A new event was held in Yokohama to replace the national judo tournament for elementary school students, which was abolished due to excessive victory supremacy, and children enjoyed judo through practice matches.
The national judo tournament for elementary school students "National Elementary School Grade Tournament" was abolished this year due to excessive victory supremacy by parents and instructors. We have newly launched the “All Japan Elementary School Judo Development Project” to learn and learn techniques.
Nearly 200 6th graders selected from each prefecture participated in the first event held at the Yokohama Budokan in Yokohama on the 29th.
After doing some warm-up exercises, the children were divided into men and women by weight and played practice matches.
In the judo class that followed, Mr. Yasuo Inoue, who won the gold medal at the Sydney Olympics, and Mr. Ayumi Tanimoto, who achieved two consecutive Olympic gold medals, served as instructors.
When Mr. Inoue showed off his specialty, Ouchigari, the children watched with serious expressions as they tried to learn the tricks.
Kotoha Hamauzu, who participated after going through the Kochi prefectural screening, said, "I was looking forward to participating in the national competition in the individual competition, so it's sad that the competition is canceled, but I'm glad I came because the alternative event was fun. I was talking.
Mr. Inoue, who served as a lecturer, said, "I'm glad that the children seemed to enjoy the program. I want to connect this event to the next event, thinking about what the judo world should be working on in the future." .
Zenjuren will consider how to proceed with the event while listening to the opinions of participating children and instructors.