Anatol wrote:Hi Tafftaz
I don't think, Quest 50 want to go to the masters world championships directly ...
There were 6 entries at the world championships 2013 category +100 M5 ... (Koppe wins)
Quest 50
Most important question:
Would you restart Judo IF there were no ranks/belts and no medals?
If yes - perfect
If no - wasted time
.
Yes a good question!
Obviously I wouldn't expect to be selected for a world masters championship with only 5 weeks training after a 30 year absence.
a local competition at the end of the year is one I have picked out as a possible.
In answer to you question, The reason I restarted is not for grades/belts or medals far from it, in fact I never even thought about competing again.
Early this year I attended my Sensai Don Werners funeral, there were well over 500 in attendance looking around I realised how many people I recognised from being a part of the club all those years ago, many had travelled from far away places, world Olympic European & national champions from Australia USA & all over Europe. For a sad occasion it was a great occasion & we talked about it for some days even weeks afterwards, but I wasn't going back.
Until my daughter Chloe age 8 asked me if she could do judo, She is now in the beginners & loving every minute she did her first very much fun competition last week & won her first medal a bronze, she hasn't stopped talking about that, chuffed to bits. Taking her to training each week brought me back to the old days, & my interest in judo returned, slowly, & I began to think I would love to give it a go, maybe something I could do with my daughter. I dropped in one Wednesday senior class just to look & before long was in a spare kit & on the mat.
I havnt missed a session since, & I can honestly say I am loving it, I have received such a warm welcome back, been reunited with old friends, been encouraged, & given selfless advice & coaching by some very good judoka & am enjoying the learning immensely I have taken out a licence re graded due to my past experience & mutually agreed to 3rd Kyu & I hope to gain 1st kyu by the end of this year & on to 1st Dan however long it takes & I have re joined the club. I am now back in the family!
Do I have any regrets about not going back years ago? No way! I have had more success in cycling, & would never turn my back on that. I'm not looking back into the past, only the future.
As for shodan, I have no ego's that's really something I want to do for myself, I have self believe, drive, a willingness to learn & others believe in me & that I can & should go for it.
Don Werners words are ringing in my ears "Be better than your best"