The Perfect Focus
Finding focus in a blurry world…
2009 Pennsylvania State Judo Championships
Rich on : Tuesday, March 17th, 2009
This past weekend we attended the 2009 Pennsylvania State Judo Championships. I had six junior students attend plus Sensei Andy, Sensei Fred and myself. I think we made out alright, though I think we could do a little better. I’ve very proud of my students as for some of them, this was their first ever judo event. It’s not easy when your first ever event is the State Championships!
I had three matches myself that day in Mens Open category at 145lbs (66kg)… My first match the guy just muscled me. I went in for a dropping shoulder throw and I missed! He got in behind me, and… choked me out… The good thing is you don’t remember much…
My second match I did much better… This time again with the dropping shoulder throw I got under the guy and planted him in the center of the matt with a perfect throw – Ippon! The match was over in less then 20-seconds. Nice crowed reaction too. Every one complimented me on the nice throw!
My third match I just screwed up. It was a skinny brown-belt guy, likely on the light side of 145lbs. I had control of him; or so I thought… At one point I actually moved his whole body with a foot-sweep, but… didn’t follow threw… He scored two, 1/2-point techniques on me, and the match was over… That one upset me more then being choked-out!
My students did well:
- Nick took 1st!
- Matt took 1st!
- Brandon took 2nd!
- Jason, Attended… He was my youngest student, sadly he did not place. But I’m very proud of him. It was his very first judo tournament.
- Paul took 2nd!
- Justin took 3rd!
- Sensei Andy took 3rd in Mens Masters Over 30.
- Friend, Dr. Andre Watson took 1st in Mens Masters and 2nd in Mens Open 90kg.
Here are a few of my photos of my friend Dr. Andre Watson (blue), member of the US Paralympic Blind Judo Team (90kg).
Today, Dr. Andre Watson won 1st Place in Mens Masters and 2nd Place in Mens Open categories at the 2009 Pennsylvania State Judo Championships. Late in 2008 Dr. Watson was promoted to Shodan, 1st Degree Black Belt in Kodokan Judo. – I’m telling you guys, don’t pick a fight with blind people! Some of us know judo!
If you want to learn more about visually disabled judo locally, please contact the Pottstown Judo Club and speak to (me) Sensei Rich, we’d be happy to help!
5 Responses for "2009 Pennsylvania State Judo Championships"
He choked you?! Did you black out? Good Lord!
An honest play-by-play with final scores. Great job, Rich.
It’s part of the sport… Chokes (Strangles) are permitted after the age of 13… Judo’s strangle holds attack the Carotid Artery, thus cutting off blood to the brain, and you go nappy-nap; on average in about 6 to 8 seconds. As soon as the hold is release you wake up with a nice head rush.
This is incredible! How awesome, are all the contenters blind, or visualy impared? I can’t tell you how cool this is, congratulations! keep up the hard work:)
No, Andre was the only *blind* player at the States. Other then myself, visually impaired. VI judo players almost always end up fighting sighed players, unless it’s a major blind event, such as the Paralympic Trials or such other event just for low and no vision players.
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