My time in Kyoto by Jodan Reynolds Auckland Uni Judo Club

My time in Kyoto.

In December 2009,

One evening at training, I was informed by Sensei Littlewood that I was to be given the opportunity to go and train in Japan on a scholarship, in Kyoto.

Eventually after confirming this was not an elaborate hoax/joke to humour club members & Judokong viewers I realised that I was actually going and it was going to happen.

From then until April when I arrived in Japan, I was in a rush to get everything organised, Insurance, airfares, working holiday visa, Judo gi’s, money for my first month, presents for Sensei’s… the list goes on.

Luckily everything tied up nicely in my last week and I left NZ at 0500 on a barely serviceable Jetstar flight to Japan feeling pretty well prepared for anything that could happen.

Upon arriving and settling into my free accommodation provided courtesy of the Nakagura Construction Company “Total House”(which included wide screen TV, double bed, two ensuites etc),

I realised how unprepared I was… summer was in full swing (occasionally hitting 40 Degrees) and I had jeans, pants and track pants… I had hoodies, long sleeve shirts and dress shirts. 

I got set to, training at Kyoto University 6 days a week, 3 hours a day to get my fitness up to a Japanese University standard, and to get used to the style of training and so forth. All my time off was usually spent washing my Judo Gi’s, exploring the city when possible and sometimes Sensei Rick & Yumiko would do something with me like get dinner, or help me get a cell phone…which was not really an easy business.

It was not long before Tim Brew arrived and I had another Kiwi to hangout with and train with, and that night at 0200 Lee arrived too. I had just moved out of Nakagura Shatcho’’s huge & flash house after my 1 free month (which was a great place, and I really appreciated my time there, as it gave me time to settle in and organise myself) into Shimei Kaikan.

Shimei Kaikan, the only 5 star hotel for Kiwi Judo players in town was a real change in environment…it was an old school that Aoki San (my good friend, landlord and number 1 Japanese benefactor) and his company of which he is director for had recently acquired…unsure what to do with it so far plus a difficult situation with the law regarding the buildings use…we moved in. 

While it was a bit old, ugly, haunted etc, I was awesome. We had a huge amount of space, couches, internet, hot water(usually), extra rooms for training and Uchikomi & Kata (which Hugo, Ivica and I made great use of) 

Once the others had all arrived we moved on to training with the Kidotai Riot Police Judo Team daily, which was possible do to Sensei Littlewoods introduction to Kai Sensei (Both Doshisha Uni Judo old boys) The Kidotai where big, strong, good and…nice guys. Among those training there were some really good Judoka who are well known around Japan including a few guys who had fought at the All Japans for Kansai, against the likes of Kosei Inoue. One of the standouts there was Sano San, who was the #2 -81 Police Judoka for Japan plus high ranking in Senior Men Japan. His loose, unorthodox highly aggressive style is something to watch…and be smashed with. Others there who helped me with my Judo include Ozaki San (known for the best Sankaku), Katsuyama (Left hander with a mean Inner Reap/ O ouchi Gari) and Machiya Sempai who had great Newaza. 

Next we started training at Ritsumeikan University (In the top 10 Uni’s for Judo for men and top 4 for women) thanks to Sayaka from Auckland University Judo being from there and giving us the connection, Kasuga Sensei was very friendly, had perfect English and helped me develop my Judo during my time in Japan, some of the best times I had were at Ritsumeikan University – the guys there were all close to my age and seemed to enjoy my company so we all got along and had good fun. The highlight of my time with Rits was the training camp we all attended at the super tough Kanoya University. 

Another place we visited occasionally was Daishin Dojo run by Matsuura Sensei, who helped us enter all our competitions, and took our phone calls when we got lost on the way to every single one of them. 

We didn’t live flash, usually living on the cheapest almost expired bento’s we can find, showering for free at Universities, keeping warm by….

And so forth. None the less it was a good life and the best experience of my life so far, that I look forward to returning to as soon as possible. 

My time in Japan was a great experience, and I learnt a lot not just about Judo, but about responsibility, budgeting, living in a foreign country and pushing yourself, 

So I would like to take this opportunity to thank Rick Littlewood & Auckland University Judo for the funding and Support 

Kasuga Sensei, Kai Sensei, Matsuura Sensei for helping my Judo develop 

And also Aoki San, Nakagura Shatcho & Total House Company for their support on the ground.

Jordan

ps

post Kyoto blues and reflections

Having lived with four other n.z.judoka coming from other areas,clubs and family backgrounds it was an interesting comparison .

Tim Brew from Gisborne , quiet, admired the Japanese buildings and general carpetner work.Did his judo,ate his rice,missed ,improved his judo and survived.

Lee Calder... Auckland ,arrived , having been in Japan before,knew what to expect, trained hard and enjoyed himself.

Hugo Dewar...Wellington 18yrs old ,learnt a lot about life and Japan in his stay in kyoto.

Ivica Palavich ,travelled and trained a lot overseas, probably the most overseas experience judokan we have in N.Z. eager to help others in their judo career..

Jordan Reynolds, survived 8.5 months of living in Kyoto,broke many Japanese girls hearts[not before they bought me lunch,dinner and coffee.]realises 8.5 months is not enough time to become really strong and must return.