Olympic Judo Gold Medalist, Satoshi Ishii Plans to Compete at the 2016 Olympics -- For Team USA
by Anton Tabuena on Sep 10, 2010 1:35 AM EDT
in Asian MMA News
Email
Print
Satoshi Ishii, a Judoka and MMA fighter, has brought several accolades for his home country of Japan. He won the Silver Medal in the 2006 Asian Games, and on 2008, he brought home an Olympic Gold Medal from the Beijing Olympics. Since then, he has made the jump to MMA and is currently 1-1 as a professional.
On the Judo World Championships held in Tokyo, Ishii announced that he's targeting another Olympic berth on 2016, but there's a twist -- He wants to represent Team USA this time. Why? Nightmare of Battle has it:
Beijing Olympic Judo Gold Medalist and MMA fighter Satoshi Ishii announced on the 9th that he plans to return to Judo and compete in the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympics.
From now on he will train in Los Angeles and he aims at becoming an American citizen before the 2016 Olympics. The reason for that is that unlike in Japan, in the U.S. you can both be a professional fighter and compete in amateur Judo, something that is not possible in Japan.
51 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Good to hear he’s going to train state side full time. It will definitely benefit him as a fighter in the long run.
"If the commission would sanction it and Dana would move, I’d fighter Anderson right now."
- Chael Sonnen at the post fight press conference following his loss to Anderson Silva.
Support independent artists
http://worldisart365.blogspot.com/
by Worldisart on Sep 10, 2010 1:05 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
If he's truly serious in trying to get an Olympic berth,
He might have a hard time balancing his Judo and MMA careers though,
by Anton Tabuena on Sep 10, 2010 1:09 AM EDT up reply actions
Somewhere Shinya is weeping uncontrollably and setting fires.
What's this war in the heart of nature? Why does nature vie with itself? The land contend with the sea? Is there an avenging power in nature? Not one power, but two?
by Kwisatz Haderach on Sep 10, 2010 1:23 AM EDT up reply actions
but that normal for him anyway...
Semper Fi'
WatchKalibRun.com
Pain don't hurt...
by RolloTomasi on Sep 10, 2010 1:25 AM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
fuck yoooooooou dolphin!
the following two things are signs of weaknesses:
stay silent when it's needed to speak up, and speak up when it's needed to stay silent.
The real question is that if he fights in the UFC someday
will people start “USA!” chants to support him?
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
by pdl on Sep 10, 2010 1:17 AM EDT reply actions 6 recs
I think it would be funnier if Ishii, a US Olympian, fights for the UFC, then the crowd ignorantly cheers ‘USA’ to support his opponent.
by Anton Tabuena on Sep 10, 2010 1:20 AM EDT up reply actions
I could see that
" and the U-S-A chants start up again in support of a confused Tim Hague"
by John Nash on Sep 10, 2010 3:19 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions 2 recs
Ever sence this happened,
Tim’s been constantly confused.
Semper Fi'
WatchKalibRun.com
Pain don't hurt...
I'll focus on the positive here
He must have really liked his extended visit to the U.S. last year. There’s definitely very positive and quite negative aspects to America, and I’m glad he got to see our better side.
Yea or he picked a place where they would actually allow him to go to the olympics because Japan won’t allow professional athletes to compete.
“Japan,” or the Japanese Olympic Committee had no problem letting their professional baseball players compete so I seriously doubt that’s it. It may just be a cultural thing where doing MMA in addition to judo is frowned upon by the judo world. I do know sumo regulations are downright draconian, they’re not even allowed to take endorsements.
Its the judo federation of japan that wont allow him.
Those dudes are old school and strictly amateur. They wont allow him to be compensated and also still compete in amateur judo.
by destructivist on Sep 10, 2010 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions
In the end it’s the same difference, he will compete for the US purely based on the fact that they will allow him to do so and continue to fight/train MMA too. Wheaties, the breakfast of opportunist.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with that
He wants to do two sports at once, so he wants to go to a country where that’s okay. He’ll be contributing to America as a member of our national team and as a productive citizen, and he’ll benefit in return. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. A lot of athletes compete in the Olympics through loopholes that allows people to represent a country they’ve never even set foot in, just one that their parents are from. How do you think Greece managed to field a baseball team when Athens hosted the Olympics? Ishii on the other hand is looking to become a full-fledged citizen, and not for the 2012 games but for the 2016 games. It’s not even guaranteed he’ll be able to become a citizen that fast because of how long the process takes even for an athlete. He’s dedicating quite a bit towards this, and I can find no fault in his actions.
wata ediot
i hope he does not get his citizen card he is letting his counrty down wata tool
Really?
Did you not read above and realize Olympic athletes do this all the time? It doesn’t surprise me a bit. I don’t know if you’re an American or not, but if you are, than this is the best thing that could’ve happened to American Judo. We (U.S. of f’in A.) have a gold medalist, which I believe the U.S. has never had, helping our future Olympic competitors.
"I fight because I can’t sing, I can’t dance, and it beats working all day. Now ask me a question that doesn’t sound so fucking stupid." – Phil Baroni
Ishii says a lot of stuff, so I’m taking this with a grain of salt. If he does compete, it will be a big eff-you to the All-Japan Judo Federation, who tried to keep him from entering MMA in the first place.
So i guess to put this into context
This could also be considered his reply to sengoku’s offer of a fight at SRC15. I was kinda looking forward to seeing him compete, too bad.
by destructivist on Sep 10, 2010 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions
I think he’ll still compete at SRC 15. He’s even talking about dropping to 205.
by Chris Nelson on Sep 10, 2010 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Still waiting
for teddy riner to announce his MMA debut.
believe he won gold the other night
but i can’t confirm yet because i haven’t had a chance to watch the fights.
by Ronnie Liddle on Sep 10, 2010 4:44 AM EDT up reply actions
Yes he won in the HW div
That mean he is 4th time Judo World Champion (HW/OW)… and he is 21…
Next monday he’s gonna fight in the open weight.
If he win, he ll be the first Judoka to ever win 5 World championship.
I'm not a huge fan of...
1) Fast tracked citizenship applications just so a country can snap up another Sports Star
2) Moving countries and not representing your “real” home country
But I can see where he’s coming from… with the restrictive rules on pro/amateur fighting that are mentioned above.
And yes, having him would be good for USA Judo, partly due to the medals but also having him around for others to learn from and train with. Strength in (quality) numbers and all that.
I don’t agree with your second point, sometimes people move to other countries for good reason, and if they are to live in that country they should definitely become a citizen IMO.
the following two things are signs of weaknesses:
stay silent when it's needed to speak up, and speak up when it's needed to stay silent.
Came here to say this, but I'll add this
Walking the line between intelligence and ignorance since 1985
@deowade
by Damon O. on Sep 10, 2010 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions 7 recs
That would be awesome if Judo gets more recognized in North America, I didnt know a whole lot about it till I tried it a year ago and now I am hooked.
by SilverNBlackZach! on Sep 10, 2010 10:58 AM EDT reply actions
Possibly Amercia's first Olympic gold medal in judo?
The Japanese Judo Federation (JJF) can’t be to pleased to hear this
surely they arent.
But it’s their own fault. That is not how it will be construed in the japanese media im sure. but trying to steer the guy away from MMA didnt help them and now they suffer the consequences.
by destructivist on Sep 10, 2010 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Bloody Elbow
Related FanShots on Bloody Elbow
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
MMA Rankings
