Judo UK

Final day for British Judo, the final hope for a medal resting on Karina Bryant. All the other British team didn’t even get close to a medal so the pressure was definitely on. Within the +78kg she fought Vanessa Zambotti in the first round. Odds were on for Bryant, but they were to be wrong. Bryant was beaten by 2 Yuko points. Bryant was moving forward as she fell behind in scoring but the Mexican was drop Seoi Nagi as she did . If anything these type of matches show a reoccurring tactic show through out the tournament and (I would imagine) is well known and rife; get a point, whatever it is and hold on to it for as long as possible. As Bryant goes out in the first round it optimises the poor showing at the Olympics for the British team.

3 Down, 3 to go! Half the chances for the British Judo Team to gain medals have gone and now the hope remains the final 3 Judoka. Peter Cousins steps on to the mat with his game face on for the Men’s 100Kg category match up. Stocky and speedy, Cousins weighs up to Levan Zhorzholiani, a Georgian fighter. Zhorzholiani noticeable towers above the 5′ 10” British player. Cousins starts of well, in fast, trying to find his grip. He gives a Koka to the Georgian player whists holding to to his leg for too long without making a decent attack. Evenly matched grip fighting proceeded for the next minute but the referee translated that into passivity and Shido’d both players. The Georgian led the match but the Cousins chipped away and forces his way through to find the Koka he needs. The match moves to Golden score.

Peter controls the Georgian well. Heart stopped when the officials have confer about the Georgian dropping tactics, but no Shido was given. The British player was trying throw and throw but he couldn’t take down the giant before him. The Georgian counters, the referees confer again, but still no score. Cousins worked harder and harder but he gives away an exhausted Koka. The Georgian wins on the Golden Score. Another British team player going home empty handed

Michelle Rogers matches up to the Korean Gyeomgmi Jeong. Rogers starts well, smashing in attacks but it obvious early on that Jeong was no easy obstacle. Jeong is taken to the floor numerous times as Rogers comes in strong. Half way through the match and it still scoreless. Suddenly, Jeong dips and double leg grabs, bringing Rogers down for Koka. There is still time for Rogers to bring it back. Exchange after exchange, grip after grip, occasionally bringing Jeong to the ground but time quickly slips away. Each exchange lasts 20 seconds then the Korean tactically drops, biding her time. Finally, the buzzer sounds to indicate a win for Korea. Rogers brought the fight but she loses on a smallest score in Judo, a Koka.

And then there was one…

It would have felt like day light robbery today for Winston Gordon in Day 3 of Olympic Judo. He lost during his fight where his double leg grab was countered by Sumi Gaeshi and giving his hard earn Wazari to the Uzbek Khurshid Nabiev with 52 seconds remaining. Even worse, the Uzbek was beaten in later rounds thus automatically disqualifying Gordon from any further contests. The harshness of this sport and probably the worse thing that could happen is that you train for years, fight for 5 minutes and go out with 1 match fought. No Judo medals for Team GBR today.

And so our attention turns to Rondo Rousey, Olympic hope for American Judo. She came up against Netherlands player giant Bosch and the battle went to the wire (or Golden Score). Unfortunately for Rousey her Gold medal attempt was thwarted but she was still on track for Bronze. Rousey, in her second Olympic attempt, faced Boehm from Germany, Bronze medal winner in Athens 2004. The start was relaxed then Ronda scored Yuko with a beautiful Sode Kata Gurma. It was nearly curtains for Rousey as she nearly gets taken out by Tomoe Nage, but is brilliant style, she spins out at the last second to avoid the Ippon. A nervey ending but Rousey wins by Yuko and is first Judo Medalist for Amercia. Congrats to Rousey! We knew you could do it!!!

Another great day for Judo!

Another disappointing day for British Judo as Euan Burton and Sarah Clark exit Olympic Judo early. After the 29 year old from Scotland Euan Burton was out the race for Gold but on target for a Bronze when fighting Brazilian Tiago Camilo, World Champion. The fight was pacey to start, each player finding their grips but 1 minute into the match, Camilo slams Burton into the mat for Wazari with Uchi Mata. Burton couldn’t bring the fight back from such a sizable score even though he was moving forward and at some points dominating the grip. Hearts stopped at 9 seconds as he attempted a beautiful foot sweep which would have sent a lesser fighter on to their back but in world champion style, Camilo turned out. Burton bowed out unmedaled.

Sarah Clark was facing her old opponent, the Austrian Claudia Heill, who sent her out in the Olympics 2004 in Athens. The 30 year old went down a Yuko early while losing balance. Chipping away at Heill on the floor in the first minute but the Austrian was a slippy character. Clark fired in a brilliant Uchi Mata but lack of arm control meant she didn’t score. Yuko and Koka down, Clark needed to work hard. She blitzed the Austrian with a beautiful counter which scored her a Wazari and fought hard to for Heill’s arm. The final minute was looking good for Clark but she was caught whilst trying to counter which saw the Austrian win by Ippon. Clark worked hard and she was unlucky to lose to her Nemesis, Claudia Heill.

British Judo found themselves out of the 81kg Mens and 63kg Womens Judo.

The best fight of the day was Ole Bischof and Kim Jae Bum, the Asian champaign who hasn’t lost in 2008. Great match up with two very good fighters. Bischof’s grip fight helped him find a chancing Seoi nagi but didn’t score. At this level of Judo, the skill is so great that its hard to find any chances and usually techniques cancel each other out. The South Korean speedy attacks put the German under pressure put Bischop Ko Uchi Gake helped him score the first Yuko after 3 and a half minutes in. Kim dug deep but Bischop was all over him with it eventually ending with Bischop winning by Yuko score, destorying the Asian champion’s unbeaten record and ultimately, winning Gold.

Judo Team GB hopeful Craig Fallon failed to obtain a medal in his 2008 (second) Olympic bid today. The early cut above the eye seemed ironically represent his early loss to Paischer which took him out the race for Gold but undeterred was back on the path for Bronze in the -60Kg category.

His last match with Israel’s Gal Yekutiel saw him fall to a blistering foot sweep and ultimately lose by waza-ari awasete ippon.

Fallon, dubbed by BBC presenters as “the best player to come out the UK since Neil Adams” brings the pacey technique to Beijing, but his dreams for an Olympic medal have been dashed for a second time.

The winner of the match lost to Netherlands Ruben Houkes by hold down Ippon (and probably the fact that he was 5 inches tall than Yekutiel).

Today has seen some shock results, medal hopefuls going out early and virtual unknowns rising to the top.

It was an emotional victory for Korea’s Choi Minho when he won this category with a awesome turnover technique winning over Ludwig Paischer of Austria.

Great first day of Olympic Judo.

Did you know Ray Steven’s was the last UK Judo player to win a medal at the Olympics (Barcelona).

Just over 9 days to go until Beijing 2008 is underway! We are all looking forward to watching the Judoka battle it out for the chance to reach the final and take Gold. Here, in the UK, we unfortunately have to make it an early start to catch the action. Though I haven’t seen 5am for a long time, no depth of sleep will stop me getting up for this. Here are the official dates and times for the Judo on the TV as per the British Judo Website. Catch all this on the BBC (though I am unsure which BBC channel!)

Obviously, if there are any amendments to the above times, I will post it on this website.  For some great info on the Olympic Judo, the BBC are running some great information on their website at www.bbc.co.uk/judo. Good luck to those who are competing, especially the GBR Team! We look forward to see you in action. Also, a special good luck to Ronda (of the USA Team) who has helped me out with a bit of research this week. Go get ‘em!