On Thu, 21 Apr 2005 23:21:52 +0000 (UTC), mtfester@netMAPSONscape.net
brought down from the Mount tablets inscribed:

>Al <al@privacy.ne.jp> wrote:
>> <mtfester@netMAPSONscape.net> wrote:
>> [...]
>>> [...] He
>>> grabbed my little fingers and started twisting. Now, this is illegal in
>>> judo, but not uncommon (though illegal) in BJJ, so suddenly I was in my
>>> happy place; the rules are really more "guidelines".
>> [...]
>>> He refused to work out with
>>> me after that, and started complaining LOUD that I was "too rough"
>>> (moi?) He started to complain to his coach, who started laughing at him.
>>> First, his coach told him not to grab fingers if he doesn't want to be
>>> beaten up.
>> [...]
>>> Anyway, afterwards, several people told me that grabbing fingers is very
>>> common among Japanese judoka.
>
>> So that guy's coach (also Japanese, ne?) knew exactly that grabbing your
>> finger was what got him in trouble, so i think this "grabbing fingers is
>> very common among Japanese judoka" line is rather lame... ;-)
>
>He didn't say that. Several people who've fought tournaments in Japan
>said that. The coach thought the whole thing was funny.
>
>> Can you clarify for me how i should interpret your comment "Now, this is
>> illegal in judo, but not not uncommon (though illegal) in BJJ [...] the
>> rules are really more 'guidelines'"?
>
>Pretty much as it is written. BJJ rules are quite frequently merely
>there to guide a ref through a difficult decision, rather than being
>something to be upheld at all costs. As an example, I overheard the
>following snippet in a discussion at a tournament: "Yes, everybody
>knows it was illegal, but he tapped, so what can you do?"

That reminds me of a story told by a major league umpire in one of the
books he wrote about his career after his retirement.

He was working second base at a game and on one particular play a
player slud into second base safely, only to be met with a loud call
of "SAFE!"....accompanied with the hand gesture for "OUT!"

The player jumped up and asked "What the hell is this?!"

The umpire said "Look, *you* know you're safe. *I* know you're safe.
30,000 people think you're out. You're out." and sent the player to
the dugout.





--

Michael Cash

"Clowns to the left of me and jokers to the right, Mr. Cash.
Clowns and jokers."

                                Prof. Ernest T. Bass
                                Mount Pilot College