Yesterday we had a Judo tournament here in Utah (about an hour away from me, in Ogden.)

I thought a lot before this tournament about what exactly I wanted to accomplish. I summed it all up in my mind shortly before my first match. I walked off by myself, and said a short prayer. I asked that I be given the strength to perform as I knew I should. Not that I would win, or throw every move perfectly, but that I would know that I did my best.

I am pleased to say that was the case. I was really bummed to find out that there was only one other person in my weight and experience range there. He and I had to go three matches to determine a winner. I think he was a bit bummed at only having a single opponent as well. But by the end of the third match it was all that either of us could do to walk a straight line to leave the mat.

My opponent was a tall man with a very firm handshake (we met before the match.) But it wasn’t until we gripped up with each other for the first time that I realized just how much trouble I was really in.

He was strong. Really strong.

The first match was a good, lengthy battle, but he eventually nailed me with a great Osoto Gari.

The second match was a bit different. I realized that there were some holes in his throws, but he was a stronger thrower than I was. Due to these two factors I started letting him do move of the throwing, and just played a bit more careful. I found that if I kept my kazushi (balance), that when he would go to throw he often left some holes. I was able to take advantage of these, and turn some of them against him. Eventually we found our way to the ground. I felt I had a stronger ground game, and eventually pinned him.
By that point I was nearly dead.

Entering the third match I just didn’t have the fire I need to pull off a throw, so I tried to play it more like the second match, and take advantage of his mistakes. Unfortunately he was playing a lot more careful. I still kept from getting thrown clean for a long time, and very nearly pinned him again (he managed to get into half guard so we got stood up.) Eventually he hit me again with a very solid Osoto Gari.

He won the day, but I am pleased with my performance. I feel I did everything as well as I was able.

So now reflection on how to improve:

I feel that my biggest problem is the limit of my Randori partners (okay, and my cardio, and being fat .
I think many of us Randori with the some few people so much that we get used to them. I really need to mix it up more. I need to practice more with taller people, and heavier people, and lanky people, and fast people. That way I am more prepared for what gets thrown my way.

Thank you to my opponent for a wonderful, challenging, and enlightening match.  Thank you to all of those who supported me, and to Mike who teaches me so much. Thanks to those of you who read this… I hope that my experiences might help someone else out there.

Posted in: Uncategorized