Alive

I have recovered enough energy to drag myself to my laptop finally and provide all the sadists out there with another update.

My knee injury is pretty much right now, have to be a big carefull still with leg drop throws but its ok as lately I have been playing lefty alot anyway. I alternate alot trying to build strong left and right so no complaints.

Training over the last week has been good but not as busy as usual as we are still in holiday season. back to fullthrottle 2-3 trianings a day as of yesterday ..and to be honest it was really hard getting back into it. In the morning at Kidotai training there was a team fight event again between our guys from Kyoto and another prefecture. They are doing it to decide on Kansai regions best team to send to the All Japan Police Games, so far it looks like it will be a Kyoto dominated team - the team fight is run as a best of 3. Our guys took the first round very lightly - winning only by small scores and penalty's as they just sussed their opposition out, seeing what they have and what their style is.

Round 2: Ippon, Ippon, Ippon etc etc. We won all but 1 of the matchs and nearly all of them by fullscore Ippon throws ( equivilant of boxings knockouts) so the Kyoto guys obviously did a good job of sussing the opposition out.

After than there was a 2 hour break and then into Tachiwaza Randori (Standing Sparring) After a team fight the other team stays 2-3 days to train like a training camp style so theres allways new faces to train with and new styles to work with. I felt really sluggish ... I think I ate too much within the hour before training. Ughhh. I remember an occasion in which Pudgy from Ak/Uni club did this and was vomiting in the toilet after being bombed on his back... at least I did not get to that point..

Straight home from training and 2 hours to rest for training at Enshin Dojo, that went well and I didnt feel sluggish at all there, got some good techniques in and was happy with my posture. They had one hardcore gun there who usually just chills on the side who decided to partake that day..and bring my ego down to size. Cool dude though.

After training we all went along to Yakitori with some of the Judo guys, which seems to be becoming a bi weekly sorta thing. Sensei Rick came along aswell plus a small french contingent who spent the evening sparring wits with Lee calder and coming out worse or wear.

I have to leave for Judo in 20 minutes so time to get my gear together.

J

Pictures from Riot Police

Pictures from Team Fight between Kidotai Kyoto Riot Police and their counterparts from another prefecture.

More complaining

Its too hott!!!

34 Degrees, wearing a double weave Judo gi - going through 10 rounds of randori/sparring. Apparantly I should be happy though as winter is supposedly 10X worse.

Back to fullintensity fighting after doing a medial strain that made me sideline a bit for 4 days or so, now getting back into it after testing the water and finding it ok again. Elbow feeling a bit better now after someones over enthusiastic Juji/arm bar.
Perhaps as revenge for the recent less than flattering video of Sensei Rick showing his technological prowess, we are now expected to go for a run along the river in full Judo gi after Judo while he films it for the infamous Judokong.com unfortunately said video is likely ever to see the light of day as it would result in mutiny at shimei hall.

Training camp is getting closer, just a couple of weeks away. Looking forward to it even though I'm going to be gunning it lone wolf due to everyone else being pansies/having to leave Japan for the OJU's in Aussie. I'm just a bit bitter.
It's taking place in Kyushu - the southern most part of Honshu, the mainland of Japan. Also the hottest part. Woo.

Got another new haircut down the road for the summer months, I asked for a Budo haircut, and I got one. End of story.


Aside from the heat and other pains in the ass, I'm feeling confident about training. Probably because I'm at current reading Lance Armstrongs 'Not about the bike' pretty inspiring read. I give it a 4.3/5 with the .7 deducted for lack of pictures to make it easy for someone whos been thrown on his head 100 times recently to understand.

Sensei Rick, on technology

Week in Review

Rainy season finally ended just yesterday, suddenly seeing alot more mamals around the town, riding home yesterday from Judo with Lee we spotted ourselves an Otter hooning around the river at top speeed, saw another Snake (poison brown) slithering about, another Otter by the river at nighttime, he was just kicking back on the land with Tim & I.
So I get home after this eventfull day and park my bike and what do I see, nothing other than a Tanuki *the namesake of Sensei Ricks restaurant* playing around our bikes. We have a tense standoff for a minute then it pounds away into our garden and disapears. Tanuki are more or less a mix of a raccoon and a dog with a splash of badger. Very cute, very cuddly but also very strong , brave and aggresive if circumstances permit.




(Tanuki Above)



(Typical Tanuki goodluck Statue, have one at home in NZ)


On Thursday this week did a really hard training, went really well. I did about 9 rounds of Standup Sparring at Kidotai and then another 10 in a row at Enshin Dojo, went really well my fitness is right up there but I nailed my knee a bit at Enshin and only noticed when I got home it hurts to turn it side to side, wheras straight movements are ok. Suspect its a medial ligament strain, will have it looked at in 20 minutes by an expert and should be fine for the new week all going to plan. Also had someone accidenlty attempt to break my arm off with a strong Juji (armbar, I didnt even have a second to submit!) its very tender now and a bit strained at the elbow but it only popped once before I managed to wrench it out. Its not broken so should also be ok come Monday.

Training wise I'm foccussing ony getting my offence, grip fighting and endurance up and up so I'm good for the training camp. Its a Night and half long ferry trip there plus 3 hours by train - the very south of Japan around Kyushu is the destination.


This coming evening Sensei Rick & us are taking Aoki San to an English Pub which will be a nice change, good time to relax and talk Judo of course...what else do people talk about?>!

Still waiting on Lee to upload those pictures, but should be done tomorow so fingers crossed.

New Arrivals

Hugo has arrived alive and well on his Judo Scholarship from Auckland.
Word has it that he had to ditch A BLUE GI, plus dozens of pairs of underwear and socks so as he could make the weight requirments for the plane. Said goods can be found in Sensei Rick's house - soon to be on sale for cheap in the AK/Uni Judo Club.

First impression: he is very enthusiastic, as long as he continues to be so he will do fine.

Tomorow evening we have Don from western Judo (also silver fox's/dads flat mate) coming to stay for 2 weeks with his son, they will be training here in Kyoto in preparation for Donalds participation in the Oceania Judo Champs (same event Lee is leaving to compete in).

Tim got an excellent package from his crew at Gisborne Judo Club, which Jun (Manager of Auckland Martial Arts Supplies was kind enough to bring over in exchange for a Beer) She also gifted to us other neglected,lost boys 1 KG of Weetbix and 6 bags of Pinaple Lumps. Shes getting a christmass card.

Well just a quick update right now as I have to shoot off on my 1 hour bikeride to Judo in 10 minutes, after which I have a secondary meeting with Kimura Sempai in regards to Lee & I going on training camp - the itinery seems to be a run everymorning, then a big randori session, then a technical session then another randori session. Sleeping on Tatami Mats in the Dojo I think. We are going via Osaka & Ferry to a large island whichs name I cannot write or pronounce to train for 5 days intensively along side Rits & A Physical Education Uni Judo Team. Which I have been assured are VERY tough. Aswell as getting some hardcore Judo in its going to be good for making new connections around Japan and the region for if we every wish to train around here in the future or if I wish to move to different region later on.

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PICTURES FROM NIGHT WITH THE KIDOTAI JUDO TEAM & PICTURES FROM HUGOS INITIATION COMING NEXT POST
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Jun also did her inspection of Shimei Palace and was astounded at just how shiny and clean we keep the place, not even a spec of dust on the window sill.

Advice for City Hall ( Auckland)

Well... I have nearly survived yet another week here and I'm looking forward to my Weekend as if promises to be an eventfull one.

We have Hugo arriving around 0100 Saturday Morning, Jun ( Rick Sensei's Daughter) is coming around later on Saturday to clean Shimei Hall, under the guise of an inspection. Being the smart person I am I have deciphered reading between the lines that she intends to clean for us so have dutifully prepared all my laundry and even got the mops and vacuum cleaner ready.

Judo this week has been exceptional, the humidity is doing me no favours, its important to keep your fluid's up, not just important - Critical. Everytime you do something refill your drink bottle. Every year people actually die over here from the humidity so when your cranking out double Judo sessions you must pay heed to the climate.

Climate aside, I have been an training like an animal and it finally is paying off even more. My Kumi-Kata (grip fighting) has been one of the points I have noticed go through the roof aswell as my attacking combinations, which suprised a few guys at the Kidotai today. Ha. Did 20 Touchiwaza Randoris today (Stand up sparring) between two training sessions so feeling fit, putting the hard work in now so the training camp next month dosn't come as too much of a shock to the system.

The Riot Cop Judo Squad/Kidotai invited us to join them for a few Beers and Dinner tomorow evening at an all you can eat & drink buffet in town, which is well priced. It would be very rude to turn them down, so of course we will be in attendance.


Enshin Dojo has also been really good training lately, it's a great place to try some new technique's without getting thrown through the roof, aswell as improve your over all fitness and strength. Recently the Sensei's Daughter was promoted to Vice- Chairman of the All Japan Judo Referee's Comission - the first female to hold this position, its big news. She gifted to Tim, Lee and I all a copy of Kodokan Judo by Jigoro Kano. Very, very kind of her. Will make an effort to train there regularily on top of everything else as they are all good fun.

The homeless people in NZ should really take note of the hobbo's here, they have tidy little shacks out of the way along the river. Within these little shacks they usually have a table and chairs, a few couchs, a nice little futon bed and a chest of drawers. They occupy their days picking up rubbish that happens to float by to keep the area clean, fishing in the river to catch dinner and conversing with their cats. They even take their shoes off before entering their modest (but comfortable) shacks.

I was reading recently that Auckland City Council is looking of ways to clean up the homeless in Auckland before the Rugby World Cup so that Auckland looks like a slice of heaven. I hearby put it to the NZRU & ARC that they send a homeless emissary over to Kyoto to investigate and liase with the local Homeless population so as information can be gathered as to how they could emulate such an existance.
You can even say it was your idea!

J