Chronicles of Rick: All Japan High-Grades Shiai 2010

Arrived at the AKL airport last Monday and Air NZ upgraded us to business class, which was very nice of them. After watching 3 movies and reading 3 magazines time passed very quickly and in no time at all we were getting off at Narita airport and through customs and immigration within 15 minutes.

One can get a bus from Narita to your Tokyo hotel which we did. The hotel Metropolitan is a nice hotel at Ikebukuro which where the NZ Masters team stayed 2 years ago. The next day we went shopping at Akehabara which is considered downtown Tokyo .

Wednesday was the all Japan High Grades shiai and this time I was not going to get the day wrong like did two years ago .

Every year 1300+ 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th dans gather to fight for their honor and lives and this year was no exception. All ages were represented, from 31 to the eldest at 94 (an 8th Dan). On that note this sensei who 94 [see picture] had no one to fight and thus won because he was there. The Kodokan way of making sure that this old gentleman does not get hurt.

Looking at the programme I saw 2 foreigners in the 5th Dan, 5 in the 6th Dan, and one in the 7th dans, me! Not only must you be 5th dan and above to fight, but you must be a Kodokan 5th Dan and above.

Kodokan rules only are used which means 3 minutes for all ages, waza ari and above only count and kani basami and standing wake-gatame is ok.

The Kodokan is a sea of high grades who are bowing and greeting fellow judoka who come from all over Japan every year.

5th dans, of which are the most, fight in two dojos under the main dojo which is for 6th, 7th and  8th dans. As 9th dans are hard to get you would normally see at least 24, 8th dans on the mat.

About 3pm my name appeared on the board and after a few stretches and looking around for my opponent I found myself staring at a 7th Dan 100kg plus monster. This guy is going to be hard to move I thought.

The Kodokan has a rei/bowing procedure which must be followed and if not done right will be corrected until it is right. I've seen them correct 8th dans.

I started with my usual kiai and a couple of bounces and immediately grabbed with both hands, pushing his right arm down for a straightening reaction , which I got, followed by my 1st arm bar attack which failed. Plan b standing arm bar also missed. Plan C, the aero plane spin, took him down and we went into newaza, but such was his weight and experience that we were given the standup order.

Next was plan D, which was ude gaeshi, rolling arm bar, which stumbled him but that was all. All this while he never attacked once one both of us got a rolly polly for being none combative, which was strange considering I was the only one attaching.

Three and a half minutes late it was declared a draw. Only my second in 28 years at the Kodokan.

The 8th Dan were on soon after and it was amazing the standard at their age with clean ippons from tachiwaza and newaza. The last shiai was between Ota sensei and Matsuoka sensei who are 83 each respectively which ended in a draw with Matsuoka sensei repeated trying to go into newaza.

This shiai is then finished by giving out certificates for excellent techniques. The kodokan empties out with many drifting off in small groups for a few Japanese beers to relive today's fights. Another large group heads for the local "nomiya" a cheap and noisy drink place. These are the members of the All Japan Masters Judo Assoc.

Now these masters members have the following bad points; They drink too much, they shout and talk too much and then they start singing judo songs, fortunately unlike Karaoke bars these guys can sing. The only women in this "nomiya" work there. Drink a little beer and there are two people trying to fill your glass, so as they say in Japan , you don't want to drink anymore, leave your glass full.

After being forced to sing a song in Japanese about the old red light district, I excused myself and said we will see you all at the all Japan masters in Sept 25th at Matsuoka city.

To Be Continued...