My Top 5 Judokas in MMA

Let’s face it, judo is huge and so is MMA.  Judo is a high-intensity, epic sport that requires a full life sacrifice to become the best.  For this reason judokas are becoming more and more prominent in the MMA scene. 

I follow judo and MMA as much as any avid fan.  Like anyone else, I have a soft spot for those competitors whose original style was my own – judo.  So without further ado, here is MY list of 5 top judokas in MMA.

Shinya Aoki – Japan

Though not a top tier judo player, Aoki still holds a black belt from Japan and was very competitive before transitioning into Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and MMA.  Old videos of him on Youtube show his tendency for newaza over nage waza.  Aoki is one of the most recognizable figures in Japanese MMA.  

With notable wins over Rob McCullough, Marcus Aurelio, Vitor Ribeiro, and Eddie Alvarez, Aoki is no doubt one of the best in the game.  Watching any of his fights clearly shows his desire to take the fight to the ground.  And for good reason, once he gets there, he typical wraps it up.

Hector Lombard – Cuba

Hector Lombard is a 4^th dan in judo and 2000 Olympian for Cuba, one of the toughest teams in the sport.  Without question, Lombard is one of the most explosive and aggressive fighters in MMA.  Now fighting in the UFC, I believe he will quickly become one of the top contenders in his division.

Lombard fights out of American Top Team in Coconut Creek, FL which is where I once trained before travelling abroad to teach English.  A definite throwback to Mike Tyson, Lombard’s highlight videos are a sight to behold.  Let’s just say he’s better as a friend than a foe.

With Hector Lombard at American Top Team

Kim, Dong-Hyun – South Korea

Kim, Dong-Hyun is a former Yong In University judo player.  What does that mean?  It means he is one bad judo dude.  Yong In University is Korea’s official judo and martial arts college and training site for the national team.  Without being too cliché, the “best of the best” in Korea train at Yong In University.  The training intensity he developed at Yong In has translated well into the MMA world.  

Now one of the top contenders in the UFC, Kim is the biggest name in MMA in South Korea.  What’s crazy is I train at his school – Busan Team MAD.  Some great talent coming up in Busan.  Be prepared. 

Fedor Emelianenko – Russia

What’s in a name?  I remember watching Fedor’s first fights in Pride back in the day.  When I found out he was a Russian judoka he immediately became my favorite fighter.  Little did I know he would go on to be the most recognizable fighter in the game and responsible for taking MMA to new levels.  A former competitive judoka from Russia, Fedor placed in several top tournaments in Russia.  What’s the big deal about Russia and judo?  Obviously  Japan, France and South Korea don’t have the answer to that question as Russia is arguably the most dominant country in the sport today.  This not including Russia’s “related” countries (e.g. Georgia, Uzbekistan, etc.) that many of us view as part of the empire in northern Asia.  Russia dominated the 2012 Olympic games in judo (finishing first overall) and shows year over year that they bring the pain to the tatamis. 

Fedor is one of their products.  With a very long and brutal career, his days look numbered in MMA.  If he ever finds himself in the ring again it will likely be as a coach or promoter.  After suffering losses at the tail end of his career, it was clear that the abuse from years of fighting and the evolution of the sport have finally caught up with him.  It happens, but has no bearing on the fact that this great judoka was once King of the cage for over a decade.

Ronda Rousey – USA

What can I say?  You can’t overlook this girl.  A Jimmy Pedro protégé, Ronda Rousey has made us all watch MMA a little more.  A junior World Champion and medalist at the World Championships and Olympic Games, Rousey is the reason women are in the UFC today.  Her level of play, technical ground game (a la Jimmy Pedro) and ferocity make her unstoppable at the moment.  She is the biggest name in women’s MMA since the sport came about.  Not only is she better looking than the ring girls, but she can turn them all into pretzels as well!

A trash talker and a pretty face, I hope she continues to put judo on the map and bring much needed recognition to all-time great, Jimmy Pedro.

Rousey and "Judo" Gene Lebell

Oss.

What in the World Happened to Judo? The Future of Women's Judo

Kosei Inoue - the greatest

Judo is by far one of the most organized and widely practiced martial arts in the world today.  At the 2012 London Olympic Games, 137 countries participated in the event.  That is a true testament to how universal it has become.  And for good reason.  Judo is a sport that can and does appeal to almost everyone.  The physically challenging nature of judo accompanied by it's life-enhancing moral code of conduct, judo can be practiced by anyone of any age.

Judo is typically practiced by men.  It is a combat sport that is not easy on the body and it's style of grace is different than what would be seen in ballet or figure skating - two activities that are equally as grueling.  Because of this, the growth of women's involvement has been slower than for men with the exception of a smaller core group of countries (e.g. France, Brazil, China, Cuba, Korea, Germany, Great Britain, and Japan).  Even within the more successful women's programs, the margin of success is still in favor of the sport's founding country - Japan.


Japan - It's Own Greatest Rival

The new face of judo

All of this reminds me of the sport 20 years ago for men.  Though judo's popularity was spreading rapidly and many countries were developing their own national programs, Japan was still the dominant team.  To beat a Japanese was a very big deal to any country.  Things have changed so much since then.  It's become clear in recent years that Japan is no longer the dominant country, but rather a part of the full spectrum of competitive judo.  In the London Olympics, Japan was fourth at the medal table, securing just a single gold medal and 7 medals in total.  Russia, France, and South Korea were the top teams, respectively, for this Olympic Games.

For many of us who started judo LONG ago, we will all have a soft spot for Japan.  Japan did an outstanding job of streamlining the sport, growing it globally, and making it a dynamic Olympic event.  We all loved seeing the new big name Japanese players dominate competition with their textbook technical proficiency.  So today when we see their top players being defeated regularly in the international venues, I think I can speak for many "older" timers that there's likely a part of us wishing that a new Kosei Inoue is being born in some hospital somewhere in Japan.  Maybe in a far-off mountain temple with ministers of judo chanting in harmony...or something along those lines.  In short, Japan is the reason Japan is not as "successful" competitively as they once were - and we can only thank them for this fact.


The Future for Women's Judo

The future of women's judo

Sharing the limelight shows us how far the sport has really come.  How involved and unique each country is with the techniques.  I believe the same path lies ahead for women's judo.  Though Japan's women did not fare well in London, they typically dominate international events.  Actually, in recent years it's generally been the women that have pulled the overall Japanese team to the top spot.  I think that as time goes on and the sport of judo continues to grow, the level of competition globally will also come up to speed in the women's category.  The playing field will be leveled out just as with the men and we'll see greater game play among a broader scope of countries.

Ryoko Tani Tamura

That being said, the state of women's judo today is nothing short of dazzling.  Women by nature have a tendency to place a greater focus on technique and it shows in competition.  Men's matches at times can appear to be a bit like wrestling - and the Olympics already has that event.  This is judo.  We like to see bodies being whipped to the mat with speed and power.  There's no doubt that women give us that in there display of technical judo.

Here's to the next 20 years for the world of judo.

Judo World Cup Jeju (Korea)

This past weekend was the judo World Cup in Jeju, South Korea.  Several countries hold World Cups where competitors from around the world can come and compete.  Coming off the tails of the Tokyo Grand Slam, this event attracted some great talent, though not quite top tier as would a Grand Slam event.

The day before the event, a competitor from Busan came by our school.  He was a young kid, maybe 15 or 16 years old, but already had knobbed up fingers.  Oh judo!  This wasn't the first time that a high level competitor stopped by our school.  On two other occasions that I remember, we had high level players come by for a workout before a big event.  I'm not quite sure why.  It is probably to get the blessing of our master instructor who has been the owner of our school for 30 years.  My school is the most historic in Busan, the second largest city in South Korea and the instructor is well regarded in the judo community.

In any event, it's great to see the next generation of potential world class talent come through every few months.  Korea fared well in the tournament but did not take the top spot as a team in the final results.  Coming in second to Japan, Korea still captured 4 gold medals, 10 silvers and 11 bronze medals.

Kim Jae Bum - on top of the judo world

As my instructor said in an interview I had with him, the future of Korean judo (유도) looks brights in the middle and lightweight divisions.  The way it seems to me after training here for a year an a half, he's probably right.  After Korea's performance at the Olympic Games (with the exception of Wang Ki Chun being injured by a juji gatame) I would have to agree.  It's really fun to be this close to one of the strongest judo programs in the world.

Adidas Commercial for the Korean National Judo Team

Being in Korea has rejuvenated my interest and involvement in the sport of judo.  Judo is a big sport and martial art here in Korea.  Anytime a country has a university dedicated to the development of a sport, where one can receive a college degree in THAT sport...you know they're serious.  That's Korea.

Wang Ki Chun & Kim Jae Bum

Yong-in judo mascot

Korea has never stopped producing top athletes in the game, and always bring home gold medals at all levels each year.  Korea's national judo and martial arts university, Yong-in, is also the training ground for the national team which includes Wang Ki Chun, Kim Jae Bum, and Song Dae Nam.  The facility looks unbelievable and there are no corners cut in the preparation for the World and Olympic stage.  I plan on visiting Seoul this winter break and my hope is to have a workout at Yong-in and to see their facilities.  I am almost as excited about the notion as I was when visiting the Kodokan Judo Institute.

Song Dae Nam, 2012 Gold

I came across this great Adidas commercial (below) for the Korean National Judo Team in training.  Unfortunately, I can't understand what they are saying (I'm a bad Korean!) but the feature is really awesome nonetheless.


These are the top athletes in the game globally.  Wang Ki Chun and Kim Jae Bum are arguably among the best players in history and this video gives a brief glimpse into why.  True professionals.

You Say Judo, I Say Yudo...

It was once a desire of mine to travel here to Korea or Japan to train in the sport of judo with the greatest practioners in the world.  That was MANY years ago and my priorities have changed.  So has my body and pain threshhold!  I wasn't really planning on training in judo here (though I did bring my judogi so maybe subconsciously).  I actually wanted to start taking haedong kumdo or more commonly known as kendo in Japan.  It's a style of fencing or sword fighting where sparring takes place with heavier leather armor, faceguards and bamboo swords.  I guess Korea feels it necessary to rename Japanese styles to their own, but that's probably another conversation.  Some of my students and co-teachers told me of a gumdo school within a few blocks from my apartment so I went for a visit.  Though it was very interesting and the facility was very nice, it seemed to lack something that I was looking for.  Something I'll probably always look for.  Something a bit more physical or "ultimate" if you will where I would be pushed more physically - something like judo (or Korean yudo).

Ironically, on my way home from Home Plus, a Target-like chain store here in Korea, I hopped in a cab and the driver spoke English.  After he mocked me a few times about "left, right, left, right..." I finally had to throw up my gang signs to this guy.  So I took off my shades and hat and said "uh'ma hankook imnida" which means my mother is Korean (for the most part).  He looked in his rear view mirror at me and his eyes got wide and all the ooohh-ing and sucking noises through his teeth followed shortly thereafter.  I also told him I taught English at the local girls middle school and he really changed his tune.  Somehow that happens with everybody here though.

Fast forward the conversation...I then asked him if there were any korean yudo (aka judo) schools on the island and he said there was one that had been around since 1945 and was very traditional.  I asked him to drive past it so I could see where it was.  Wouldn't you know it is 2 blocks from my apartment.  Score!  He dropped me off and we were best buds at that point and I even tipped him which I'm told you're not supposed to do, but he did just find me a yudo school near my home.

After school the next day I went to visit the facility to find that it was everything a traditional yudo dojang (aka dojo) would be in my mind.  Judogis hanging up everywhere, that "judo dojo smell", and old, archaic, Flintstone-style weightlifting devices.  When I walked in there were a few guys on the mat warming up and this little older gentleman on the side with his shirt off.  He wouldn't even look at me.  Luckily, one of the students was multi-lingual and started translating for the man on the sidelines.  He was the head instructor and the first question he posed to the translator (without looking at me yet) was "why does he want to do yudo?"  What a great question.  I explained I was a yidan (nidan ala Japanese) which is a second degree black belt.  Everything changed from there.  Also, as soon as I told them I was from America teaching English at the girls middle school, everyone starting oooh-ing and sucking their teeth and clapping.  So classic.

Well, this "old" man has the physique of a 30 year old.  Chiseled, youthful skin, and just a machine.  A good guy to have on your side.  Come to find out he is about 64 years old.  I was shocked.  He is a 7th degree black belt and by Korean standards I realized immediately that I just walked into the mecca of judo instruction.  Gumdo was but an afterthought and I decided to come back the following Saturday at 6:30 AM (that's right...the morning) to enroll and get training.  In the first week I realized that this is the place where ALL of my technical understanding of yudo and body mechanics will be completely recalibrated.  This is real yudo.  I couldn't be happier that I found this gem.  And all because of the mocking cabbie who showed me the way.

I look forward to training here and receiving a black belt recertification from this true yudo master.  One of my original plans while in this region of the world was to travel to the Kodokan in Tokyo, Japan (the birthplace of judo) to receive my recertification there as well from the original source.  Being able to train at this school will absolutely prepare me for the trip.
The school name is Kook Sa Kwan Yudo Jang and the 7th dan is Go Gwan Jang Nim (i.e. master instructor, 6th dan and higher)..."Go" being the instructor's name -Go Chung Pil.

Godspeed!!

Judo in Korea - Walking to Class

I was so lucky to find a great, traditional judo (yudo) school right in my neighborhood.  I walk to class each time and get to see a little bit of my neighborhood so I thought I'd share some of it with you.  There's no action from the class in this video, just my neighborhood and the inside of the school.  I will be making a separate video showing a class in the future - stay tuned!

Have a Holly Judo Christmas!

I attended my judo school Christmas party and had a great and memorable time.  It was both and formal and laid back at the same time.  A time of eating, demonstrations, and quality moments with people I train with.  It was great to see how many people from all generations are closely tied to this school.  I'm proud to be part of it.  It has a long history deeply rooted in Korea's tradition for strong judo athletes.  Here is a video of the history of my my school.

Great young people and friends

Miss Kook Sa Kwan.. Na Rea

Mmmm...fatty pork...raw garlic...onions...hot peppers...kimchi.  Can you say Scope?!?!

Go Gwang Jang Nim.  7th degree black belt and head master instructor 

Visiting the Kodokan Judo Institute in Tokyo

I recently went on vacation to Tokyo, Japan.  While visiting, I stayed at the Kodokan Judo Institute.  The Kodokan is the founding school and international headquarters for the sport of judo today.  The Kodokan was established in 1882 by jigoro Kano, the founder of judo, and is now an eight-story building in Tokyo.  It has over 1,300 mats across six dojos—a Main dojo for training and large competitions, and dojos for beginners, International players and events, women, and Boys' prep - plus a special dojo for retired judoka and special techniques training.  There are also separate facilities for athlete housing, supplemental training, research – and even a memorial museum tracing the lineage of judo.  No cameras though.  Must be some top secret stuff in there!  All international promotions, clinics and Olympic games administration are also handled at the Kodokan.

Unbeknownst to me, during my stay the top university-level, corporate sponsored players from around Tokyo had come for an open practice.  Even I couldn’t resist an opportunity to train with the best players of tomorrow.  My stay at the Kodokan is one memory I won’t soon forget.

3 Ways to Tie Your Judo or BJJ Belt

If there’s one thing that gets my goat, it’s when a player lets his belt come untied, or allows it to dangle loosely around his waist.  In competition, if your gi lapels come out from under the belt, the referee will stop the action and have you reset your top.  The same goes for your belt.  It needs to be tied and keeping your uniform in place at all times during a match.  Because of the nature of judo/jiu-jitsu, your belt will always have a tendency to come untied, but those days are over.

In this video I show 3 ways to tie your judo or BJJ belt. Never worry about your belt coming untied AGAIN with one of these methods.

Sorry for the spelling mistakes...lack of sleep.

Judo Tournament in Busan, South Korea

I had the opportunity to watch an incredible judo tournament held in Busan, South Korea, where I currently live and teach English.  The event was held in the Gudeok Sports Arena and attracted well over 300 competitors.  The tournament did not include Busan’s top tier players, or “professionals” as they call them, but had some fantastic talent nonetheless.  It was clear to me the moment I got to the arena that this would be a different experience for me altogether.  As I came into the building there were no concession stands, no t-shirts for sale, noone collecting money – I literally walked in off the street through the open doors and took a seat.  Korea clearly goes about their judo with a no frills approach.  This is judo land, and I could see why.

From the get go the action was fast and furious.  I could see from my own experience in judo that there were some serious competitors involved this day.

Two of the many rival teams around Busan

One of the best things about the tournament was the energy and involvement of the spectators.  All throughout the tournament, the rival teams were shouting what seemed like battle cries.  Like a military cadence, one member would lead the verse, then the team would sound off.  It really showed the essence of the fighting spirit of judo.

Midway through the tournament was a formal ceremony with special guests, judo dignitaries, and other ceremonious activities that gave the event a very formal appeal.  It actually felt a lot like a graduation ceremony.  

Very nice venue for the tournament

My Gwan Jang Nim (Master Instructor)

Also, my own master instructor did a kata demonstration of a formal technique sequence in judo called, Nage No Kata.  In Korea, judo is an institution and they don’t take the sport lightly.  In comparison, South Korea has won nearly as many gold medals in World Championship and Olympic Games events as the United States total medal count. 

Nearly all matches ended in an ippon – or full point ending the match.  I watched nearly 6 hours of matches and counted only 4 that went to the judges.  That’s a testament to Korea’s focus on technique and ending a match decisively.  In fact, I saw no needless wrestling or wasted movements – even with the novices.  In some cases, it seemed like they were performing a demo as the execution of the techniques were so exact and clean.

This was a great day.  An eye opening experience.  Who knows, maybe one day I’ll shake off the dust and see how I fare against some of Busan’s Best.

The VIDEO!

Training at Team M.A.D. MMA in Busan

Ever since I arrived here in Korea, I've been trying to find a local BJJ (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu) gym.  Amazingly, there is only one pure BJJ gym in this, the second largest city in Korea with 3.6 million people.  That gym, Tozi BJJ, is located way uptown from where I live and there was just no way that I'd be able to make it up there 2 to 3 times per week.  I tried Korea job forums, Korea BJJ Facebook groups, basically any way of getting a lead for a BJJ club or gym near me.  It was to no avail though.  I even contacted American Top Team to see if they would be interested in sending someone here to open a gym.  It's such a wide open market.
I still kept active in judo and though they rarely practice newaza, I would still look for opportunities to roll when given the chance just to stay tuned up.
Fast forward UFC 148 where Anderson Silva fought Chael Sonnen for a much anticipated rematch.  Included on the card was a fighter from South Korea named Dong-Hyun Kim.  Well, during my perusing of Wikipedia I realized he fights out of Busan!  I perused more and found that his gym is called Team M.A.D. and it is just 3 subway stops from me.  They teach "MMA" as they say, which is essentially no gi BJJ and Muy Thai.  I thought I should have a look.  So I did.

Kim Dong-Hyun

Though it is one of the most successful MMA teams in Korea, Team M.A.D. is not like what we may be accustomed to back home.  Actually, most martial arts schools are not like back home.  They are not tailored for asthetic appeal in most cases.  There are no contracts.  No auto payment, none of that.  You show up, give the owner cash each month and work out.  Don't want to train one month, don't show up!  I digress.
Team M.A.D. is beyond "no frills".  It is one room, maybe 700-800 square feet covered completely by padding.  There are 3 or 4 muy thai bags hanging as well.  No other fixins.  No real dressing room.  More like a dressing closet.  It's July now and the rainy season.  That means it is humid!  They have a fan and dehumidifier.  The dehumidifier clearly has no effect on the training area.  The area is in a basement of a building and there are no windows.  Just the door leading to the stairs.
This is a real dungeon for training.
I went to visit on a Tuesday, and on Wednesday I joined.  The first class was warm ups which are very similar to judo warm ups.  Basically line drills of tumbling, shrimping, basic hip movements, etc.  Endurance drills centered around double leg pickups (morote gari), leap frogs, arm bar (juji gatame) and triangle choke (sankaku jime) movements.  The main instructor is a young guy with bad cauliflower ears as should be expected!  He went through a couple techniques and then we were free to roll if desired.  I was a little surprised that you actually had the choice to roll or not.  Back home in South Florida where BJJ is king, Brazilians require you to roll for 3 consecutive rounds like it or not.  Nonetheless, I got in a couple rounds and had a great workout.

No gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

This gym is in the heart of Busan.  Busan is 100% "Korean".  Not like Seoul where there are some pockets of international flare.  Well, in this gym is another EPIK English teacher - a young girl from the states with long blonde hair.  She is a former high school national wrestling champion.  She really sticks out.  Very funny.  She's the real deal though and a real trooper.  The next Rhonda Rousey?  You never know.
I'm glad to be doing more no gi BJJ as my experience with it is very limited.  I'm a jacket wrestler!
I am happy to have found this gym.  I don't know when the professionals train, but I hope to have the chance to work out with them at some point.
Osu!

2012 Olympic Judo Controversy: Ebinuma Masashi (JPN) vs Cho Jun-Ho (KOR)

The 2012 London Olympics is upon us and already it's been marked with numerous memorable and infamous moments.  Being a judoka, I am living in bliss as Korean TV shows all the judo matches with Korean athletes and often all the quarter- and semi-final matches.  The timing is perfect too because judo starts in the early evening and ends right around 1:00 PM.  So I'm off to neva' neva' land with images of judo on my mind!

Korea has done well this Olympics.  South took two golds and North took one.  I tend to count them as one country because...they are one country!  However, South Korea also has one bronze medal which will likely be shrouded in controversy for many years to come.

In the quarter-final match between Cho Jun-Ho of South Korea (KOR) and Ebinuma Masashi of Japan (JPN), the IJF (International Judo Federation) Refereeing Commission overturned two decisions by the referee and judges on the mat during the Golden Score period (or sudden death - first score ending the match).  The first where Ebinuma (JPN) was initially awarded a yuko score for executing a throw on Cho (KOR).  The IJF Refereeing Commission overruled the call and took the score away, thus allowing the match to continue (as the score would've ended the sudden death match).  The second was during the decision on who won the match.  All three judges on the mat voted for Cho (KOR) as the victor, but then the Referee Commission overruled that decision as well.  Needless to say, Korean fans were upset, and much of the judo world was in a state of confusion and disappointment that this happened.

Ebinuma Masashi (JPN)

Cho Jun-Ho (KOR)

How Judging Works in Judo:
Understanding how judging works will help you to understand how this happened.  Not if it was a good call or not, just how.
There are three individuals on the field of play, or tatami mat.  Two sit in chairs at opposite corners of the mat.  They are called "judges".  A third is following the players/fighters, calling the action - they are called a "referee".  These individuals are the primary decision makers of the match, and the vast majority of matches are called by these three.  However, the IJF also has a second set of eyes, if you will, that oversee the decisions of the mat referee and judges.  This second set of eyes is called the "Care System".  The Care System is made up of two cameras set at locations that offer a view different than those of the mat judges.  These cameras are under the control and supervision of two additional individuals.  They are called the "Refereeing Commission" within the Care System.  Most sports have a similar function as the IJF Care System.  It allows for video analysis to ensure fair game play.  This Refereeing Commission very rarely steps in and overrides calls, but in this particular match, it happened twice.

After the initial decision (left)
After the overruling (right)

IJF Official Statement:
In response to the confusion and outcry from the judo community, the IJF issued an official statement regarding the incident(s).  A portion of their statementsis as follows:

"In the quarter final between two fighters (the Japanese, EBINUMA Masashi, and CHO Jun-Ho from the Republic of Korea) during the Golden Score (three minutes sudden death period, where the first score wins) the commission intervened twice. The first time, after checking the video by three experts, to inform the referees that the impact of the projection of the Japanese could not be valued at level 1 (Yuko). A second time, when at the end of Golden Score, the three referees designated the athlete from the Republic of Korea as the winner. Indeed, the commission explained to the referees that the action, which had been recognized as a Yuko and then lowered in value, was nevertheless the strongest action to be taken into consideration."

Essentially, the IJF is explaining why the decision to award Cho (KOR) the win was controversially overturned.

A Pointless Reward:
When a judo match ends with no points scored, or if the score is even, judges will award the win to the player who was more active, showing greater initiative and meaningful attempts to score.  Makes sense.  In this match, it is my opinion that the Korean dominated the play and thus deserved the decision - which he initially received.

There's the rub though.  Was the "action, which had been recognized as a yuko" by Ebinuma (JPN) greater than the dominant play of Cho (KOR)?  The IJF felt it was "the strongest action to be taken into consideration".

I believe it was not.

If Cho (KOR) had not commanded the action as well as he did, I would likely agree with the IJF decision and therefore grant Ebinuma (JPN) the win.

Having said all that, I actually believe that the score by Ebinuma (JPN) deserved to be recognized, which would've therefore given him the win without incident.  I guess this day the IJF just didn't see things the way I did.  But, then again, I wasn't their and this is just one fan's take.

In the end ironically, both players won a bronze medal.  They showed great sportsmanship toward each other in the true style of judo as can be seen in their statements after the match (from Yahoo News):

Ebinuma - "I thought I was going to lose but there was all this support in the spectator seats and that allowed me to get this medal"...."but I'm feeling a bit bad for (Cho)."

Cho - "Initially I thought I had won but when it was reversed I was a little sad"...."but I had my remaining fights to focus on and I hoped (Ebinuma) would get a good result because he beat me. We both won bronze so I'm happy."

 Osu!

Here's the Video:

Strength of a 64 Year Old Korean Judo Master

Being involved in the sport of judo takes a lot of guts.  To obtain technical proficiency, physical strength and stamina, as well as intelligent strategy requires a long term, sustained effort.  It is a sport that requires sacrifice, focus, and just plain guts.  To remain in "judo shape" over long periods of time is a truly difficult and challenging thing.  The master instructor of the judo school at which I practice in Busan, South Korea is a real-life example of this sacrifice and dedication.

One day I had brought my camera to class and before anyone showed up (other than the head instructor seen in parts of the video below) I asked if he would demonstrate some of the strength building exercises for judo.  He obliged.  He walked onto the mat cold and did some things I simply can't imagine being able to do.  In addition to this, he is 64 years old!!  Unbelievable.

A true judo master.

See the follow up interview here.

Korean Judo Master Interview

I simply cannot believe the response to the video I posted of my judo instructor.  Off a whim I asked him to show some of his physical abilities through the exercises he uses in his own personal training regimen.  So he did and I filmed.  I left the videos on my camera for over a month before I got around to putting a video together.  I figured it would be just another judo workout video to most.  Let's just say I was wrong.

With the likes of WWE superstar/pro MMA fighter, Bobby Lashley, and fitness guru Ross Enamait tweeting the video, it just went crazy.  See it for yourself here.

Many were amazed at this 64 year old man's physique and strength.  Months ago I had drafted an interview for him, but never got around to sit and interview him.  Once this video took off, I decided to tweak it a bit and sit down with him.  This interview tells the story of one man's journey in the world of judo.  The devotion, passion, commitment, and love for a sport that has helped shape and define his life.  It was a pleasure to hear some of his answers.  I hope you enjoy it too.

My Judo School in Korea - Founded the Year of Korean Independence

I happen to be very fortunate to have a very historic judo school just blocks from my apartment in Korea.  It is very traditional and a fantastic place to learn judo and make lasting friendships.  I've benefited in so many ways by being a part of this school - both personally and physically.

The school has a rich history that dates back to the foundation of South Korea as a nation.  Having been founded originally in Japan, the roots of this school can be felt the moment you walk in, and show the depth of the sport in this country.  I could write endlessly about it, but instead I made a short video showing you around the inside, explaining some of the great things it has to offer and how it inspires me to be there.

Six Pack for Success - USA Judo Coach, Jimmy Pedro

World Champion and USA Coach
Jimmy Pedro

World and Olympic Champion
Kayla Harrison

Judo world champion and 2x Olympic medalist Jimmy Pedro made history by coaching the first ever US gold medal player in the sport of judo during the 2012 London Olympic Games - Kayla Harrison.

For as long as I can remember, Jimmy Pedro has been an inspiration to a nation of judokas hoping and praying for an Olympic gold medal.  I've always enjoyed watching and listening to Jimmy speak and coach.  He is an inspiration to anyone who looks at his credentials and attitude - 4 year division I collegiate wrestler with an MBA, most decorated American judo player of all time, most successful American judo coach of all time, and a tremendous natural leader.  His insightful, professional demeanor backed by a world class work ethic and record make him one of my all-time favorite inspirational figures.  He wrote this article as a guide for business leaders to utilize his own recipe for success both on and off the mat.

Suffice it to say, from volunteer to venture capitalist, amateur to pro athlete, you'll benefit from reading the following article:

Coach Jimmy Pedro with Kayla Harrison after winning GOLD!

Six Pack for Success

Entrepreneurs and business leaders juggle a lot of responsibilities. I do, too. But “too busy” is no excuse for sub-par performance.

I had a busy summer, including a pressure-filled two-week “business” trip to London. How did it go? We won gold and bronze medals, the first time a U.S. Olympic Judo Team has had such success, and I was proud to be the coach. As vice president of sales and marketing for Zebra Mats & Outfitters, I lead the company to a revenue milestone, hitting the $10 million mark. And back home in the Boston suburbs, my judo dojo—Pedro’s Judo Center—grew its programs to train an even more diverse group of athletes and judo enthusiasts.
To help me succeed in all this, I relied on a six pack. You should grab one too, and take all six to succeed in business.

1. Create a vision for success

Every business leader should ask, “What do I want to achieve?” From the beginning – especially if you lead multiple projects – you must have a vision of where you want to be someday.
When I started with the development program for U.S. Judo in 2005, my vision was that American Judo would be a world powerhouse by the 2012 Olympic Games. I told the team, “We can compete with the best, and here is what that requires: We’ll be the first team on the training mat and the last off. We’ll work harder than anyone. That’s what it takes to be world champions.”
That’s the vision. And with a company or athletic team, it must be a shared vision. A leader creates the vision that teams can support.

2. Set and document goals

The judo athletes on my team had individual goals, often more than one. The salespeople on my team at Zebra Mats also have multiple goals. These goals make it possible to achieve your vision. One goal must be your ultimate achievement. Then your second and third goals are a bit easier to obtain.
It’s vital to record these goals, then write a tactical plan to reach them. Check in with that plan to make sure you’re doing what’s necessary to reach that ultimate goal.

3. Build the right team

When your sales staff believes in your vision, they’ll work as hard as you to contribute and to keep moving forward. Your team might have people with great skills, but if they don’t believe in your vision, they will not work. One person who doesn’t fit can bring down an entire group, and can bring you down, too.
For our Olympic Judo team, staffing was critical. We had pre-Games training and competition in multiple locations. That environment demanded consistency and team effort. We also had to make tough decisions and remove people from the team who didn’t fit.

4. Make difficult decisions

Whether for personnel issues or budget matters, if you make decisions in line with your vision, the tough ones become easier. Ask yourself, “Does this support the company vision?” When you can confidently answer that question, you can become a fearless decision maker.
This will also help you make decisions quickly. It’s not all about speed, but decisions become more difficult the longer you delay. As soon as you sense a personnel issue is not right, for example, determine your options and their alignment with your vision. Then it’s time to decide.

5. Communicate frequently and effectively

If your team members don’t hear from you often, they’ll think you don’t care, or they’ll assume even worse. Good communication can keep people motivated and working to achieve their goals and your vision.
No, you don’t have to include everyone in each decision. And you don’t have to ask for input all the time. You should, however, communicate your reasons for making decisions.

6. Improve continuously

You’re working hard, but are you getting better everyday? Don’t be complacent with just getting stuff done.
Most importantly, work on your weaknesses. Work on ways to improve personally, and work on making your company stronger. This seems obvious, but know that hard work is not necessarily smart work.

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After winning bronze medals in Olympic Judo in 1996 and 2004, Jimmy Pedro set his vision on sales and marketing for Zebra Mats and Outfitters, a $10 million company and the leader in flooring and equipment for the mixed martial arts industry. As coach of the U.S. Olympic Judo team, he lead America to its best world performance ever. Pedro lives in Methuen, Massachusetts, and is a married father of four.

Judo Class with Kids

This time of year brings in many students at my judo school.  Recently, we've seen more middle school and high school kids joining.  There's even two elementary school little guys.  One of the adults happened to have his iPad with him and filmed a class unbeknownst to me.  After class he was watching it and I thought it would be great to make a short video out of it to show what a class looks like.

Every class has essentially the same routine.  That's the key to judo - repetition.  If there's one thing Koreans are good at, it's establishing a routine and sticking to it with no exceptions.  This is part of their cultural work ethic and it's why they are one of the most successful countries in Olympic judo.

I could be working with a future Olympian

With the kids class you'll see that it's light and fun.  I wish the master instructor was teaching this day (he normally teaches every day) because he is great at mock-beating the kids when they step out of line.  He has a bamboo sword (shinai) that he hits them with.  Sounds gruesome doesn't it?!  But judo uniforms are very thick and you can't actually feel the impact all that much, but it makes a massive rattle.  It startles them back into attention.  It's great.  He beats everybody for that matter - including me!  Sometimes when we're warming up, he'll walk behind you and kick you right between the shoulder blades if you're doing something he doesn't like.  It literally shocks your brain.  But the funny thing is, it actually feels really good.  Like a massage or something.  He's a sports massage therapist as well, so that would make sense.

Back to the topic.  Judo class with the kids is really a fun time.  Seeing these future black belts just getting started is a real kicker...or body slammer.  Enjoy the video.

Inspirational Blind Olympic Judo Girl (Slow Motion Video)

Jordan Mouton

This is a bit of inspiration for anybody, no matter what you do or what level you're at.  I recently came across this slow-motion training video of USA Judo Paralympic Athlete, Jordan Mouton.  Many people in America don't really know about judo - hence the coined phrase "judo chop"!  Even more don't realize that judo is an Olympic sport and also has a blind organization.  Blind judo is practiced worldwide and there are many competitive venues including the Olympic Games.

Judo is a sport that you can practice with your eyes closed.  In fact, it can be beneficial to try and practice this way to develop a "feel" for the techniques and live play, rather than focusing on your opponent visually.  At the same time, it is very helpful to see an instructor perform a technique and this is one of the many obstacles in being a blind athlete.  You have to rely completely on feel.

To become proficient in a sport like judo while blind takes perseverance, mental focus, and the ability to live and think in airtight compartments.  Your natural mind will always have more than a feast of reasons why you should quit at something.

It's always been very easy for me make progress, only to plateau and fall into a comfort zone.  Whether it be work or training.  Watching Jordan Mouton reminded me how important it is to keep trying.  To actually put a meaningful effort into whatever you're doing and to fight the urge to just "show up" or even give up.  Most importantly, it helped me to keep from getting old before my time!