I heard the ringing tones around the Dojo at St Albans that Shinto Judo Club are back, with a great turnout from our guys and girls, coupled with some fantastic Judo, it was a great day and seemed to be enjoyed by all.

I didnt get the opportunity to see what everyone did as I was refereeing so it was only some fleeting glances, so any videos or photographs, Id like you to get them to me so we can post them on here, and let everyone see how well the kids did.


What I did see was most of the best bits, like Mitchell's Ippon in the final where he threw the guy with such a bang, that everyone gasped at how nice a technique it was, I certainly want a video of that.

Denver, he had a great day, it was good to see more kids for him to fight, for so long he has been in a category on his own, he never really had kids his size to compete with, but this was very different, in the U20kg division, I saw very little of what he was doing apart from a quick turnaround moment when I looked around I saw a kid was in the air and Denver was throwing him for Ippon, very nice to see, I believe he took the Gold, I will no doubt get to hear more on wednesday.

I saw Daniel fighting his socks off too, he was outsized by many of his opponents, but still went out there with a will to win, I did see him get choked when I turned round for a split second

Hannah Teal, this was her first competition for such a long time, and she did very well, she seemed more composed, and looked a sif she enjoyed her fights this time,

Alethia, fought like she usually does, like a wasp in a can, flitting all over the place buzzing the competition around the tatami, she won the Gold,

Rhia, well she was on the mat that I was refereeing, and unfortunately hurt her leg so was unable to continue, she was awarded the bronze.

I saw Samuel in a fight that he was being reff'd by Kevin (his Dad), and it was one that he lost, he put up a really god fight in the others, I want to read your comments about what you saw as you guys saw more than I could.

Wesley Fought like a monster, he was put up into the Junior division, it would have been unfair for him to fight primaries as he towered over his nearest size and outweighed them greatly, so he bravely went up and agreed to do his best, and enjoy it, which was noted by everyone there that he showed great courage and great maturity in his efforts, as he went into the O60kg category and was fighting young men, I want to point out that even though he didnt win his fights, the guys that beat him, had to work their socks off to win which is a huge credit to him. and duly he was awarded a Gold medal in his weight division

I didnt get to see Georgia fight, I know she won the Gold as she didnt stop talking about it all day, its nice to see her enjoying her achievements.

Molly fought well too, what I got to see was a completly different Molly, a fighter, someone who knew she had the chance to win, she came out with her head held high and did her best, I dont know how it ended, but I do know that the girl who won her division came into the Seniors and won that too.

Aysegul,it was her first ever competition, I only got a glimpse of her and saw her beat one her opponents with a hold down, and looked like she was really enjoying herself, I saw her dad beaming with pride too.

Chris, he was in the senior division, against opponents of up to brown belt, it was an eye opener for him I think, he had two fights which although he lost, he can take some positives away from it, one of them is that he knows what its like now in a typicle Shiai, how you have to be focussed all the time, he now knows how much training as much as you can will help him improve, he gave away lots of age and rank that day, he has just turned into a senior and I am sure despite him coming away without a medal, he would agree that it was in fact a good day, its good also to watch others and see how they approach their fights.

Finally, I have left this person till last because I feel most qualified to comment on her excellent performance, I was as close on the day to her fights as anyone possibly could be. I was the ref.

Hannah James, She weighs 52kg approximately, the nearest girls division was O60kg, so the girls were looking at her as easy prey, Id like to point out that at no time did I say that she was from Shinto, as I didnt want to make any of the others feel as if I was going to offer preferential treatment as I certainly wouldnt have, she actually made my Job very easy, the first fight ended after a failed attempt by her opponent with a shoulder throw, only for Hannah to finish her off with some shimewaza, Hadake Jime in spectacular time, The second fight was against a much bigger girl, and she timed a beautiful ippon Seoi Nage, for a clean Ippon. then the next fight she threw Ippon seoi nage again, and the same in the final.

The guys on the table all commented on how nice her seio nage technique was, they even gave her name to the top table for best Girl of the day, which even if she doesnt get the award, its a good sign that what she was doing was nice clean Judo.

So Id like to thank all you guys who came and competed, and encourage you to get videos and photographs.

Many people came up afterwards to me and said how impressed they were with our kids and their quality of Judo, so you should all be very proud of yourselves

Hello Steve how you doing, Mitchell actually fought one opponent twice.In the first he scored a beautiful yoko wakare for ippon which I have to say came as a surprise to his opponent and he beat the same opponent in the final with another yoko wakare for a yuko score and then he brilliantly executed a hadaka jime to force a tapout so full credit to him as he fought with a huge amount of confidence

Hi Kev

Thanks for the update, did you get to see any of the others maybe you could elaborate on Molly and samuels as you were on their mat.

Like yourself I was predisposed with being a referee and only saw tidbits,

I spoke with the guys at the St Albans Dojo tonight about the even, and they commented on how well Shinto did, and that it was nice to see them back and with such a vengeance too, as we seemed to dominate the day.

I also asked about the Girl of the day award, and no one seemed to know what the final decision was, only that who ever does win it will be awarded it at their own club by a senior BJC official.

So we are waiting to hear I guess.

I wasnt suprised when I was approached tonight by a senior guy at St Albans who again commented on Hannahs seio nage, he was still praising it and wished his kids could do something similar.

This is a picture of the entrants

left to right back row
(Headbanging Chris, Daniel the spaniel, Alethia the fruitcake, Two Golds Hannah, Big Wesley, Mighty Mitch)
Front row left to right
(Good golly Miss Molly, Sam the man, Midnight train 2 Georgia, Hannah the spanna, the amazing Aysegul, the Rocky Mountains of Denver)

On Sunday 11th May the Hertfordshire closed Judo championship took place at St Albans judo club. It was extra special to Shinto as we only recently rejoined the Herts area after being away for numerous years. 13 students entered and Shinto instructors also helped to referee during the day.

With a couple of competitions under his belt Denvir Ibrahim still only 5, won all of his contests and victoriously won his first gold medal.
Georgia Greenidge followed with the same result.
Hannah Teal fought well only losing once to win a silver.
In her first championship, Aysegul Mehmet who has only been doing judo a few months, fought bravely and won a bronze.
Molly James having just got over a difficult category in last weeks Nationals still came across tough opponents but won a bronze.
Reining National champion Alethea Calvert-Jordon continued her winning ways with another gold and this was followed a faultless performance from
Mitchell Brett who fought superbly beating some good opponents to win gold.
Older brother Daniel Brett showed some good judo only just losing his last fight into silver position.
Samuel James found his group tough and came out with a bronze
Rhea Calvert-Jordan who unfortunately got injured and limped away with the same result.
Wesley Greenidge still only a primary, agreed to fight in the junior category as they would be closer to his size but expectedly a lot more experienced. He put on a brave performance, never giving up. He won the hearts of many watching and was given a gold medal.
Hanna James was one of the star performances of the day. Executing some fine shoulder throws to win her way to two gold medals.
Chris Ash was our last competitor to compete in the senior man category. Still new to the sport he was unlucky not to win a medal but fought well.

Our final tally on the day was 7 golds, 2 silvers and 4 bronze. A great result and a happy reminder to all that Shinto are back!

Even though I didn't go to St Albans to fight, I think I might have enjoyed myself a lot

well done to all of the people who went to st albands to fight especaly to michal

i caaaant make the pictures smaller

Hi Hannah, send them to me by email, ill resize them then send them back to you to post,
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