Genki Koga can expect resistance of Chkhvimiani in Tbilisi

The All-Japan Weight Class Championships typically serve as some kind of Japanese trials for major events, such as the World Championships or Olympics (Japan usually qualifies more than one player per weight class for the Olympics so they will still need to select).

But are they really trials for such events? “Only if the right player wins,” quips one Japan-based commentator, who notes that over the years, there are winners of the All-Japan’s who didn’t get selected.

One such player is Genki Koga, the son of the late, great Toshihiko Koga. In the -60kg final of this year’s edition that he defeated Naohisa Takato with a superbly-timed foot-sweep for ippon.

Yet, it will be Takato who is going to the World Championships.  Well, he is after all an Olympic and three-time World Champion. In contrast, Koga has yet to win an IJF World Tour event.

Over the years, Takato has proven himself to be very good at dealing with unconventional fighters from Eastern Europe. Their unorthodox gripping and pick-ups don’t faze him at all.

Koga, who doesn’t have that much international experience, will have to fight in a playing field full of Eastern European players, including Lukhumi Chkhvimiani of Georgia, a former World Champion.

Tblisi will be a good opportunity for Koga to prove that he can take on the best of what Eastern Europe has to offer and prevail.

Unlike his father, who very much preferred the throwing game, Genki is something of a newaza specialist. He is capable of doing many newaza moves including chokes, armlocks and sankaku techniques.