Kuwait City, Kuwait, March 29, 2022: Yemeni coach Mustafa Khousrof eagerly leaned forward on the mat as former Olympic gold medallist and two-time world champion Udo Quellmalz demonstrated choking techniques at the Kuwaiti Judo Federation gymnasium in Sabah Al Salem on Tuesday, March 29.
“This is a rare opportunity to study from one of the best in the world and I want to learn as much as possible so I can help other coaches, and my club, back home,” says an excited Khousrof.
Six of eleven Shime-Waza, or choking methods, were displayed on a screen as International Judo Federation referees instructor Quellmalz took the group of more than 30 coaches and referees through their paces at the Olympic Council of Asia special development project.
From the sleeve-wheel strangle to the trunk strangle and the one and two-handed chokes, the participants from 12 NOCs in West Asia lapped it all up religiously.
“It is not every day that you get this chance to learn from an Olympic and World Champion. For me being here is like a dream come true,” gushes Nur Aburamilah, one of two coaches from Palestine.
Quellmalz, a 7th Dan judoka and gold medallist at the Atlanta 1996 Olympics and world champion in 1991 and 1995 is highly impressed at the enthusiasm shown by his class.
With the help of a willing translator – “my Arabic is limited to Shukran,” says Quellmalz apologetically – the German gets the message across succinctly.
“When I came here I was told I would have to do both theory and practical lessons. I find it hard to talk for more than an hour, and I decided that all my classes would be practical and at the gym.
Demonstrating techniques is better to get the word across to both coaches and referees. I can show coaches how to do it the right way as well as inform referees what to watch out for,” explained Quellmalz.
Khousrof, whose cousin Ali Khousrof represented Yemen in the 2012 London Olympics and finished 17th in the men’s extra lightweight division, is not content to just listen. He stands up and makes his way forward to ask Quellmalz to clarify a point.
“This is what I want, everyone to be more interactive. I’m very happy that he came up and asked me if this was the right way to do it. This is the only way you learn, by asking questions,” said an approving Quellmalz.
