Here is an article taken from the Wakefield Observer at http://www.wickedlocal.com/wakefield/sports/x1151561458

Belgian Bronze: Rousey takes third in Judo Tournament

Tue Feb 05, 2008, 07:19 PM EST

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Wakefield - World silver medalist and Wakefield resident Ronda Rousey won a bronze medal in the 70kg division on Sunday at the Belgian Ladies’ Open, a B-Level Point Judo Tournament in Arlon, Colorado, Feb. 3.

In a unique format, players had to place in the top two of a three or four-person pool in order to advance to the main draw.  Unlike in most international events, a loss in the draw means that the loser only gets carried through to the repecharge if the player she loses to advances to the final. 

A member of USA Judo National Team FORCE, Rousey, who turned 21 on Friday, fought Samantha Lowe (GBR) in the first round, pinning Lowe for ippon (instant win).  Rousey and the 2007 Belgian Ladies’ Champion Haruka Tachimoto (JPN) fought next, tying the match at the end of the five-minute period.  Due to the tournament format, the match did not go into overtime, but since Tachimoto and Rousey both beat Lowe by ippon, the two had to fight a second match to determine seeding in the main draw.  This time, Tachimoto threw Rousey with an o soto gari (major outer leg throw).

In the main draw, Rousey fought 2006 Pan Am Champion Yalennis Castillo (CUB).  Rousey won their last match at the 2007 Vienna World Cup, but this time Rousey went in for a sumi gaeshi (sacrifice throw), but the score was called as a yuko (quarter-point) for the Cuban.  Rousey came back later in the match, but lost by a koka. 

Castillo advanced to the final, pulling Rousey through to the repecharge where she threw Aya Taniguchi (JPN) with a drop o uchi gari (dropping inner leg throw) for ippon.  Rousey threw 2007 European U20 Champion Linda Bolder (NED) three times to advance to the bronze medal against Gemma Gibbons (GBR).  Rousey and Gibbons fought most recently at the U.S. Open in October where Rousey earned her third consecutive gold medal.  Rousey dominated the match again, armbarring Gibbons to win the bronze medal.

Two years ago, Rousey became the first U.S. player ever to win the prestigious Belgian Ladies’ Open, a B-Level point tournament in Arlon. Last year, Valerie Gotay of Texas repeated the feat when she upset a former World Champion in the final.

Rousey has since moved up from 63kg to 70kg where she won a World silver medal in September. Both players were among the favorites for a medal as 21 U.S. women competed at the Belgian Ladies’ Open.

Rousey became the first U.S. player to win the Belgian Ladies Open in 2006 when she won the 63kg division. The reigning World silver medalist as a 70kg player, Rousey renewed acquaintance with some old rivals including 2006 Pan Am Champion Ylennis Castillo (CUB), who placed seventh at the World Championships, but lost her only match against Rousey when they fought at the 2007 Vienna World Cup where Rousey won her first gold medal in the new division.

Harrison adds hustle

In the 78kg division, Wakefield resident Kayla Harrison advanced to the draw, but lost in the first round to Pauline Camus (FRA).

A junior competitors, Harrison, 17, became the first U.S. player to win a U20 gold medal in Belgium when she competed in the 70kg division last year. This time around, Harrison made her 78kg debut in an attempt to match her 2007 accomplishment.

Harrison won the U20 70kg division in 2007 before moving back down to 63kg where she won the U.S. Open and placed second at the Senior Nationals. This marked the first time Harrison competed in her first event as a 78kg player fighting in both the junior and senior division.

Congratulations go out to Ronda. This is a tough tournament with lots of competitors and it is a good way for her to start the year.  Ronda is still recovering from a knee injury so you can only look forward to her performances improving.

This was Kayla Harrison’s first competition at her new weight.  She now has a taste of where she needs to be to compete internationally.

This is just the beginning of the European tour. The US team goes into arguably the toughest competition of the tour in Paris this weekend.  It will be interesting to see where everyone finishes. This is one of the stronger female teams we have had in quite some time.  I expect to see two or three top seven finishes.

By Rhadi Ferguson

 

The Olympic Trials will be here soon and I would encourage you all to do one thing…go!

 

If you have children who are judo players or that do any of the Olympic Sports, then go to the trials. It is an experience of a lifetime.

 

Going will give you and your children a new-found respect for dedication, it will allow you to push harder in your job, your school work, in your family life and in all areas. It will literally inject into the “umph” that you need to get going.

 

And you will get an opportunity to look the word SACRIFICE in the face.

 

So, listen to The Judo Crusader for once will ya?

 

Now is the time to get your “ducks in a row” and decide that you want to be a better judo player. And I’m going to tell you exactly how to do it. Are you ready? Great!!!

 

1. Get A Throw Mat!

 

If you do not have a throw mat for your club – get one. If you don’t have one then round up a couple of your buddies and put your money together and get one. I bought my first throw mat when I was practicing in Massachusetts back in 1998. I was practicing at a small club on the “off nights” when I wasn’t practicing with Jimmy Pedro and I knew I had to practice throwing. So I called this company called Tiffin Mats and ordered the mat. As a matter of fact, you can call them at this number 1-800-843-3467 or you can go to their website and get a throw mat. Just so that you know, the mat that I bought is still in Foxboro, Massachusetts getting used to this day.

 

I know you are asking why you need this mat. Well, the answer is in number 2.

 

2. Get the Reps In

 

THROW, THROW, THROW!!! You can definitely improve your throwing abilities by doing more throwing. Now, Ido not like being thrown on the ground,- and I’m sure you don’t either and the chief reason is because it FREAKIN’ HURTS! That is one of the major reasons why you can count on one hand the times that I’ve been thrown for ippon. I just refuse to fall! And if you practice Brazilian Jujitsu, then you know how difficult it is for you to get someone in your school or class to take some falls for you while you practice throwing. FUH-GET-ABOUT-IT!!

It ain’t gonna happen. But, and this is a big but, if you have a nice soft mat for them to fall on, they will be more willing to take falls for you, and you will be more willing to take falls for them. And you will watch and see evryone’s throws improve. The better everyone gets, the better you are going to get.

 

3. Make Your Practices Measurable and Accountable.

 

After getting the mat and deciding to throw, make sure you decide and plan how many throws you are going to do per night after practice. Notice that I said, after practice. That means that this is some extra work that you have to do so that you can get the edge.

 

4. Get Permission

 

Please respect your instructor, your dojo and the place where you practice by asking if you and your “buddies” could get together and purchase a gift for the club. If you practice Brazilian Jujitsu, ask your instructor if they wouldn’t mind incorporating some throws in practice–after you and your buddies have started doing the throws after practice first.

 

If you get some throw mats for your club, you will see how you will improve greatly. When I lived at the Olympic Training Center I can tell you that we easily would perform 75 to 100 throws a night. And that is outside of the hundreds of uchikomis, randori, drills, warm-ups and cool-down.

 

From that, a few things happened. First, I got comfortable with throwing. Secondly, I become proficient at the throws I practiced. Third, I believed that I could throw people. Fourth, my abdominals, my back and my legs – my whole body – was trained in the way that I need for it to operate during competition. So whatever you do, get the throw mat and get started.

 

Rhadi Ferguson is a 2004 Olympian in Judo and a 4-Time National Judo Champion. If you desire to learn more information about his Gold Mettle Plan you may do so at http://www.goldmettleplanpackage.com or http://www.goldmettleplan.com

 

If you are seriously interested in improving your judo game and becoming a better grappler then there is no better place to start then with The Gold Mettle Plan. You can get your free ebook and the best judo advice on the ‘net right here.