Job Done (Part 1 - The fights)

Gold Medal in the IJF World Veteran’s Judo Championship F1 (Female 30-35yrs) -63kg  category.  I’m so happy.  It doesn’t always happen.  It doesn’t always go your way, but this time it did and all the hard work was definitely worth it. 

So here’s how it went down.  There were ten girls in my category including two other Brits.  My first fight was against a home nation Spanish girl.  In the warm up area I was bricking it.  So I took a moment to forget what event it was, to block out the bright lights, the spectators and the size of the venue and to forget all the people at home rooting for me.  ‘Two hands on, attack first…..two hands on, attack first.’  I know I should’ve been thinking more tactically than that I know.  But it was all I could manage at the time.   My name got called I went through the tunnel into the arena.  Lane four for Mat four.  Very nervy but all guns blazing.  Those that know my style of Judo…. I’m not the most skilful, but about strength  and very attacking style.  I got some joy from my favourite technique a few times harai maki komi.  And then with a score on the board and very short fights I knew I just had to run down the time and look busy on the ground.  The buzzer went.  First fight over.

A busy warm up room at the start of the day

There was about an hour til my next fight.  A Mongolian who, like me had already won her first bout.   I felt more focussed this time.  At the start of this fight I soon found out she was very quick.  But I was strong and she struggled to get close.  About half way through we went to ground and I got in quick.  She was flat on her front, I got on top and tucked my legs in underneath and as I did her head came up for a fraction of a second.  I got my arm in quick but couldn’t find a grip.  I went for it anyway putting all the pressure I could on the back of the neck, nothing was happening but I kept going pushing as hard as I could.  She tapped the floor and that was the second fight won.  I was in the final. 

Warming up with a Swedish Girl

As I came off the mat I turned to watch fellow Brit Sam Dobrowolski  in her Semi Final.  Sam is also fairly local and we sometimes train together (it’s always a close fought thing).  Sam is a really nice girl, an awesome fighter and also a mum like me.  Being on opposite sides of the draw we agreed to warm up together.  I’ve got great respect for her and cheered her on during her fight against a tough French opponent.  Sam won a long battle on the ground with a skilful san gaku technique (it’s a kind of strangle but done with the legs, but this time Sam used it to pin down).  It was an all Brit Final!

The final was about an hour later.  As the ref said Hajime, Sam unleashed a torrent of attacks.  There was no doubt she wanted this just as much as me.  I’m usually a really attacking player but just couldn’t seem to get anything in.  Tactically I was doing enough not to get penalised for passivity.  And strength and agility wise I was getting off most of her attacks (There were a few hairy moments!)  The match reached time with no score which meant we went to golden score, where as soon as one person scores its game over.  Sam had somehow cut her hand.  And in the short medical break I gave myself a good talking to.  Realised she was pinning my right sleeve and that I needed to get back in the game.  I started coming back at her stronger getting my own grips in earlier and some good attacks.  And then, the referee stopped the match.  He gave Sam a penalty (I think for cross gripping without attacking but it’s all a bit of a blur) It was the only score I needed. I’d won!   Not the way I wanted to win.  But I’d done the job I came to do.

I came off the mat.  Found the arena bar.  Sat down and had a bottle of San Miguel.