Garth's Judo Trip - Judo madness in Kyoto

The trip continues folks! So far in Kyoto I've trained a little with Ritsumeikan University (Uemura Sensei is a fantastic fellow) and a whole lot with the Kyoto Riot Police. It's been some outlandish times and I've spent most of my days getting thoroughly outclassed at judo. I know that sounds a little like a negative but being that it's exactly why I came here, I'm loving it.

Ritsumeikan is unfortunately an 8km cycle across town and has had a break for exams so I haven't been there quite as much as I planned. Being a uni club, some folks have moved on while a small number have remained and improved since I was last around. In spite of the change in people, the club culture seems very much the same. Very friendly folks, happy to have guests in train with them and always down for endless bouts of randoori.

That said, no one is as friendly as the Riot Police. Much as there's a language barrier there, everyone still engages and talks at least a little. Also in spite of the skill differences, no one has outright smashed me, much as they very definitely could. For all the good things I've heard it's still hard not to be taken aback at just how nice these folks are each time I come in. Technically though it's about what I was expecting, which is that everyone is an absolute judo wizard and I've only been hit with beautiful, clean throws the entire time I've been there.

Unfortunately I don't have team photos at hand right now so this is just a text post, but stay tuned for what I'm sure will be a great post when I'm back and have a real computer for it.

Catch you all in some weeks

Garth