Newaza was on full effect at the Upper Austria Grand Prix
Jack Yonezuka continues to prove he is getting closer to the top of the -73kg category. Yonezuka went 4-1, taking each of his wins by pinning each of his opponents in Newaza. This not only marked his first medal on the Judo World Tour, but also the first U.S. male to medal at a Grand Prix in two years!
He kicked off the day following a bye in the opening round pinning Luca Otmane (FRA) in the third minute of competition for waza-ari. Headed to the round of 16, Jack went to Golden Score against Karim Abdulaev (UAE). Exhausting his opponent, Yonezuka was once again able to secure the pin. Losing his next match of the day, Yonezuka then made quick work of Vinicius Ardina (BRA) in the repechage, with a pin in the opening minute. In the bronze medal match, Jack kept his foot on the gas pinning Koen Heg (NED) in the first exchange.
It has been made to note the increasing importance of strength in the Newaza. Neil Adams and Sheldon Franco-Rooks have made it known that when facing a ne-waza specialist, your first reaction is to not go on the floor, for obvious reasons. However, you escape once, twice, and sometimes three times, it can be exhausting for you. Jack was a perfect example of such. He pinned all four of his opponents and never let his opponents settle. Always looking to find work on the ground.
This past weekend, during our Members Only Live Session, Jimmy Pedro spoke heavily about the importance of strong Newaza for American Judokas. To Put it bluntly, to win internationally from the United States, you need to have strong Newaza. He also went into depth on the technique and strategy of the Newaza turnover Jack Yonezuka has been using to find the pins in competition.
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Jack Yonezuka now has himself in prime position to earn a spot at the Paris Olympic Games in June. His performance pushed himself to #15 in the Olympic rankings, where the top 17 in each weight category earn a berth to the Olympic Games. Of course, there is always more work to be done. Congratulations Jack!
