Several days after the conclusion of the Tokyo Grand Slam, I travelled with my host, Dr. Hiroshi Takei, his wife, my Japanese wife, and our daughter to Kuji in Iwate prefecture. Kuji is the birthplace of Kyuzo Mifune, the legendary 10th dan, and 1981 world champion Katsuhiko Kashiwazaki. It’s also home to the memorial museum and gymnasium dedicated to Mifune, who is referred to as Mifune Judan.
As I write this, I’m travelling in Japan. I’ve already taken in three days of the Tokyo Slam. Yesterday, I received a chiropractic massage from a traditional practitioner of Muso Taijutsu. And today, I climbed 1373 steps to reach the last shrine of Kotohiragu in Kagawa Prefecture. I hope there is no Judo club nearby as I fear a crazy Judo coach might consider the ascent a great daily conditioning regimen for his high school Judo students.
The 2010 USJA/USJF Winter Nationals Coach Certification Clinic is now history. According to our host, USJA President Gary Goltz, this was the best attended Winter Nationals coaching clinic. Since I was one of three clinicians, I can attest that our group was highly motivated, engaged, and eager to learn “new stuff.” Usually there is at least one naysayer present at all coaching clinics. That’s the guy who, no matter how much evidence is given to him, openly fights you tooth and nail when it comes to alternative methods of instruction. This time around, we had no naysayer, at least not an overt one. That’s progress.