The Bombshell Announcement Towards Kohdohkan
Behind Geesink's glorious victory against Japanese judo, there was a Japanese trainer.
Haku Michigami
Born in 1912. Graduates Kyoto Budo Senmon Gakkou(Busen) in 1938. Becomes an assistant professor at Kochi High School in the same year, and flies to Shanghai Toa Dobunshoin University in 1940. Stays in Shikoku after WWII for a while, until he flies to France in 1953. He currently runs a dojo in Bordeaux. As the director of arts of the Dutch Judo Federation, he trains Geesink with 6 Dan. 7 Dan in Judo.
Japanese Judo in Danger
The Tokyo Olympic games are coming up next October. Left with only 600 more days, how has Japan improved as the motherland of Judo? There is no way for anyone to think that Japan is invincible. Japan's panic after the Third World Championships in Paris must have been an awful sight for the foreigners. Even I, who was in Holland at the time, was easily able to imagine the scene of confusion. Japan said that they needed to concentrate more on ground tactics, and that power overwhelmed technique to rationalize the loss. However, this reasoning is not acceptable. Isn't power part of technique? Although power is not technique itself, but power is a necessary factor in optimizing one's technique. To optimize technique(physically and geometrically), is it essential for one to have a strong mind and body(muscular strength and speed). The training which I made Geesink go through was always done in that manner, to realize which muscle(s) are necessary to fight. It is not a coincidence, but rather inevitable for Geesink to win. The comment that power overwhelmed technique is invalid whatsoever. There is no problem if someone from the public thinks that way. However, it is great trouble when the leaders of Japanese judo say that to evade responsibility. There are two wishes that I have. One is for the leaders to admit the loss and accept the responsibility. And the other is for Japanese judo to go through a reform, in which men with abilities lead the organization. Without these, Japan is in danger for the Tokyo Olympics. If Japan loses in front of the whole world, judo will not be a Japanese specialty anymore.