Had to wait a couple of hours for the update, but, heh — a few minutes ago, judo legend Shohei Ono just won the -73kg gold, with a beautiful throw.
The kicker: he was totally playing the harder game.
The kicker: he was totally playing the harder game.
https://twitter.com/ejames_c/status/1419441048040869890
At the 2016 Olympic games, where he won gold, he said: "I wanted to prove that a lightweight judoka like me could fight with a decisive, dynamic, strong and beautiful style of judo."
Beautiful means ippons. Not penalties. olympics.com/tokyo-2020/en/…
Beautiful means ippons. Not penalties. olympics.com/tokyo-2020/en/…
But Ono is a generational talent.
Most top Judo players have 3-5 techniques they can use at the top level. This means that you can deny them usable grips (which is what Takato did to Yang in the 60kg mens final) to render them ineffective.
Most top Judo players have 3-5 techniques they can use at the top level. This means that you can deny them usable grips (which is what Takato did to Yang in the 60kg mens final) to render them ineffective.
https://twitter.com/ejames_c/status/1419443044886056961?s=20
Ono has like 8-9 techniques. He's frankly unstoppable. No matter what grip you try to deny him, he has attack options.
So, yes, he can choose to play the harder game. He can choose to go for the big scores. And that's why, I guess, he's a legend.
So, yes, he can choose to play the harder game. He can choose to go for the big scores. And that's why, I guess, he's a legend.
(This is the last Judo thread I'm posting for a bit. Unless, urm, Teddy Riner wins the +100kg category. In which case you're going to get an earful from me, because that's absolutely unbelievable. (Riner is older, and he's been defeated only once in his entire career.))
Last one for fun: this is Ono throwing Riner at a training camp. (Riner weights 140kg or 300 pounds; Ono is 73kg/160lbs).
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