Walderslade

29th April 2007

Budokwai grading report by Barry Hutchings

"So there was I... in the birthplace of British judo, wondering why I hadn't taken up Salsa lessons with the missus! I mean, what was I thinking of? I'm forty-eight years old and with arthritic elbows. My last grading was twenty-nine years ago and there wasn't another blue belt there who even existed in those days! So I walked around the mat, self-consciously shaking a wrist, twisting a foot and rotating my hips, whilst all around me these young, honed athletes practised uchi-komi with a frightening determination. I considered going to the loo and slipping out of the window. I had visions of running down the Kings Road in my judo suit, chased by a horde of angry blue belts: A loud crash brought me out of my fantasy. A grim looking Japanese brown belt, a student fresh out Tokyo University, was performing waza worthy of Mr. Ladbrook.What Am doing here! I thought. Run away old man! But it was too late. The venerable examiners had called us all together and were detailing my fate. I had no choice but to go through with it.

The grading started. White belts first, then gradually, through the grades leading up to blue. The bouts were tough and aggressive and I noted that a large percentage of the competitors had Russian sounding names. There was even a Nepalese Green belt - a Gurkha on leave - who demolished his opponents with a frightening scream at the end of each throw. I almost expected him to whip out his knife and slit their throats.

Then it was my turn. I almost died of fear when they called my name - and again when they called my opponent. A Russian with a name like Vladimir Bolokofski. What I am doing fighting a bloody Russian! I mean... we all know how tough Russians are; they're raised on vodka, kettlebells, and wrestling. They EAT their own vodka glasses to save on the washing up!

We faced each other and the ref shouted "Hajime!"

We took grips. I kid you not he was a monster. Strong... powerful... and with breath to match. I tried to manoeuvre him into a favourable position - but my strength seemed to be neutered. He launched his attack, but I managed to crash it out and we both fell to the floor - no points scored. Usually I like groundwork but on this occasion I decided to get up as quickly as I could! The ref called us together again and we restarted the bout. My nerves were gone now, cleansed by the first few seconds of violence. This time it was me who took the powerful grip. He seemed to like this and he responded likewise. We fought each other like two bulls locked in a trial of strength. I could almost hear the 'tut-tutting' of the venerable examiners at our display of catch-as-can wrestling, as we grabbed at each other's legs and tried to lift each other off of the ground. To be fair, he was better at this than me, and he managed to have me staggering a few times. But when he launched his big attacks I always crashed them out, pushing him face down into the mat. He seemed reluctant to do groundwork with me and curled himself into a tight hedgehog position. He was impossible to open up. The bout went the distance - four minutes - and with no points scored it was declared a draw. At least I hadn't lost!

The Gurkha -who had seemed to have taken a liking to me - said that I had done well, and advised me to walk around the mat and loosen up.

When the next bout came I was much more relaxed. We took grips and I knew from that moment that this was going to be a much easier affair. I won with two wazaris- both from counter attacks. I have no idea how I did them or what they were. (Probably some kind of a hybrid-twisting hip throw)

Unfortunately I was not given a third bout and so I only advanced one grade to second kyu. It seems I will have wait unit July before I mount the top rung of the brown belt ladder. In the meantime I will still be sitting to the left of the club's venerable first kyus!

And so, with all my bouts done, there was nothing left to do but watch the Japanese student take his line-up and give his demonstration of perfect judo. Of course he won his black belt. He was Japanese wasn't he?"

Ed says...

There is a real race on in the club now with Barry, Ranj, Matt and Steve all on the verge of gaining thier Black Belts. Who will get there first ?

29th April 2007

Visit by French judo club

In April we were very pleased to be able to host a visit by our friends from Judo Club Monsois in Lille. It was a great weekend and a full report will follow.

New Club Coach

It is with pleasure we can announce the gaining of a new Club Coach at Walderslade. Chris Riley has officially taken over the Junior / Senior Class on Monday evenings, and brings with him a wealth of experience.

18th April

BJA Kent County Grading

On Sunday 18th March six senior Walderslade club members attended the first BJA Kent County Grading of the year with some fantastic results. The grading event, which was held at the superb Dartford Dojo, open since March last year, produced some outstanding judo.

Two of the clubs beginners Mark Jones and Joe Walton were attending their first ever grading. Both fought really hard with heavyweight and relative newcomer, Mark Jones doing well enough to be promoted to Lower Orange Belt after some tough fights whilst Joe, lighter of the two, had a truly excellent day, defeating both his opponents in style. Joe held the first down for Ippon (full point) after clearly dominating the contest and strangled the second into submission for another Ippon, taking a heavy knock to the cheek in the process. Meanwhile, Orange Belt Rob Kemm, just back from a slight knee injury, was hoping to move up to Green Belt against what looked like some stronger and heavier opposition. Rob fought well and demonstrated enough in the eyes of the Examiners to achieve the promotion he wanted. Rob showed some good techniques and held off the larger opponents for a while before being beaten by the experience and weight of the higher graded players.

The club’s success continued as the Blue and Brown Belts took to the mat. The preliminary rounds saw Blue Belt, Ranj Atwal pull off an excellent win for Ippon to secure himself a place in the higher division alongside those players looking for Upper Brown Belt (1st Kyu) and Black Belt (1st Dan).

Likewise some excellent judo from Steve Stacy and Matt Sage meant that Walderslade soon had three seniors in with a chance to move on to the fight-offs for 1st Kyu and 1st Dan. The real star of the day had to be 17 year old Matt Sage in his first senior grading. Matt suffered a broken collar bone and dislocated shoulder at the end of 2006 and so missed the previous grading. However, he was on form at this event and caused a series of upsets along the way as he turned over one opponent after another on his way to securing his 1st Kyu. Mat did so well that not only did he move up from his Junior Brown Belt to his senior 1st Kyu, but he also gained 20 points towards his 1st Dan Black Belt.

Steve Stacy and Ranj Atwal followed suit, each winning a series of tough fights against quality opposition, with some big Ippon throws.

Steve was very unlucky in his final fight (his eighth contest of the day) when he turned in and threw his opponent with a nicely timed Seoi Otoshi (Shoulder Drop throw) only to find himself being turned and countered at the last second. A little more impetus on the throw and the win would have certainly been scored for Steve which would have finished the day off well for the Walderslade fighter. Ranj fought hard in his pools and although was caught and held for ippon by a heavier opponent early on, he redeemed himself in the line-ups with a good Uchi Mata (Inner Thigh Throw) throw for Waza-ari, which clinched him the award of 1st Kyu Upper Brown Belt.