What happens when a Judo Olympic Champion is bored?

**judoka_uk** · Posted On: 5/01/2011 10:46am

He goes and enters the US Open and wipes the floor with everyone.

Satoshi Ishii, this weekend, entered the US open in Florida.

He won his first match by default as his opponent, Petrovici, failed to show up.

His second match he won in just over a minute, throwing one of the US' brightest hopes, Vashkulat, for Ippon with Tai otoshi.

In his third match it took Ishii less than 30 seconds to submit his opponent, Alonzo, with Okuri eri jime.

The final match of the +100kg division was over in less than 10 seconds, as Ishii launched his opponent Stromecki for Ippon with Uchi mata.

Video coming soon.

**Matt Phillips** · Posted On: 5/01/2011 1:18pm

America is not serious about competing at an international level in Judo; America is only interested in proving that we, like, totally care about doing things the Japanese way. France fights the French way and does well, Russia fights the Russian way and does well, and the US keeps muddling along longing for the day that every club was run by an ethnic Japanese.

**judoka_uk** · Posted On: 5/01/2011 1:26pm

What's the French style of Judo? Serious question, because I've trained with several elite level French Judoka and they all do Judo, nothing special or unique about it.

The idea that you need a unique 'style' of Judo is a misnomer. Style is not what holds a country back, its quality of coaching and depth of talent.

The UK and US suffer from similar problems grass roots coaching is very low quality, retention beyond the age of 13 is miniscule and there is no depth in any division at elite level.

Look at the top Judo countries - Japan, France, Korea and Russia.

The thing they all have in common is a very high level of grass roots coaching, good retention into adult hood and depth in every division.

Having an 'America style' is not the panacea to America's problems and never will be.

**Just Guess** · Posted On: 5/01/2011 1:33pm

Not exactly much of an accomplishment for someone of his caliber. Hopefully though having someone like him competing in the US will help bring up the quality of the other competitors.

**Matt Phillips** · Posted On: 5/01/2011 2:13pm

There was a time when top placing guys from the AJJC would show up at the AAU nationals.

**BKR** · Posted On: 5/01/2011 2:28pm

It was the Open Divison of the US Senior National Championships, not the US Open, which is an international event. The Open Division of Senior Nationals is open to foreign nationals.

Ben

**BKR** · Posted On: 5/01/2011 2:35pm

Originally Posted by Matt Phillips

America is not serious about competing at an international level in Judo; America is only interested in proving that we, like, totally care about doing things the Japanese way. France fights the French way and does well, Russia fights the Russian way and does well, and the US keeps muddling along longing for the day that every club was run by an ethnic Japanese.

Well, no, not really. Your idea has been around for a while. I can't remember the first time I heard it, but it was wrong then and it's wrong now. Maybe it was on rec.ma or Judolist, maybe the old Judo Forum too when it was at the rain.org IP.

Judoka_UK has the basic correct on this one. Good Judo is good Judo, good training practices are good training practices, no Japanese or whatever way about it.

Ben

**BKR** · Posted On: 5/01/2011 2:42pm

Originally Posted by Matt Phillips

There was a time when top placing guys from the AJJC would show up at the AAU nationals.

I can't imagine why they would do that, unless they had moved to the US. One of my teachers, Michinori Ishibashi competed in the open division (he placed first in AJA weight classified event), but he had moved to the US. Same for Ichi Otaka, from Northglenn CO Judo club. Both won first place. Ichi was nowhere near a placer at any AJC. Plus, he was a small guy.

Top athletes did used to show up at the US Open back in the day. Then Japan started sending their B and C teams (maybe D) and still did very well.

The US was never a Judo powerhouse internationally.

Ben

**judoka_uk** · Posted On: 5/01/2011 2:48pm

Originally Posted by BKR

It was the Open Divison of the US Senior National Championships, not the US Open, which is an international event. The Open Division of Senior Nationals is open to foreign nationals.

Ben

Ahh ok, good catch.

Originally Posted by BKR

Top athletes did used to show up at the US Open back in the day. Then Japan started sending their B and C teams (maybe D) and still did very well.

The US was never a Judo powerhouse internationally.

Ben

Two of my coaches competed and placed at the US open back in the 90s.

**maofas** · Posted On: 5/01/2011 3:00pm

One of my coaches got gold in his division this year, another a bronze. They mentioned something via Facebook about Ishii winning a gold with a crazy uchi-mata, but I figured it had to be some other guy with the same name...