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