Video of past weekend event is on Youtube. Just type in the search box:
European judo open Odivelas men 2017. Day 1 and 2 on 3 different mats. New rules were into effect. Many throws that were yuko in the past are now Wazari. Would like another perspective. 81K champ Victor Penalber(BRA) really showed off his throwing skills. Nick Delpopolo fought in 81K and lost his first match by ippon. Very tough moving up in this weight. So many former players with excellent throwing skills and new players with excellent stamina for Nick to compete against. Will be a tough road for sure.
These guys are so good, and atheletic.
Nick is 28 yrs. old and 81K is a brusing brkt. You better be able to throw with ippon to hang with these guys. Penalber's throwing skills are are good as there is. Have to see how he does against top ten in 81K. Paris Grand Slam Feb. 11/12 will be a good measure for him. It will be hard for Nick to get ranking in 81K. These players are so much bigger than him. Wang(KOR) (28 yrs. old) had some success moving up from 73K but he was former World Champion and Olympic Silver medalist. He didn't qualify for Rio Olympics and retired.
Nick Triton has fought him a bunch of times he told me. One of the AM-CAN's a couple years ago I attended had NIck D. signing autographs. Many parents were reluctant because of the weed charge to approach his table.
I think this is like a second chance for Nick to maximize his judo "star" power to move on to his next career after judo is done at the Olympic level.