Able-Bodied Seamen
When the crewmen of the Japanese freighter, Kowa Maru are not swabbing down decks, chipping away paint or insulting the cook they usually sleep or occupy themselves with various hobbies. But for 10 of the crew there is little restful relaxation, for all are judo experts. The Kowa Maru, sailed from Lyttelton last week after a stay of five days, but because of work the judoists were unable to visit any gymnasiums in Christchurch for matches against local belt holders.
A small Bst 31b second dan black belt holder, Teruhiko Nagata, said that he regretted that they were unable to visit the various judo clubs in the city. In Auckland recently several of the crew had been to the Southern Cross gymnasium in Ponsonby for training. Nagata said that Auckland black belt holders held their own against the Japanese who had not done as much training as they liked because of their duties at sea. In a match at Auckland, Nagata, who looks almost frail, was too good for a 131 stone Dutchman, a brown belt holder, which is a grade below a black belt.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19590917.2.192.11
Bibliographic details
Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29002, 17 September 1959, Page 19
Word Count
187Able-Bodied Seamen Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29002, 17 September 1959, Page 19
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Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Christchurch City Libraries.
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