USJA Coach - Judo Information Site

By l^arry MoyermanEvery four years Jewish athletes ofthe world converge in Israel for theMACCABIAH GAMES, now thesecond largest sporting event in theworld. Over 5,500 athletes, coaches,and officials from 53 countriesparticipated in the 1.5th Games held]uly 14 - 24 n the State of Israel.They came to Israel for pomp,friendship, competitiory and as ittumed out, tragedy. At the openingceremonies, a bridge collapsed just asthe Austrian and Australiandelegations were crossing it toapproach Ramat Gan Stadium. Over45,000 people were in the stadiumgwaiting the delegations and opening.Yeremonies. The next team in line towalk over the bridge was the large600-person United States delegation.It was truly a sad day - threeAustralian athletes lost their lives in amishap that should never havehappened. The following day a verytouching memorial service was heldin true athletic and Maccabiah spirit.The Australian delegation voted tocontinue at the games andcompetition began the next day.Judo competition was held at LevHaPrk in Ra'Nananaon on ]uly 16and 17. Thirteen countries wererepresented among the Z0 male and37 female competitors. It was thebest judo competition since 1.9g5.Russia, LaVia, and the Ukraine: presented what used to be the'\USSR, and from Europe and SouthAmerica came the Austrian, Swiss,Argentinean, Brazilian and Mexicanathletes. Add to that the athletes fromCanada, South Africa, the USA andthe host country, Israel, and the mixwas set for great competition.Female competition was set with fourcountries involved. Israel capturcd 17of 21 medals. But disturbing theirgold medal sweep was a young ladyfrom Canada - Olia Berger. Herfather, the Canadian Maccabiah coach,was an Olympic medalist for Canadain 1984. Olia soundly defeated allopponents in the 72+ weight class toeam the only female gold medal otherthan those of Israel.The men's competition came down toRussia v. Israel in most categories.The exception was the 85 kg whereUSA Dmitry Lisenenkov faced NewZealarrd's Robert Levy in the final. Toget to the final, Dmitry faced MilenFin from the Ukraine, who quietlyscored awazari on Dmitry early butwas tossed for ippon later. ThenDmitry finished off Israel's numbertwo pla reached the final after a verycontroversial match with Israel,snumber one player, Yacov Daabol(who defeated American MichaelBuxbaum in the second round).Everyone seemed to think Levywould defeat Dmitry except Dmitryand the USA team. It took 32 secondsfor Dmitry to throw Levy in a classicswitch for an ippon.T wo otherAmericans competed in bronze medalmatches. Yosef Arabeyev and MarkKompheyets competing at 65 kg and78 kg respectively, fought Brazil'soEl$"*'t^$&'"Sharon Jchenberg and Switzerland,sDavid Signos. Unfortunately, bothlost by ippons to settle for fifth place.Israel's Guy Fogel - 65kg, Gil Offer -78k9, and Erik Zeevi- 95 kg, allaccomplished European players, wontheir weight classes. Gil Offer at 28kg defeated a tough young Latvian -Vladimer Monov - by ippon in hisfinal. Zeevi beat Switzerland,snumber one player, George Bak, byippon to take the 95 title.' Russiatook the remaining weight classes at60 and 95+. Tengu Dzgvrichilli, g5+,and Laroslav Kleinman,50 kg, bothwon.Team competition proved to be thehighlight of the two days. pool Ahad Israel facing Argentina, with thewinner squaring off with South(continued onpage 15)Chuong thu Fatildamontaft(continued from page 8)t9st, getting a student prepared forbrown belt, a sleepover discussed atthe end of a clasi (remember, kids DOremember every little thing thatsounds like fun). Freeing your mindand finishing your goals buildingsgoodness and makes more sense astime becomes a factor.IN SLJMMARY. Fun and friendsbuild truth; focus builds beauty;freeing your mind and finishintgoals builds goodness. Havingyourexperience in teaching children is notdifficult, it just takes time! Timecannot be bought, it must be earned.Teaching children must be sincere orelse time will feel like an eternity.Once the feeling and understandingof the principles are grasped, aninstructor will realize that teachingchildren is an art and one to cherish