Hello viewers -- I am the actual Pete Zajkowski from this match. Wow -- this is the first time I've been able to view my match against Jason from long ago. The video plays out pretty much like I remember it. Prior to this match I hadn't seen any of Jason's matches. As I watched this video, I'm terribly embarrassed by my own technique: straight legs, bent over at the waist -- awful. All season I relied on double-leg takedowns; mind boggling that I went upper body with Jason. He sure can throw!
I hope somebody told you Morris was already a high level Judoka, competing against international opponents I believe, when you competed. I thought you did rather well even being caught. Of we can look back and see you cold have drilled him with some lower doubles or tackle-stye like you probably did, or even super-low ankle attacks. But it's not easy when you're actually out there. You couldn't have been to shabby to get that far. Section five had some real tough dudes mid-eighties (and other years of course), and you were one of them. When you get to that final match, I imagine it must make people wrestle very differently sometimes. Just making it to the finals of smaller tournaments made me sometimes wrestle out of character. I never made it to states, having always needed a bit more polish in every area, and missed my freshman year after being looked at as a decent junior high wrester (going 18 and 1). I was explosive and had funky balance that made the top four guys in my section (4) awkward with me, and their coaches told my coach they felt relieved to get past me... but I just couldn't beat them so nobody cares now LOL. Our program was seemingly always "rebuilding" or not even aware of our troubles following the 1970's. Something was goofy about those days, looking back at when I was a little kid wrestling. Lots of focus on strength and not many people trying out for wrestling... mostly hanging out behind schools smoking instead. I was an '86 grad so section 4 was just starting to come around, the area not being very tough since the 50's. Then in the 90's they were sending up a lot of champs again. I also have some of these NYS finals videos from "our" years, and wondered who else out there had them. Interesting to hear from you dude! Take care.
Hi - lasvegasloner said "When you get to that final match, I imagine it must make people wrestle very differently sometimes." -- For me, yes. I was a little star struck that I was wrestling in such a large venue. But, the bigger factor was that when I walked out onto the mat I was already really proud of my accomplishment of having achieved being a "finalist". In other words, I didn't put myself in the mindset "to go for #1" or to "battle to the death" as I should have. Again, I was proud being a "finalist" because I hadn't expected to ever have the kind of successful season I'd had that senior year -- Prior to my senior year I yielded 50% win/loss records year after year. But, in my senior year, I changed my focus away from trying to win and instead focus on being a better wrestler; I put all of my focus on moves and counters. I learned to view competitions as an extension of practices which removed the "stress/anxiety" of winning/losing. So, I never truly established a goal to be a state champion; ending up in the state finals was an unexpected yet awesome reward all in itself. The cool thing about my approach to wrestling during the season was that I told myself "any move an opponent uses against me is a move I can counter, a move I've seen/beaten in practice." That philosophy worked for 99% of my matches; Jason reflected the 1% that exploited my blind-spot. Prior to the match with Jason, I was given zero knowledge of his *unique* abilities, AND I'd never seen nor wrestled anyone like him. Jason completely caught me off guard. His throws had me thoroughly confused (I'd never been thrown before and no one ever attempted to throw me). I suppose if I'd sustained the match with a "killer instinct", along with better execution, I would have at least put on a better showing; don't necessarily think I would have beaten him. In the end, I recommend that wrestlers should learn from other combative disciplines: Judo, freestyle, greco roman, mixed martial arts. (BTW: For anyone reading this post, check out James Clear's article "Forget about Setting Goals and Focus on This Instead". jamesclear.com/goals-systems . )
I feel so sorry for poor Pete every time he has to stand up and get thrown back down. Don't be too hard on hm, he was fighting a future five time Judo Olympian, Olympic Judo SIlver medalist, and World Campionship Judo Bronze medalist.
Remember the old HS weight classes? 145, 155, 167, 177, and then.....215! My boy used the throw down with 225's who cut down, he was maybe 188 after a trip to the buffet. Ridiculous. 160, 170, 182, 195, 220 is much, much more sensible.
Hello viewers -- I am the actual Pete Zajkowski from this match. Wow -- this is the first time I've been able to view my match against Jason from long ago. The video plays out pretty much like I remember it. Prior to this match I hadn't seen any of Jason's matches. As I watched this video, I'm terribly embarrassed by my own technique: straight legs, bent over at the waist -- awful. All season I relied on double-leg takedowns; mind boggling that I went upper body with Jason. He sure can throw!
Very humble of you to post this! Do you still wrestle?
I hope somebody told you Morris was already a high level Judoka, competing against international opponents I believe, when you competed. I thought you did rather well even being caught. Of we can look back and see you cold have drilled him with some lower doubles or tackle-stye like you probably did, or even super-low ankle attacks. But it's not easy when you're actually out there. You couldn't have been to shabby to get that far. Section five had some real tough dudes mid-eighties (and other years of course), and you were one of them. When you get to that final match, I imagine it must make people wrestle very differently sometimes. Just making it to the finals of smaller tournaments made me sometimes wrestle out of character. I never made it to states, having always needed a bit more polish in every area, and missed my freshman year after being looked at as a decent junior high wrester (going 18 and 1). I was explosive and had funky balance that made the top four guys in my section (4) awkward with me, and their coaches told my coach they felt relieved to get past me... but I just couldn't beat them so nobody cares now LOL. Our program was seemingly always "rebuilding" or not even aware of our troubles following the 1970's. Something was goofy about those days, looking back at when I was a little kid wrestling. Lots of focus on strength and not many people trying out for wrestling... mostly hanging out behind schools smoking instead. I was an '86 grad so section 4 was just starting to come around, the area not being very tough since the 50's. Then in the 90's they were sending up a lot of champs again. I also have some of these NYS finals videos from "our" years, and wondered who else out there had them. Interesting to hear from you dude! Take care.
Hi - lasvegasloner said "When you get to that final match, I imagine it must make people wrestle very differently sometimes." -- For me, yes. I was a little star struck that I was wrestling in such a large venue. But, the bigger factor was that when I walked out onto the mat I was already really proud of my accomplishment of having achieved being a "finalist". In other words, I didn't put myself in the mindset "to go for #1" or to "battle to the death" as I should have. Again, I was proud being a "finalist" because I hadn't expected to ever have the kind of successful season I'd had that senior year -- Prior to my senior year I yielded 50% win/loss records year after year. But, in my senior year, I changed my focus away from trying to win and instead focus on being a better wrestler; I put all of my focus on moves and counters. I learned to view competitions as an extension of practices which removed the "stress/anxiety" of winning/losing. So, I never truly established a goal to be a state champion; ending up in the state finals was an unexpected yet awesome reward all in itself. The cool thing about my approach to wrestling during the season was that I told myself "any move an opponent uses against me is a move I can counter, a move I've seen/beaten in practice." That philosophy worked for 99% of my matches; Jason reflected the 1% that exploited my blind-spot. Prior to the match with Jason, I was given zero knowledge of his *unique* abilities, AND I'd never seen nor wrestled anyone like him. Jason completely caught me off guard. His throws had me thoroughly confused (I'd never been thrown before and no one ever attempted to throw me). I suppose if I'd sustained the match with a "killer instinct", along with better execution, I would have at least put on a better showing; don't necessarily think I would have beaten him. In the end, I recommend that wrestlers should learn from other combative disciplines: Judo, freestyle, greco roman, mixed martial arts. (BTW: For anyone reading this post, check out James Clear's article "Forget about Setting Goals and Focus on This Instead". jamesclear.com/goals-systems . )
interesting comment! from sweden.
That's the beauty of wrestling. It's both mental and physical. Some guys rise to the occasion and others don't.
I feel so sorry for poor Pete every time he has to stand up and get thrown back down. Don't be too hard on hm, he was fighting a future five time Judo Olympian, Olympic Judo SIlver medalist, and World Campionship Judo Bronze medalist.
very clear cut judo very good match
@Marla Shidster cool you like, many years ago
Cool.
@Marla Shidster I never got a boner,
@Marla Shidster doing mma
🤣🤣🤣
well dont feel too bad... i mean he did become a 4 time olympian and a silver medalist in the olympics.. and an all american wrestler..
technique beats strength.
I didn't Judo Techniques Were Allowed in Wrestling matches
Zajkowski got in deep on some of these shots and i thought he would finish but that morris composure and judo are increadible.
Remember the old HS weight classes? 145, 155, 167, 177, and then.....215! My boy used the throw down with 225's who cut down, he was maybe 188 after a trip to the buffet. Ridiculous. 160, 170, 182, 195, 220 is much, much more sensible.
How many times I watched that match Saitiev wrestled the same
Did he sneak in a bent armbar/"cop lock" at 4:44 ?
3:29 uchi mata from their single leg
these kids look like they wrestlin greco
Andre Antoine - In Greco you are not allowed to use your legs. Almost all of Jason's Judo throws, sweeps and trips very much utilize his legs.
Вот вам и дзю-до.
505.
Watching video of your self is always going to be bad!