TWO years after his first invitation, Gisborne Judo Club coach Jason King finally got to compete at the All Japan Masters Judo Championships.“It was the eighth time the champs have been held and I’ve always wanted to go,” said King, who won a silver medal in the 40-44-year under-81-kilogram division and bronze in the 40-44yr open.
Kiki Velloza, who coaches the Gisborne senior and junior women, became the first foreign woman to fight at the championships, first foreign woman to referee and first foreign woman to do a kata (demonstration for grading points), which she did with King.
Velloza won gold medals in the 40-44yr over-78kg class at Katsura City, near Tokyo.
Because of a lack of numbers in the women’s divisions, Velloza fought the same opponent in the over-78kg class and the open, winning both.
“Kiki was too strong for her opponent,” King said.
“Because she had only one fight in each division, Kiki had time to referee the men’s fights.”
Rick Littlewood, an eighth dan black belt, who spent a lot of his time training and competing in Japan in his younger days, was the man behind King and Velloza’s invitation.
“We’ve known Rick, a former New Zealand Olympian judoka, for a long time,” King said.
“He’s a legend in New Zealand judo.
“He was asked to bring a New Zealand team to compete and Kiki and I were lucky to be among those Rick took.”
King, a former national senior men’s and open men’s champion, said his main goal was “to win one fight”.
“Japan is the place for judo players. To go there and to win is something special.
“There were 420 entrants, seven weight classes per age group.”
King had a bye in the first round and achieved his goal when he beat a Japanese player by a split decision.
“I was rapt. He was a tough opponent and the fight went into extra time, another two minutes — with neither of us scoring a point. So we didn’t know who had won.
“The judges must have thought I did enough in the first three minutes to get the decision.”
King then exceeded his expectations when he won his next fight by an Ippon (maximum) score.
“There was about 15 minutes between the fights and the adrenalin was still pumping when I won the second fight with my favourite throw.”
Despite losing the final in a close contest — “I got a small penalty which I couldn’t make up” — King was looking forward to day two of the tournament — the open divisions in his age-group.
“There were seven in the u81kg division but 18 in the open and it’s a straight knockout, lose and you’re out — no repechage.
“I won another three fights before losing in the semifinal.
“Making my weight-division final and getting silver is one of the highlights of my career.”
The six-strong new Zealand team came home with seven medals.
Littlewood won gold in the 70-74yr u90kg division and silver in the open.
Graeme Culling (Wanganui) was third in the 65-69yr u66kg class.
“The only two who missed out were two brown belts, who were there more for the experience,” King said.
“We were the first New Zealanders to win medals in the eight years the tournament has been held.”
King said doing kata before sixth and seventh dan black belts was “an awesome experience” for him and Velloza.
“You have to demonstrate attack and defence techniques and then the dans award grading points that go towards us getting sixth-dan black belt grading.
“I’ve been a fifth dan for three years and Kiki, two, but even with top grading points it still takes six years to reach sixth dan.”
Off the mat, the long-term goal for Gisborne Judo Club was to have a purpose-built dojo, King said.
“I really feel we have the numbers and the ability here to warrant one.
“The club is booming. We have 75 players and are having to turn others away as we have no room on the mats to train them.
“We’re lucky with our coaches. Kiki, Clayton Kingston — who coaches the pee wees — and I have been there a long time.
“We all trained under my dad (the late Dave King). I started when I was four. Kiki wasn’t far behind.
“And when you add Terry Brooking, who takes the advanced juniors, we have well over 100 years of coaching experience between us.
“Judo is a great sport for all ages but especially kids. It teaches self-defence, it’s healthy and we make sure they have fun.
“There is also something there for those who want to be competitive.”
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