Big Judo Term Three Starts

Term Three starts this week. Ben, Geoff, Tracey and Jordan are all ready and raring to go.

A Quick Community Notice

Poster for a fundraiser for one of the schools that some our kids come from - nothing to do with Judo - but Big Judo is about more than just Judo and supporting local school is a good thing to do!

Big Judo Contest Photos - Epic

Its been a week since we competed and I have finally worked out how to use Drop Box and downloaded the photos.  Thanks heaps Jonny we got some really good photos and here is a small selection. 

Photo of the day! Thanks Jonny this is a great shot. 

Coaching on the sideline. 

Where every fight starts - standing up.

But they normally end up down on the ground and when they do an aggressive application of the principles of  Kosen Judo is a great recipe for success.  

A nice kesa gatame (scarf hold).

Another nice example of ground control.

Jordan and Ben feeling happy!

More important our kids having a great time doing Judo!

Big Judo Hoodies

Ben and Tracey modelling the new Big Judo hoodies.  Very fashionable in either pink or blue. Warm too.

Want one? Then talk to Ben, Tracey or Jordan or drop Lucy and email.

Big Judo Contest

Big Judo team for the Judokwai kid's competition did team very well last weekend.  We took eighteen kids to the contest and a huge group of very supporting parents, coaches and helpers.  The contest was very exciting and Big Judo took home a nice stash of medals (four golds, three silvers and seven bronzes).  We are slowly gathering up photos and will be putting them up on the blog.

Angus and Jami 'going hard' in the Under 24 kg category.

Jamie winning by hold down with kesa gatame.  All the coaches were really pleased that we are dominating the ground fighting. Our kids were transitioning from stand up to ground fighting really and escaping from ground holds.  Teaching Rick's style of Kosen Judo this made us really proud. 

Although contest like this are mostly about providing a 'safe' and controlled environment for kids to test their Judo skills and learn some great lessons about themselves such as  being courageous and sportsmanlike we still love it when they win. The two boys on the left are Zac and Jamie from Big - with their medals.

Big Judo Fighting Badge

Traditionally, Judo teams have often worn badges in contest. In old Japan foot soldier's wore their lord's mon (a logo similar to a European coat of arms) into battle and the tradition continues with Japanese Judo teams using a variety of badges.

This year we started our own Big Judo tradition with our 'Team Big' patch. The 'Team Big' competition badge is only given to students that demonstrate Big's three core values (working hard at their Judo, being brave and looking after their classmates) and who are ready to represent us in competition.

All traditions start somewhere and hopefully in 100 years people will be able to look at this post and see where the 'Team Big' badge started.

Big Judo Back to Work in City

Big Judo's city kids started work again this week. We are now in our new venue in St Martin's Church at the corner of Sandringham and Taumata Road.  We have a nice big mat area and plenty of space. It is a great venue.

Jordan, Geoff and Ben moved the mats over the holidays and even Sensai - Rick Littlewood came down and helped out.

Here is a picture of Jordan gluing non-slip onto the mats.  Rick is the older gentleman holding the paint brush. Rick taught Jordan's Dad, Ben and Jordan their Judo and it was great that he came down.

Another photo of Rick and his dog. Nothing to do with Judo I just like the fact that Rick has a funny little dog. 

Beginners Class 1-2pm

The one o'clock beginners class went well. We had a good turnout and the class was a nice opportunity to get used to the new venue. We are really pleased with the size of the new venue and with how light and airy it is. And there is even plenty of space for parents. 

Junior Class 2-3pm

The junior class also went well. We had plenty of kids and worked hard getting them ready for the competition in June.

Ben and Jordan demonstrating and discussing technique. 

Kids lined up ready to fight.

And they're off.  We teach Kosen Judo and place a big emphasis on ground fighting.  Rick trained for nearly a decade in Kyoto during the 1960s and he trained his students in this distinctive style of Judo. Ben and Jordan are proud to carry on this tradition.

Another key aspect of the Kosen style is transitioning from standing to ground fighting or vice-versa.

Even at this age we work hard to teach the kids how to follow through from a standing position against someone that is on the ground.

In this drill a standing player races to turnover and hold down a player on all fours. This simulates a situation in which a throw or take-down has failed but one person has fallen on their hands and knees.

Tough place to be but the person standing needs to be quick to capitalise on the advantage and the person on  the ground needs to learn get out of this position. 

In the first photo we were working from the rear of the 'disadvantaged'  player. In this drill we work the other way i.e. over the prone player's head and shoulders.

Drilling transitions like this has worked very well for our kids in competition.