I have been facinated and involved in Martial ats now for 44 yrs. I started out in Boxing then American Kenpo Karate and Kick Boxing. From there in 1990 I started studying Budo Taijutsu in the Bujinkan and Judo simultainiously. I focused on Taijutsu for over 35 yrs attaining my Judan (10th Dan) and an 8th Dan in Taiho Jutsu. My Judo training took a back seat after 95 with a brief return in 2002 - 2004 and again for a year in 2008. I was quiet a bit more athletic in 1993 when I got my 1st Kyu in Judo but military service ate into my training development and I had to pick one art to focus on and Judo lost out. Anyway 2 yrs ago I started up again and I am really enjoying it. Im not quiet as light on my feet as was as a young soldier and after filling out and growing up a bit am a bit heavier. Age catches up on us all lol. Anyway after a few injuries last year in competition and a slow recovery im am back on the mats getting my ass kicked by young studs who just amaze me. Their skill is unreal but at 53 I still step on the mat at competitions to face anyone from 17 to above my own age. Its great fun. Just recovery times are slower after a tough competition lol. I suppose my point is this, you are never too old to get back at it and test yourself. Victories are not always measured by wins, sometimes they are measured by survival 🤣🤣. In my last competition there was a 17 yr old gunning for his final points for his shodan. He was a good 30kgs lighter than me and very skilled. He has been at Judo since he was 5. That time on the mats showed in his ability BUT I lasted 3 1/2 minuets with him. 20 seconds to go he got his throw and I lost. He got his black belt and I got to last that long against a young and spritly man with more speed, agility and skill than me. My win, well,I lasted that long with a nationally ranked young player. My arms were screaming at me, I could hardly breath for 5 mins after the fight. In the end I won another fight against someone my own age and came away with points towards my own Black belt. Point being, its a game of inches not miles. Small victories even in defeat brings out a resiliance mindset. As we say in Martial arts in general but Judo particularily; " Fall down seven times, get up eight" "Nana Korobi, Ya Oki" 七転び八起き Why do I write all this? Well Judo is offically 142 yrs old today and it is World Judo Day. Its a great system and can add to your skill sets in EP/CP. I want to wish all of those who are Judo Practitioners a happy "World Judo Day" and to say just keep going.

Posted by George Behan at 2024-10-28 12:03:39 UTC