World Judo Championships with the legend Yashuhiro Yamashita in 1981.
I had just turned fiveteen years and was in a period in my life in which I didn't know what I wanted, which direction I should go and what I stood for, I was just an adolescent with ailments.
From working out hard and a lot in the gym to the fun of not going to school and influence of friends who were supposedly ska, skinhead or punk.
But despite everything I got a chance to experience something special and whatever I wanted to see.
Of course it was because of my father and the gym, but that didn't matter to me, I wanted to be here and see how the world's top manifested and how they showed up for the day, a unique opportunity.
The 1981 judo world championships were held in Maastricht from September 3 to 6. That was just great to experience and to be able to witness as an adolescent, four days of top judo in the Netherlands.
My father and a good friend of his went there and a 'Passe Partout' was arranged for me, i.e. a continuous admission ticket for all four days with all the world's top players.
There were two top people I wanted to see in person and have my picture taken with. That was the famous Belgian judoka Robert van de Walle and of course, and this will surprise no one, the Japanese Yashuhiro Yamashita, this was a phenomenon and a legend, both in Japan and abroad.
I was able to go about my business in my own way and I was smart enough to get to know the large sports hall well and to get to the dressing rooms at my youthful age. Even the warm-up area was no problem at a certain point, in the beginning a few times not let through by the so-called security but eventually I managed to get there.
It was just a matter of finding the right way, and of course that worked, there is a solution for everything. So there I was, walking around as a fifteen year old boy with a poster of this World Championship in Maastricht.
My goal was to get as many medal winning judokas as possible to sign this poster. It was a challenge but I loved it and walked around with a big grin that did not disappear for four days. I watched the games, I sat in the stands, I visited the locker rooms, I was in the room where the athletes were preparing, it was just great.
In any case, it brought the signatures of all the finalists, the judokas who had to judo the finals and then either won gold or silver. Of the bronze medal winners, of which there were two in each category, I missed a few but that was not to outweigh the rest that I did have.
Robert van de Walle, how I looked up to this Belgian, what a good judoka this man was, at least I thought he was good, unfortunately no world champion at this tournament but a deserving silver medal. In 1980 he became Olympic champion, also in the weight class up to 95 kg.
And then the legend, the Japanese Yashuhiro Yamashita, my idol but who did not love this judo legend. He was the best judoka of this generation, multiple world champion, Olympic champion, and from 1977 to 1985 he won all the Japanese titles, nine years in a row.
This legend with whom I of course took a photo, and I still cherish those photos, became world champion twice at this championship. In the class above 95 kg and in the all categories class, he was a class apart, he was a phenomenon.
How proud and honored I am to have been able to experience this and to have seen this world champion at work from close by. The best of the best gave their presence here and that's something you never forget. I really enjoyed these four days in Maastricht.
About the sport Judo.
Judo is a martial art and combat sport that originated in Japan in the late 19th century. It was founded by Jigoro Kano, who wanted to create a system of self-defense that would be effective but also emphasize mutual respect and self-improvement. The name "judo" means "gentle way," reflecting the principle of using an opponent's strength against them rather than relying solely on brute force.
In judo, practitioners use a variety of throwing, grappling, and joint-locking techniques to immobilize or subdue their opponents. Matches take place on a mat, or "tatami," and are usually divided into weight classes for fairness. Points are awarded for throws, pins, and submissions, and matches can be won by either accumulating enough points or by scoring an ippon, a decisive throw or submission.
Judo has been an Olympic sport since 1964 and is practiced by millions of people around the world. It is often taught as a form of self-defense, as well as a way to improve physical fitness and mental discipline. In addition to the physical techniques, judo also emphasizes the development of mental and emotional control, as well as mutual respect and sportsmanship.
Judo is also known for its colored belt ranking system, which begins with white and progresses through several colors before reaching black belt. Promotion through the ranks requires the demonstration of skill and knowledge, as well as a commitment to the principles of judo. Overall, judo is a dynamic and challenging sport that requires both physical and mental toughness. It is known for its emphasis on respect, discipline, and personal growth, making it a popular choice for both athletes and non-athletes alike.
The World Judo Championships is an annual international judo competition organized by the International Judo Federation (IJF). The first World Judo Championships were held in Tokyo, Japan in 1956. Since then, the event has been held in various locations around the world.
Here is a list of the host cities and countries for the World Judo Championships since its inception:
1956: Tokyo, Japan
1958: Tokyo, Japan
1961: Paris, France
1965: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
1967: Salt Lake City, USA
1969: Mexico City, Mexico
1971: Ludwigshafen, West Germany
1973: Lausanne, Switzerland
1975: Vienna, Austria
1977: Essen, West Germany
1979: Paris, France
1981: Maastricht, Netherlands
1983: Moscow, Soviet Union
1985: Seoul, South Korea
1987: Essen, West Germany
1989: Belgrade, Yugoslavia
1991: Barcelona, Spain
1993: Hamilton, Canada
1995: Chiba, Japan
1997: Paris, France
1999: Birmingham, Great Britain
2001: Munich, Germany
2003: Osaka, Japan
2005: Cairo, Egypt
2007: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2009: Rotterdam, Netherlands
2010: Tokyo, Japan
2011: Paris, France
2013: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2014: Chelyabinsk, Russia
2015: Astana, Kazakhstan
2017: Budapest, Hungary
2018: Baku, Azerbaijan
2019: Tokyo, Japan
2021: Budapest, Hungary (postponed from 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic)
The World Judo Championships is considered the most prestigious event in the sport of judo, attracting top judoka from around the world to compete for the title of World Champion in their respective weight categories.
About legend Yashuhiro Yamashita.
Yasuhiro Yamashita is a legendary Japanese judoka, born on June 1, 1957, in Tokyo, Japan. He is considered one of the greatest judokas of all time and is known for his incredible technique, strength, and speed.
Yamashita began practicing judo at a young age, and by the time he was a teenager, he had already won numerous national and international competitions. He went on to win the gold medal at the 1977 World Judo Championships and continued his dominance by winning the World Championships five more times in 1979, 1981, 1983, 1985, and 1987.
In addition to his success in the World Championships, Yamashita also won the gold medal in the men's judo heavyweight division at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, USA. He is the only judoka to have won five World Championships and an Olympic gold medal.
Yamashita retired from competitive judo in 1987 and went on to become a coach and commentator for the sport. He was also appointed as a professor at Tokai University, where he currently serves as the director of the university's judo program.
Yamashita's legacy as a judoka and coach is unparalleled, and he is widely regarded as one of the greatest judokas of all time. His innovative techniques and exceptional skill have inspired generations of judokas around the world, and his name will always be remembered in the sport's history.
About Robert van der Walle.
Robert Van der Walle is a retired Belgian athlete who was born on September 12, 1961, in Ghent, Belgium. He was a successful athlete, particularly in the field of gymnastics. He represented Belgium in several international competitions and was a three-time medalist at the Olympic Games.
Van der Walle competed in three consecutive Olympic Games for Belgium, starting in 1980 in Moscow, where he finished in 10th place in the individual all-around competition. He went on to compete in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, where he won a silver medal in the men's team all-around event. Four years later, at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, he won a bronze medal in the same event.
In addition to his Olympic success, Van der Walle also won several medals at the World Championships and European Championships. He was particularly successful on the horizontal bar, winning the World Championship in the event in 1983 and the European Championship in 1985.
After retiring from competitive gymnastics, Van der Walle became a coach and served as the national coach of the Belgian gymnastics team from 1997 to 2001. He also worked as a sports commentator and analyst for Belgian television.
Van der Walle's success in gymnastics helped to raise the profile of the sport in Belgium and inspired a new generation of Belgian gymnasts. He remains a respected and admired figure in the Belgian sporting community.
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