Garth's Judo Trip Update - Training and end of year shiai at Daishin club in Osaka

As most of the club will know by now, this year I elected to miss christmas and new years in NZ so I could hit Japan and get in some even more solid judo training than usual. What I didn't account for when I bought my tickets is that there's something of a lull between christmas and early January in the training here. Thankfully I'm here till late February so there's plenty of judo yet to come. That said I was fortunate enough to take part in Daishin Judo's end of year training and shiai here in Osaka before the down time begins.

Training kicked off with a little uchikomi and some randori where I was mostly thrown around pretty easily by all who were there. With every breakfall I remembered more and more just how much I missed doing judo over here. Then the shiai started. Matsuura Sensei arranged us in a row and set us up where the winner of the previous belt would stay out and fight the next person. I got treated to a guy in a white belt who I threw for a very pretty ogoshi (clip below), a big gaijin who I got my signature ko uchi makikomi on, and then a black belt who I beat, though I forget which throw. Needless to say, when the next guy threw me with a beautiful drop seoi, I was still feeling pretty good about myself.

Feels a little strange having a this time off till January comes around, but all the minor injuries I have seem to be recovering so maybe it's a good thing. Come early January I'll be getting into the training hard. Stay posted for clips of a relatively small brown belt breakfalling like a pro across a couple university dojos and maybe even the riot police dojo if I'm lucky. Also a BIG thank you to the club for contributing towards the judo side of the trip the way that they did. I know I said it in the dojo before I left but it is hugely appreciated.