Hamilton Judo Club - Texas Road Trip 2009

The Hamilton Judo Club lost part of our judo family when Marc, Kathy, Mackenzie, & Zach Bland moved to the Dallas/Fort Worth area in 2008. Marc's work brought him to Ohio and he was relocated to his home state of Texas. They were active members of the club for nearly 4 years. Before leaving, we talked about coming to Texas to compete so we could see the Bland's. Sensei Frank Herzog, Sensei Denver Gray, & Yudansha Jeff Perkins were not bluffing and headed to the Lone Star Classic.

Needless to say, the Bland's were more than gracious hosts

and entertained us from the time we arrived on Thursday to leaving Sunday morning. We started off on Thursday with Judo practice at the Fort Worth Judo Club with Sensei Tommy Dyer. They run a great practice with a large junior and senior class. We met Sensei Bill Nagase on Thursday night and realized that Sensei Gray is not the oldest active judoka in the United States (more to follow on Sensei Nagase).

Friday was spent in Fort Worth at the Stock Yards. They literally run the cattle smack down the middle of Main Street in the morning with cattle horses, cowboys and all. We ate at Joe T's and literally had the entire table covered in food. Marc learned it is not a good idea to eat at Joe T's prior to weigh-in!

Saturday was the Lone Star Classic. Kathy chose not to compete and show her superior technique but we felt it was due to the large amount of college age competition in the female division. Marc and Jeff both placed 3rd in their divisions. Mac & Zach both competed in a large junior field and did very well. Sensei Gray continued talking with Sensei Nagase and made arrangements to have dinner with him.

Sensei Nagase had quite a history and it was an honor to spend the afternoon with him. Sensei Nagase was luckily a failed kamikaze pilot (twice he was welded into an airplane but due to the shortage of parts, the aircraft couldn't be started). He is a retired aeronautical engineer who worked with the U.S. Air Force after World War II and assisted with the U.S. Air Force Judo program. He was one of the founding members of judo in Texas in the mid 1950's and was a national champion in 1955. Make sure and check out the picture of Sensei Nagase with Sensei Herzog & Sensei Gray. Sensei Nagase's sensei was taught by Sensei Kyuzo Mifune. The judo book and red belt in the picture were presented and signed by Sensei Mifune to Sensei Nagase for his promotion.

The trip came to a close with an early plane trip on Sunday but without a doubt, none of us could have imagined the trip being such a great memory. Judo is great exercise, wonderful for our competitive nature, but most of all, it makes friends for life.