Bosnian Open

On 12th of March 2005 large international jujutsu championship took place in Brcko District, Bosnia and Herzegovina. This "Bosnian Open Cup" was organized and hosted by the Academy of Martial Arts under Bosko Vidovic sensei from Brcko District. National teams from Slovenia and Serbia took part, alongside with several clubs from Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as two clubs from Croatia. There were some 150 competitors from Slovenia, Sarajevo, Brcko, Celinac, Doboj, Zadar (Croatia), Gunja (Croatia) and Serbian clubs from Pozarevac, Petrovac, Sabac, Novi Sad and Backi Jarak.

This competition was conducted under rules of JJIF, with national and international referees from Slovenia, Bosnia and Serbia. There were cadets, juniors and seniors categories in Duo System, and junior and seniors male and female categories in Fighting System. The best in almost all Duo system categories were competitors from Slovenia. In Fighting categories the best were Slovenian, Croatian and Bosnian fighters. Probably the best technical performance was seen from fighters from Zadar Ju-Jitsu Club, headed by Roman Ivanov sensei. Their competitor Vedran was the most outstanding fighter of the event, winning two golds in heavyweight and super-heavyweight categories.

Serbian National team was composed of 13 competitors from Backi Jarak, Novi Sad, Sabac, Pozerevac and Petrovac. Biljana Ilijevska from Shinbukan Dojo Pozarevac won gold in Fighting system, after an outstanding performance. She also won silver medal in Duo system-mix-juniors, with Milan Dadasovic from Shinbukan Dojo. Milan Dadasovic and Ljubomir Bjelajac from Shinbukan Dojo won silver in Duo System in senior category. Youngest Duo System competitors Filip Zivkovic and Nikola Gavrilovic from Sabac won bronze medal. Also, one bronze went to Novi Sad in super heavyweight category to Radovan Obradovic. With these 5 medals, Serbian National Team placed 5th in general score amongst 9 other teams. Not bad for such a small squad. We hope for better results in the future with participation of competitors from Sremska Mitrovica (Ajhinger, Nikolovski, Trivkovic, Bešic, Precep and Pandurevic), Zemun-Belgrade (Jovanovic, Drobnjak, Ignjatovic, Oklobdzija), Kula (Tesic) and other Serbian Ju-jutsu clubs.

This tournament was well organized by the Academy of Martial Arts and Bosko Vidovic sensei. One single (but worrying) shadow over the whole event came from too many injuries, caused by several reasons. It is unanimous feeling by all coaches that the JJIF rule of allowing haito uchi is very inappropriate. This circular open hand strike caused several knockdowns, eye injuries, larynx strikes and even bloody noses. Also, referees were allowing certain techniques which are still not well defined in JJIF rules, such as jumping kicks, jumping hand strikes, makikomi throws, etc. Doctor was called to tatami on almost every fight (even several times during one match) and it is definitely time to make some changes in JJIF rules, which will provide safer conditions for all competitors.

Next larger competition for Serbian jujutsu sportsmen and their friends from ex-yugoslavian countries is planned in May 2005, on "SERBIAN OPEN".

Biljana Ilijevska (red belt) from Pozarevac, Serbia, winning gold in light divission

Sebastijan Senekovic (Slovenia) and Darko Trailovic (Serbia) in action