Stand up for Judo

[Rich]

Hi all

I just saw the first day of judo competition at this Olympics. The judo was for the most part great with some truly memorable moments. Ryoko Tani fighting through the pain to take gold was special.

My favourite fight was in the womens -48kg between the Greek fighter Maria Karagiannopoulou and the German fighter Julia Matijass. This was one of the fights for bronze. Both fighters attacked non-stop in an entertaining contest that ended with a near-perfect uchimata for ippon by the German fighter. The Greek fighter gave it everything and the embrace they shared at the end showed the respect and admiration they had for each other.

Sadly, as much as I enjoyed this fight I was sadened by the mens -60kg final. The crouching, defensive posture of the Georgian Nestor Khergiani prevented any opportunity for Tadahiro Nomura of Japan to show his wonderful attacking judo. The Georgian was penalised (up to keikoku giving Nomura wazari I believe) and Nomura won but what a let down for a final! In my opinion the Georgian should have been given hansoku-make and disqualified. He made no real attempt to fight, preferring instead to crouch and make sure he wasn't thrown. I like the new rule of extra-time for a golden score but to keep spectators interested a firmer stand needs to be taken on crouching, defensive, negative judo.

Stand up and fight like Maria Karagiannopoulou. She definitely won the Spirit of Judo award in my opinion!

Richard :bow:

[Webmaster]

Rich:

Thanks for the report! Unfortunately, we will not see these matches until midnight tonight (Eastern Time), but I am still looking forward to it. Could you do us a favor since we will probably not get to see these matches live (or even close to live)? Please don't give away the results. I will still watch, but it does take away from the drama a bit.

Anyway, I cannot wait until 11 PM my time tonight! For us folks in the US, this is some of the more extensive Judo coverage we have seen for several Olympics. Hopefully, one of my students (hint, hint) will have his TiVo cranked up and recording the action!

[starkjudo]

If anyone around here has experience with TiVo hacking where my coworker can copy the video for me, please post some information or PM me.

[Rich]

Dear all,

My apologies for commenting on the results of the Olympics. :o Gomen nasai!

I shall not comment until all events are concluded. Please enjoy the games!

Richard :bow:

[Cliff Hargrave]

Freaking Bravo station, they only showed the two gold medal matches, Tani for women and Nomura for mens. They didn't even show all of Namura's match. But they had to show 40 minutes of sailing before that.

[Webmaster]

Cliff was right, 40 minutes of friggin sailing and 20 minutes of Judo! Grrrrr!

[vadrip]

Actually, it was less than 15 minutes of judo, one full match and another more than half way through was shown. The sailing was 30 mins, I'd rather watch clothes going around in a washing machine then watch this crap. Not to mention, the highlight of women's softball.

[jabonn]

That's the way it always is for Judo Olympic coverage. You stay up all night to see 10-15 minutes of two matches. Judo is supposed to be the 2nd largest competitor sport right behind Soccer. I guess since we don't have major endorsements we get shut out.

When Dallas was bidding for the 2012 games I was excited to see that the Combat Arts of the Olympics were held at Univ of North Texas only about 6 miles from my house. I thought then I would get to see all of the Olympic Judo matches. Since we lost out due to poor Mass-Transportation System my hope is now Houston gets a bid.

Quick quotes from the the Athletes about the 2004 games.

Jimmy Pedro (73kg, Methuen, Mass.), on what it's like to be at his
fourth Olympics: "Every Games is different, but I'm enjoying this one
immensely. Especially because after Sydney I said that I was done.
Absolutely. No chance of coming back. Well, here I am."

Ronda Rousey (63kg, Santa Monica, Calif.) on whether her mother being
USA's first world champion puts pressure on her: "Of course my mother's
accomplishment were great, but they were hers. She's given me a lot, but
everyone has to go out and do their own thing. I think I've prepared as best
as I can, training in Boston with the Pedros. I'm just going to go out and
give it all that I've got."

Coach Ed Liddie on the team: "We've got quite a varied team this year,
with 4 time veterans and first time Olympians. We think we've put together a
great squad and look forward to the next week of competition."

Liddie on how the veterans influence the first timers: "Our veterans
lead by example. They're always there to help and answer questions, but
mainly they set the pace by the way they behave and the others follow that
leadership. Next year the young ones will be stepping in to the leadership
roles."

Rhadi Ferguson (100 kg, Colo. Springs) on being a rookie on the
Olympic Team: "I may be a rookie at the Olympics, but I've been competing
all my life. I was a triathlete in College, without playing Judo, and have
been successful there as well as writing books on training and being a
motivational speaker. I've prepared as best I can and look forward to this
competition as just another challenge that I welcome."

The veterans on what lies ahead after the Olympics:

Brian Olson (90kg, Boulder, CO): "I'll be staying in Boulder, Colorado
pursuing business opportunities, as well as running my club, the Boulder
Judo Training Center. I've also just gotten engaged and look forward to a
wedding next spring."

Celita Schutz (70kg, New York, NY): "I'm sure that Judo will always be
a part of my life in one way or the other, but after these Games, I'll be
embarking on a new career, yet to be determined. I've got a number of
options."

Jimmy Pedro (73kg, Methuen, Mass.): "I'll be returning to my position
at Monster, Inc. as manager of Olympic sponsorship and spending a LOT more
time with my family (wife and three children). Monster has been very
supportive of me in this latest quest for the gold, but it's quite
comforting to know what I'll be doing after the Olympics, as opposed to
2000, when I had no idea what I'd be doing after the Games were over.

[Jeff Burger]

Fightgrrl helps The Women's Sports Foundation.
She helped get Ronda Rousey funding.

Jimmy Pedro is awesome, he used to train at Tohuko Judo here in Boston.
Sure make you feel better that they guy who toyed with you is in his 4th olympics.

Jeff

[Rich]

Sorry guys!

As I'm in Japan I get to see almost all of the fights with about five plus hours of live coverage. In the afternoon the early rounds are on, then in the evening the repechage, semi's, bronze medal fights and finals are shown.

The tv networks in Japan unsurprisingly focus on one of their national sports in which their competitors are legitimate gold medal prospects.

Sadly, in other countries judo is seen as a "minor" sport and therefore receives minimal coverage.

Hopefully technology will allow viewers to choose which sports to watch so everyone is happy by the time the next Olypics roll around.

Meanwhile, if you want full coverage...come to Japan! :D

Richard :bow:

[Webmaster]

Sorry guys!

As I'm in Japan I get to see almost all of the fights with about five plus hours of live coverage. In the afternoon the early rounds are on, then in the evening the repechage, semi's, bronze medal fights and finals are shown.

The tv networks in Japan unsurprisingly focus on one of their national sports in which their competitors are legitimate gold medal prospects.

Sadly, in other countries judo is seen as a "minor" sport and therefore receives minimal coverage.

Hopefully technology will allow viewers to choose which sports to watch so everyone is happy by the time the next Olypics roll around.

Meanwhile, if you want full coverage...come to Japan! :D

Richard :bow:

Rich:

You continue to make us envious. Training at the Kodokan, full coverage of Olympic Judo...next thing you will tell us is that you can get Asahi Beer on tap at the local pub! ;)

[Rich]

My apologies but I couldn't resist! :D

Regarding the original theme of the thread does anyone have any opinion on traditional, upright judo versus the crouching, leg-grabbing style? Personally I think the referees need to penalise people faster for a crouching defensive stance. It seems so negative and against the spirit of judo. To make the sport of judo more popular, attacking judo should be encouraged and the best way to do that is to penalise this negative judo.

Richard :bow:

[Webmaster]

My apologies but I couldn't resist! :D

Regarding the original theme of the thread does anyone have any opinion on traditional, upright judo versus the crouching, leg-grabbing style? Personally I think the referees need to penalise people faster for a crouching defensive stance. It seems so negative and against the spirit of judo. To make the sport of judo more popular, attacking judo should be encouraged and the best way to do that is to penalise this negative judo.

Richard :bow:

I don't have any real suggestions, but I totally agree with you. Too much of this crouching business and you get jacket wrestling, and not Judo.