Uni Judo Restricted Kyu Batsugun

University Judo in Auckland hosted the inaugural restricted kyu open today (12pm - 1pm). While a challenge/open invitation was issued to all clubs it was strictly an in-house affair. The format was an old-school batsugun—from lowest belt to highest. Winner stays in.

This guy fought well. Defeating the "mighty woo" (c) with a great uchimata. He's heading to Japan soon. Sensei Rick's has issued an edict that he must return with his black belt.

 Here, the "mighty woo" is about to practice his breakfall.

At the heavier end of the spectrum was Stu (BJJ black belt who is learning how to throw). Eiske (in blue) has a mean seionage but he is about to get taken to ground and killed. 

This was pure comedy. Ben came out of retirement to have a roll with Stu. Having thrown Stu with a Hiza Garuma Ben went into a hypochondriac's spasm ... popped rib, heart failure etc..etc...  

Stu vs Yoshio. Yoshio claims he's U81 but he's not. 

Yoshio is demonstrating that you can, apparently, perform gay dances at the higher levels of Judo (especially when your uchimata is that good) before taking a grip. Stu got thrown for ippon.

Connor (16yrs) demonstrating how easy it is to forget everything you know in a shiai.   

Yes ... Judo can appear like grown men in pajamas rolling around sweating on each other. And this is probably goes a long way towards explaining how and why Rob became the kind of man that he is.

Dan, Kong's player of the tournament, versus Connor. He's squaring off against someone 35 yrs his junior. Dan started Judo late and loves it. He's living proof that Judo has a place for everyone and is a motivation to us all.

However, Dan also managed to forget everything he knew. Connor was lucky not to be strangled out and only narrowly missed getting arm-barred. 

Connor vs the "mighty woo." Henry's the current target for all the yellow belts. After a few years of being tortured by Sensei Rick and the older, heavier players in the club he's become a vicious thug with a solid ground game (and good strangles). 

I guess you had to be there. But really, this was pure comedy. Prognosis=popped rib, old age and maybe too much time off the mat. And that was that. A great event only to be matched by the club party tonight.