2018 San Francisco CC Invitational

Both boys, Isaac and Luke, participated in this Judo Tournament in City College of San Francisco (CCSF).  This is Luke's debut for a Judo Tournament.  Luke just turned 6 years old in 5 day prior to this tournament and he was placed in a 6/7 year olds, Yellow-White belt division with 5 other kids.  He did not win a match this time, but did very well.  Luke had apprehensive face before his very first match, which reminded us Isaac's very first tournament.  Isaac was placed in 9/10 year-old,  Orange/Yellow.  He finally beat an Orange belt, although he had a poor match against another yellow belt, which placed him in the 2nd place in the pool . 

Baseball Weekend!

Both Isaac (Competitive league-AA) and Luke (Recreational League-Farm A) had a baseball game this weekend.  Luke's Farm A is one notch above T-Ball level and one notch down from Farm B.  Isaac's AA is the entry level of competitive league.  Both of them did great.  Isaac pitched on this past Thursday for 2 innings allowing 3 runs.  He did not pitch on Saturday because of the amount of pitch he made, but produced 3/3 hitting results, Single, Double, and Triple!  Luke also hit the ball thrown by his coach without using a T.  *When kids cannot hit a ball thrown by a coach, T is used as assistive device.  No one gets strikeout in Farm A.

2018 CUPERTINO JUDO INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT

Isaac participated in "2018 CUPERTINO JUDO INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT " today with his buddies of Oakland Judo.  There were 7 kids from the club and it was fun to hang out as a team. 
It was a great day for Oakland Judo Kids.  Everyone got some sort of significant achievement, first win in a official tournament, 1st Gold medal, and such.  Isaac also proven small progress in this new age group in his WT class, although he did not win the 1st place.  He was placed in the 3rd place with 1 win and 2 losses in the 10/12 year-old, While/Yellow, belt, 92 to 96# division.  He fought much more aggressively against 12 year-olds compared to before, although he lost both matches against 12 year-old kids.  He started realizing about his weakness and bad habits during a match.  Keep working Isaac, you will eventually catch up these guys. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1_STf6ihFA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc2E3tcRQHM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewmuScWbTGE

  

More Activities!

2nd Trip to Soda Springs this Winter.  This time, there was no Mommy.  Just Daddy and brobros.  (2/24/2018)

2018 San Jose Judo Tournament, Isaac was in a 4-kids pool, 10-11 year-old, 92-102#, White/Orange division.  He was in the 3rd place with 1 win and 2 losses.  He has never had a medal in this tournament these past 2 years.  Not the best result, yet, it is improvement.  (2/11/2018)

Luke is riding a scooter on the slight downhill. 

Luke's very first baseball game at NOLL/SOLL Farm A (1 notch above T-Ball). 
(3/10/2018)

First Ski Trip in 2017/2018 winter!

Unlike last winter, the snow condition is not as good.  We were planning to make a ski trip in this past December, but there was not snow!  So, this is the 1st ski trip in this snow season and Luke's 2nd ski season.  I decided to take Luke to the bunny hill instead of putting him in the class.  He was fearless and came down the hill by him self at end of the day, although he still needs help for getting up/down to/from the lift.  It was great seeing both boys making progress on the snow.  I hope we can make 2 more ski trips in this season.

Isaac and Luke's activity summary

Isaac and Luke have been participating in various sport actively and Daddy is too lazy to document every single one of them separately.  So, there you go.  Luke has joined Oakland judo officially, although he has not participated in any tournament.  He is saying that he will when he turns 6 years old.  We have to see if he will be matured enough to do any tournament in 6 months.  Isaac has been a strong contender for the yellow belt division, but still having difficulty against higher ranked opponents.  Isaac continues semi-competitive soccer in which he loved defending the goal.  Luke continues recreational soccer.  Isaac also continues playing baseball.  He has a lot of potential in baseball evidenced by striking most of hitters out when throwing as a pitcher, although he thinks that he is more talented for playing soccer.  Luke will be starting his first baseball season in 2018 spring.  We are not sure that he will be in T-ball or Farm A.  We will see.  They have been swimming at YMCA in any weekend possible and skiing when the weather permits.

 

Luke practices one of basic skills in Jodo, "Shrimp".  He is doing pretty good. 

AA Fall ball 2017, 1 RBI by hitter Isaac. 

Luke is making a goal assisted by the coach Jack.  

Isaac 1st place and his buddy, David 2nd place in the 8/9 year-old Yellow/White belt division at the East bay invitational Judo Tournament. 

Isaac with his friends from Oakland Judo.

Isaac 1st place and his buddy, David 2nd place in the 8/9 year-old Yellow/White belt division at the Hanabi Judo Tournament, just like East bay invitational Judo Tournament! 

Japan 2017

Flying out of SFO at 4pm was a very nice departure.  Both Isaac and Luke had a very good flight and both of us, mommy and daddy, were somewhat relaxed.  I guess they are growing and getting used with a long flight.  Flying into Haneda airport is also plus because of closer distance to Jiji/Baba (Grandpa/Grandma)'s house when compare to flying in to Narita airport.  One hour bus ride from the Haneda airport got us to Grandparents' house. 

We used grandpa's car and took a trip to Atami.  The hotel, in which  we stayed had wonderful hot spring style outdoor bath, gourmet dinner/breakfast, and wonderful  ocean view.  It was only 2 hours away from Tokyo and we really enjoyed. 

Fuji-san, Mt Fuli, shows on on the way to Atami.  It was a cool view. 

Isaac's favorite restaurant in Japan is GUSTO, which is equivalent to Denny's in the US, although menu is. of course, very different.  

Isaac and Luke rejoined to Machida Judo Club and Isaac participated in the local single elimination style tournament in the last weekend in Japan.  The biggest difference between Japanese judo and American Judo is grouping of kids.  In US, a pool is formed with kids with similar weight (more less within 14#) and similar rank, whereas kids in Japan are placed in a same pool based on their grade, no matter how heavy/light they are and what belt color they have, unless they had a black belt.  Anyway, the pink highlight is Isaac on the chart.  Although he was eliminated in the first match, he displayed aggressiveness and never give-up spirits against a greenbelt opponent (Isaac possesses Yellow belt, which is 4 rank lower than Green belt).  Moreover this Green belt went to the final and ended up the over all 2nd place with very controversial loss.   Many people though he won the final. 

Isaac's Match on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGasZ4yzIBs

In the last week in Japan, we invited Isaac's friend in the block, Miku, Akari, and Mayu for FIREWORKS in the small backyard.  We dont' get to do this in the US, so Isaac and Luke were enjoying so much. 

Luke entered the preschool he was in last year.  He had the same teacher from last year and enjoyed going the preschool so much.  He was called Kaoru (his Middle name) in Japan. 

This was Isaac's 4th experience in the Tsukushino elementary school.  His friend, Lea-Miyu, from NY also came back for her 4th year.  They have been together in the same class for 4 years and we hope that they will be in the same class again. 

On the way to to the US from Haneda airport.  The flight departed around 7pm, which was really nice.  We hope that JAL will not change this schedule and we can visit Japan with these flight for the next summer!  Sayonara Japan.