Confidence Boosters

So I am 90% sure (barring injuries, of course) that I will compete in February, this will be my first time in almost 8 years. (My last competition was the Mayor's Cup, where I wound up on a backboard as a precautionary measure after getting slammed with Osoto Gari to lose my last match in competition). Ironically, I remember now, 8 years later, what throw it was. When I was being put on the stretcher I remember one of the officials asking if I remember what throw I was thrown with to Ijure myself, my reply: 'If I knew that, I would have been able to counter it!'.

I mentioned this to a colleague yesterday. He asked where the tournament was, I said in Brooklyn. He asked me to get him the details when the time came so he could be there to root me on. He started to boost my confidence.

I think maybe when I was in college, I thought too much about not losing to ever think of winning. In addition, while my Sensei and teammates were very supportive, I didn't get that much support outside of Judo. I think that as long as I stay Injury-free and don't compete more than a handful of times a year, my wife will be supportive and so will my boys.

I guess I just need to stay positively focused for the next few weeks as I gear up for the tourney, and Maybe I will produce results.

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The Catch-all Post for April

So I haven't posted anything in six weeks, and yet I still hope I have some loyal readers left. April has proven to be a busy month for me - I am about to switch jobs, and I took a two-week vacation as well. April was also a great month in Judo for me, as my Son passed his Yellow belt test. He also executed a picture perfect ippon seoinage in a 'Mock Shiai'. My wife, who seldom comes to practice, was very impressed. Although he'll be playing some baseball over the next few weeks, he will be coming back to Judo soon, and is excited about working towards his orange belt. The other day, we were at a family get-together, and one of his cousins was bullying him a bit, hitting him a couple of times. Mitch stepped in and was about to throw the kid with O-Uchi Gari just as my wife, the kids' mom, and I intervened. At first, I scolded him. But when I realized he was defending himself, I apologized, and told him that if that happens again, throw the kid, pin him and call for

1000 Words

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The Road to Nidan

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