Let the young people run judo

I said there were three reasons I am not involved in judo as much as I used to be — and here is the second one …

We need to let young people run judo

First of all, I can’t do nearly as much as I did 30 years ago. I have nowhere near the strength or speed. Yes, I have plenty of knowledge, but, especially for a lot of throwing techniques, you need SPEED to show how it should really be. You need to be able to BEND to get low enough to show how a throw should be done. I cannot do that nearly to the extent I did when I was young and neither can any of those other older instructors — they just don’t admit it.

Years ago, I went to Valley Judo to watch a practice. Sus Kono is the head instructor there. He had Ross Nakamura, who was probably 16 years old, run the warm-ups. Then, he had Jason Uno, who was in his twenties or so, teach seoi nage. Then he had Ross give his take on seoi nage. Giorgio Gazzani, who was around 18, ran the randori session.

At the end of the practice, I said to Sus,

“That was great, but some time, I want to come back and see you teach.”

He smiled and said,

“You just did.”

Valley Judo Institute has grown amazingly since that day and I am not surprised.