I'M BACK!

Saturday, November 29 2014

I'm back! I can't believe it, but it's true. I am fully recovered from the injury in my neck, that is wh
at the physiotherapist told me (for those of you who don't know what happened, I'll explain what happend in full detail next blog). Yesterday the chance was given to me to prove that the physiotherapist was right. My first tournament in 8 months. Opponents, be prepared :)

Hengelo is where the JTP autumn tournament would take place, so that was my destination. For some reason the organisation decided my group would be the first group, and we had to gather and weigh at 7:30 AM, which meant I had to get up at 5:30 AM. Ughh.

Waking up that morning was not that easy. In fact, I was dead tired. Luckily my father made me a cup of coffee. I now know why students appreciate caffeine in the morning. I felt a little better after a steaming cup of coffee. We left at 6:00 AM and we drove to Hengelo in the silence of the morning.

I'm glad my weight was correct, because if it wasn't, I would be forced to lose it by running laps around the building. Try running laps at 7:30 AM, and I'll promise you'll not enjoy it.

After an exhausting warming-up I was ready to start the tournament. I was the first of the judoka to start, and I had to fight a guy who was a little shorter than me. Unfortunately, in all my tiredness, I lost the first match in about 15 seconds. I was incredibly disappointed in myself, and I swore I would win the next match. I don't know how seriously I took my oath, but in the second match I knocked my opponent out when I threw him on the tatami (mat). He didn't move for about 15 seconds, and then he started hyperventilating. It was really scary.

I won the rest of my matches that day, and I ended up in 3rd place. I could've done better, but still I was proud of what I accomplished. I could now honestly say that I'm back!

What do you mean I need lessons?

Saturday, November 22 2014

Unfortunately I'm not fully recovered yet, despite all the hard work. The vertebrae in my neck are still crooked, and for now there is nothing I can do about it. It was a pity to see al my friends from judo school Anton Geesink on the tatami in their judo gi, but I had to accept it. Everyone was there: Sam, Steven, Rens, Thomas, Teun & Tjerk were all present today, and I felt a little bit left out because of my injury.

Luckily my sensei thought of something for me to do. I could be, I still can't really believe it, a referee. Normally it takes years to succeed in becoming a judo referee, and I have never taken a single lesson in my life, but my sensei was confident and he said that it would be good for me.           I could be a referee in the category under 12 years, and I did surprisingly well. I was a little shy at first, but over the course of time I became more confident and in the end it was me that had the authority. 

Besides my injury and the lack of activity I enjoyed this tournament to the fullest. I have had an experience that I will remember for the rest of my life, and I am proud this honor was given to me.