Every wednesday he is present. Brought by the little bus but otherwise pretty self-sufficient. First, he drinks some coffee and chats with Wil and the other judoka. This is what he does for the last 40 years and nothing changed since.
Well, of course the location changed a couple of times. The last move was not very pleasant, we had to move from a day-care centre for the elderly and the club ran there for 25 years. The judo club was almost a part of the day-care centre, and everything was possible.
Many a foreign judoka slept on our tatami, so they could compete the next day in the largest tournament in The Netherlands, first in Amstelveen, later in Beverwijk, and he himself slept on the mat many a time. For example, when we had to go to a tournament abroad with a touringcar, and we had to leave at 06:00 in the morning. In Amsterdam, public transport doesn't go that early therefore the boys and girls went to the daycare centre to be in time for the bus.
Those were good times. Now we are training in a school gymnasium, because the daycare centre has been demolished.
In the old days, we did not do so many tournaments, but since Ben started teaching a lot of things have changed. Me myself, i do not go to tournaments anymore, i am too old for that.
Oh boy, it is time so i need to change quickly, judo is not done in normal clothing but in the kimono, tough Japanese attire for judo is a sport that involves a lot of pushing and pulling to one's clothing. The kimono is held close with a belt which is black in his case, because of course he is the eldest judoka together with Ben and people shuold be able to see that.
Although it took a long time before he received the black club-belt, in the old days you did not do any examinations. They said it was not important but actually, he is very, very proud of his black belt!
It was a shame his mother did not live to see him receive the black belt, she was too sick to attend and shortly after she passed away. That was a very sad day.
Oh, let's ask the teacher if she wants to tie the belt, that remains a difficult task.
After the greeting, the warming-up starts. Usually a little game, not too easy, one has to sweat!
After the game it gets serious. The master shows a ground technique and the judoka have to practice. Not too easy of course, because he does not have the black belt for nothing! After the technique some play, to practice what has been learned.
Then another game and some breakfall practice, in preparation for a standing technique.
After the lesson he receives a little for to apply for a tournament but he does not do that anymore. At some point, tournaments are over.
Let's joke a bit with the master: Look, a bird! And when he doesn't look he gets thrown. He always falls for it.
Then, dress into normal clothes, judo suit in the bag, and some lemonade before going home.
See you next week, byebye!
Ben, with thanks to Robin, March 2011.
