aO64aKqek

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

Nov 3 Illinois Judo Open Workout Gurnee, IL

Contact: Tim or Anne Schultheis (847)244-7847 or tschulth@warpnet.net

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 Gurnee Veteran's Day Judo Tournament Lindenhurst, IL
Contact: Tim or Anne Schultheis (847)244-7847 or tschulth@warpnet.net

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

Mar 22-23 Midwestern Championships Waukegan IL
Contact Irwin Cohen at 847.680.9234 or Rwin72@aol.com.

Mar 29-30 The US Scholatic Championships Menomonee WI – Chippewa Valley
Contact Jim Peterson jpeterson230@wi.rr.com

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.