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Date. 29 June 03 Event: The Kent Open (International). Fighters: Bobby Rich (-90), Andrew Pragnell (-100), Dimitri Eriobuma (-100), Nicola Dillon (-70(+70)), Beata Hughes (-57), Samuel Williams (-90). Rafal Sokolowski (-90). Fighters not present: Natalie Priestley, Tim Slyfield, Spiros, and James McNeilly Well I arrived at Crystal Palace quite early misjudging the traffic, as if there would be any at 7:30am on a Sunday morning. Very few Judoka were there at 8:00am but they started to arrive soon thereafter. There were Judokas from Holland who had a strong contingent as is usual in the Kent Open. Romania, France, Wales and Scotland plus others were represented. But the Dutch by far were the biggest non-British Group. The professionalism of the coaching staff and their support seemed quite evident which can only be mirrored by their country’s investment in judo. When will we learn the lessons of the European nations? The day started with good weather against all predictions. Being very warm outside didn’t help matters much, with the venue organisers turning the heating up to boiling around midday or so it seemed. It is always hot inside Crystal Palace. Why!! Please send answers on a postcard to “Sam’s corner” usual address. Well it kicked off with the -90’s, which was my group, and no I wasn’t nervous, which I thought was quite impressive. But that steely air of calm soon left me when I finally got to grips with my opponent. Who I subsequently found out fought in the Masters in Munich. Danny Kingston (coach) was excellent shouting the odds from the edge of the shiai-jo. When things didn’t really go our way he made us feel as if the world wasn’t going to cave in. But no doubt he will be breaking a few of our bad habits over the next couple of months. We will make you proud Danny, promise! Anyway, Beefcake Bobby Rich (-90) did very well not as good as the previous year which he won, I may add, go Bobby. He fought well in the final but lost to a very worthy Dutch Judoka. But Bobby you are still the man to beat with that hair teased by Tony and Guy. (Silver) Rafal Sokolowski (Raf)(-90) had three fights in total losing two, winning one. Again he fought well but there was a serious refereeing mix up which may have cost him the chance to escape from the Tate-shiho-gatame in the last fight against the same Romanian who I had in my first fight. The Romanian was very, very strong almost freakishly strong. Far be it from me to cast doubt over his training methods. But nonetheless Raf gave a good first performance for the Budokwai, hopefully first of many. Nicola Dillon, was, as I thought a dead-cert gold she fought the category very confidently and in style not really giving away too much in the process. She had already failed the weight and was fighting above her category, at the bottom of (+70). Anyway, the final came round and she gave everything. She was winning by a waza-ari right up until she was thrown for ippon (ko-uchi gari). Unlucky Nicola. Fantastic performance by the Cheshunt bell (Silver) Andrew Pragnell (-100) unfortunately received an injury in his first fight, which resulted in him being taken to hospital with a sprained/broken ankle. Get well soon Andy. I know you took my drink!!! Dimitri Eriobuma (-100) fought well loosing one fight and winning his second. Not much to say really as Dimitri is a man of so few words I thought I’d keep it brief. (Bronze) Beata Hughes (-57), no wins under her belt this time but better luck next time. Her competitors were very strong in body and techniques. It is rumoured that they could have been members of their respective national squads. Who knows! Still, good performance Beata! Samuel Williams (-90), my competition for at least 17 years. I can’t say how much I regret not returning to judo as soon as I was supposed to. I saw the juniors playing and saw the future of our country’s judo. The future is bright and hopefully not orange of the Dutch. I so regret not keeping up my judo. Anyway, as mentioned before I fought the judoka from Romania who scored two waza-aris against me. My next contest was against a British international one Mr O’Connor from Wales. I feared better against him but I was still beaten on the ground with yoko-shiho-gatame after failing to execute Ude-hishigi-juji-gatame. The day wasn’t too bad there were a few famous faces just to mention a couple, our very own Roy Inman and Don Werner (Pinewood). Natalie who wasn’t fighting was cheering us on and just in case we got a little peckish she had brought loads of refreshments I polished off on the way home, nice! We all hope she recovers quickly from her recent injury caused in training. Not forgetting Andrea who came later showing his support along with the –90 British and Commonwealth champion Winston Gordon (Winnie), Thank god he wasn’t on the mat! Anyway, here is some insider information don’t tell anyone else let this be just between us. The dan & kyu grade syllabuses have been changed, which is no surprise. What you didn’t know is that the powers that be have introduced kata into the curriculum which, personally, I think is excellent. It is about time we started to aim higher than just shiai judo. Kata is the grammar of judo and those who don’t practice it will only know half the meaning of anything they do even if they become accomplished in shiai. The French et al practice kata as an integral part of their judo, as was intended by O sensei Jigoro Kano. So why did the BJA drop it from the art, again answers on a postcard please. I am not sure but I would say Kano knew a bit more about judo than they did and how to teach it. So, what does this mean to you, well nothing if you don’t want to grade but if you do grade, you will have to learn them. I assume that they will not have the guts to introduce anything near as difficult as the French system. The French system almost requires you learn a different kata each dan with the exception of second dan and first where you have to perform one new whole kata and a section of another. There are seven official kata but there are another 3-4 kata that, are not practiced at the Kodokan today but are still a part of the general body of judo techniques. They are: nage-no-kata (form of throws), katame-no-kata (form of grappling), kime-no-kata (form of decision), Kodokan goshin-jutsu (Kodokan form art of self defence), Ju-no-kata (form of gentleness), Itsutsu-no-kata (form of five), Koshiki-no-kata (forms of antique). Anyway lots more about kata next time.
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