Outis Does a Shiai

**NeilG** · Posted On: 11/13/2011 10:08pm

You can give it a go at 44. Here's me at 48 getting my ass handed to me by a future Olympian:

http://www.facebook.com/v/51980561717

**Outis** · Posted On: 11/13/2011 11:19pm

Originally Posted by Naszir

Congratulations! You get nothing but respect for competing. Out of curiosity where is your club? Also if you get a chance, you might want to check out the tournaments run out of Universal Judo in SATX. I hope to see you on the mats.

Thanks. I train with Champion Judo Club in Pasadena, Texas. By the way, I noticed on past results postings for HOJT that Universal Judo was represented. Hope they're able to send someone in the master novice class next year.

**Outis** · Posted On: 11/13/2011 11:45pm

Originally Posted by twan55

have been doing Judo for exactly one year

After some sporadic grappling training and then a layoff for several years, I started training in earnest a little over a year ago in October 2010. After a year of continuous training, I told myself that I probably wouldn't embarrass myself too badly in shiai and resolved to give it a try when the next opportunity came up.

**jowalker** · Posted On: 2/22/2012 3:54pm

:staredad:Nice! What about grappling tournaments? If you are interested in practicing Ne Waza, Houston area, College Station, and Dallas have tons of events (with older competitors). Official Judo competitions are a lot harder to come by here in Texas. College Station has an annual event, but the last two times I attended, it was Collegiate Athletes only (proof of enrollment, but this also includes anyone working on MA or PhD, technically). However, the director at the ATM Judo Club might be able to direct you to other events closer to us.

**dustymars** · Posted On: 2/22/2012 6:17pm

Originally Posted by Outis

Well, I took the plunge and decided to test myself in a shiai, so I entered the Houston Open Judo Tournament this past Saturday. As far as I know, at age 58, I was the oldest one to actually compete; there was a black belt there who turns 67 this month, but there were no advanced masters players for him to compete against, so he won his category uncontested. I was in the master novice category along with one other entrant, a young punk just in his mid-40s; he was two judo belts ahead of me and was a blue belt in BJJ to boot.

We had two matches, and he ipponed me with tani otoshi each time. The first match briefly went to the ground, where I blocked a tate shiho gatame attempt by getting one knee up. I rolled out, dove for one leg, and got him down; but he put me in his guard and then we got stood back up.

My coach said that I clearly had superior upper body strength, but that I was too slow turning in and needed to "blast in" to get a throw off. I'm going to work on that. And I'm planning on entering again next year.

I envy you. After total knee replacement I thought about going back, but a good days yard work convinced me not to :) At 71 aging is no fun! :)

**Outis** · Posted On: 2/23/2012 8:48pm

Originally Posted by jowalker

What about grappling tournaments?

There will be some BJJ tournaments in Houston that I plan on entering.

**Outis** · Posted On: 2/23/2012 9:02pm

Originally Posted by dustymars

I envy you. After total knee replacement I thought about going back, but a good days yard work convinced me not to :) At 71 aging is no fun! :)

I've been fortunate enough not to have developed any joint problems yet. An older coworker had both knees replaced, and although it allowed him to amble around without constant pain, he wasn't able to resume as active a lifestyle as before.

**Outis** · Posted On: 2/23/2012 9:06pm

Originally Posted by NeilG

You can give it a go at 44. Here's me at 48 getting my ass handed to me by a future Olympian:

http://www.facebook.com/v/51980561717

Thanks for sharing. I hope to get video of myself somewhere down the line.

**Lanner Hunt** · Posted On: 2/24/2012 5:44am

You entering was awesome! I can't wait to hear more about judo and bjj tourneys you enter! And I can sort of understand when you say blasting! Whenever I do fairly well in randori, it's because I went in, got a grip, did kuzushi, and threw in a very small timeframe. It's all about getting in quickly and going for it, at least in my experience!