I have this website bookmarked on my computer and it is called stumble. Every time you click the button a new website pops up. You also have the option to choose which topics you want the browser to search. As I was on it today, there were some photos that I came across that were from Shibuya, Japan. It reminded me of when I went to Japan in 2008 with the team from Guam to compete in the Asian Open.
The Asian Open was the first big tournament that I had ever competed in. JT Torres came out a few days before we left and he stayed with us. We got some good training in and he got acclimated to the weather/time before we headed out to Japan. We brought a fairly big team with us that year, and I know this year, 2009 they had at least 30+ guys. It’s nice to have such a large group going to international tournaments and competing. Now only if we could get a group that big to make it down to Brazil. In about 2 weeks, there is a large group of guys from Team Lloyd Irvin heading out to Europeans! That will be exciting, I can’t wait to see what happens!
I was only 1 of 2 females who went along on the trip to compete. This year 3 of the Purebred/Lloyd Irvin girls went and competed. The day before the tournament, we got to train at Purebred Omiya which was really neat. When we arrived at the Purebred Academy in Omiya, it was nice to see that they had a Team Lloyd Irvin sticker right there on the front door. They welcomed us with open arms, and let us train as long as we wanted.
We stayed at an awesome hostel Asakusa, and being that we had so many teammates, we took up the whole floor. The food was great and so was the sight seeing. We went to this bathhouse that was awesome, I am wishing I was in it right now to soak my back in. They had these vending machines that sold hot coffee, cocoa, and this corn soup in a can! These vending machines were also about 15 ft. away from one another, they were everywhere, oh and not to mention all of the crepe stands!
All together the trip was great! I won my division and lost my second match in the absolute. Mike Fowler won the absolute division, fighting Marcos de Souza in the finals. The team took 3rd place overall. This year the team won 1st place overall! It was an honor to train and compete in the Land of the Rising Sun. Also, to see where the martial art originated from. If you have never been there, I would recommend taking a trip, and also try to fit in some Brazilian JiuJitsu training as well.
Budokan, Where the Asian Open was held
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