Auckland Uni Judo Scholarship to Japan

Shimeikaikan International Budo Hostel    20^th Oct 2010

My time in Kyoto...

A 7 week training period in Kyoto was spent training mostly at Ritsumeikan University and Kidotai Riot Police and living much of the time in poverty. At times Jordan, Hugo and I joked that we were living in fight club meaning that we were fighting all day and then we would come home to a big empty three story x university building and collapse onto our futon beds

The first time training anywhere new is always a nervous experience and the first time on the mat with the Rits boys was no different. It was 35 degree heat and I did as many randoris as possible that first day. The nerves stayed with me early on but after getting a few ippons I managed so settle in very well. The Rits boys welcomed me and the majority of them enjoyed randori with me.

That first day in Kyoto I also visited Enshin dojo. This was small social dojo for all grades and ages. It was quite a good atmosphere and everyone was eager to go out and have a play with me. The Senseis and Sempais here also were very friendly for the whole time I was there. The main Sensei would always comment on my technique either to me personally or would say something in front of the class, unfortunately I never understood a word he said. But Enshin was always a good place to visit to get a bit of extra randori.

Kidotai was the toughest place to train during my stay. The guys are high quality and most of them are bigger than me. It was a good place to go to get a really hard randori session. This was my personal favourite place from all the dojos, the only problem was the distance from our accommodation. It was normally a good hour bike ride to get there before training. But this added to the intensity of the session and was generally a good warm up.

I also got to witness a Japanese Shodan Shiai and some questionable katas from the boys. We also competed at a team Shiai in which I won all my fights but we finished second as a team. It was a strange feeling being in a foreign team with the whole building cheering against you. I remember Sebestian (another Gaijin) lost his fight and the place erupted during the final. Then I won my fight and it was pure silence. Overall the Shiais were good experience and it was great that Jordan and Hugo got their shodans.

Overall the Kyoto experience was nothing but brilliant, and I would relish a chance to return to the city. I would like to thank University Judo Club for giving me this chance and I hope to return sometime in the future.

Ivica Pavlinic

New Zealand

Ps note

Ivica has gone back to Kyoto and Shimeikaikan for more training until the 20^th Dec