LaJust EBP used at Australian Youth Olympic Games Selections
LaJust Electronic Body Protectors were used at the recent Youth Olympic Games Selections, in Melbourne. Held at the Aqualink in Box Hill, the tournament was a small affair to select fighters in the age range of 15 and 16 years old to compete in Singapore YOG next year.
Western Australia was represented by 3 referees and fondly enough, only two fighters. The field of fighters were mostly Victorians, and to have 2 from WA out of 39 was okay. From memory, there were no fighters from Queensland.
Kennedy Blowfield’s division had 5 fighters, and being unseeded – Kennedy had to go through an elimination bout to enter the round-robin stage. Unfortunately, Kennedy’s first opponent (although also unseeded) appeared solidly built and almost a head taller than Kennedy. With the LaJust system, prior to each match, players must test out the system by kicking and scoring on the EBP with their feet; usually with 3 roundhouse kicks, 1 to the front and 1 to each flank. It was amazing how easily the point came up during the testing phase. During the middle of the match, it appeared to be a different affair on whether the EBP registers a point or not. Even with solid kicks, some accurate and some not, Kennedy walked away with fewer points and unable to enter the next phase of the selections. Better luck next time, Kennedy! (or should I say preparation?)
Teiha Gorton was the other WA representative. With only 3 in her division, she had a total of 2 fights and walked away with 2 wins to earn her Gold and a place with the YOG team. Congratulations and well done!
Going further with the LaJust EBP system, it would appear that it may not be necessary to purchase foot and hand gloves quite yet. To be able to compete in these international events using the LaJust system – you MUST use their branded, custom foot socks. The socks have the sensors embedded on them to be able to register points with the EBP. At this event, they were sold at weigh-in for $60 a pair.
The version of the LaJust sysem hired at this event was not the most up-to-date and hence, no hand-gloves (with sensors). I’m sure that when that reaches us, players would more likely be inclined to purchase these too.
From observation, the Lajust system’s method of scoring is just like that discussed in the EBP forum articles. I had a look at the minimum force-impact required by the players to score in this tournament. Given their weight, age and gender – the minimum levels ranged from the low 60’s to the high 60’s. I basically saw something like 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66. So, not too much difference required between the categories.
What was surprising however, was the force recorded when a score came up. Sometimes, there would be some really solid kicks landing on the EBP and no scores being registered. But who can dispute a binary decision? The electronic system will score a point if the sensors pick up a signal to indicate that contact has been made between the foot-sock and the EBP, AND that the minimum force-impact has been met. When there were no scores, there was also no way to see the impact level.
However, when a score DID come up, the force-impact level would be displayed ever so briefly (maybe a second) at the bottom of the corresponding players score line. I don’t have pictures; so imagine looking at the scoreboard with the 2 big numbers for the score. There’s a big blue number and a big red number. Just directly underneath these numbers, the impact level is displayed in a much, much smaller font.
Watching several fights from behind the main computer screen, I could see some of those levels popping up just as the score changes. Many were around the 80’s and 90’s and once in a while I’d see a whopping 180+ impact! It’s a bit unfortunate that the 180+ impact was awarded 1 point, the same reward as an attack that registers 80.
Not so long ago, an extra point would be awarded to a player if he kicks and scores so powerfully that the referee has to start counting-out the other player. Maybe they will adopt something similar? 66+ scores 1 point and 200+ scores 2 points? That may make it a bit more interesting.
Additionally, in conversations with the people who brought the LaJust system to the event, it would appear that the front-push-kick and side kicks are quite effective in scoring. The fighters at this event, though, hardly used enough of them for any clear observation to be made regarding those techniques. The foot-socks sold at weigh-in appeared to be the more updated version with plenty of sensors on the sole of the foot – so really, those techniques should have scored well. Some back-kicks were quite effective in scoring the point and earning the additional (turning) point bonus.
So maybe, if we can get our hands on one of these systems – we could test it out to see which techniques score more readily with the least amount of effort. So until then, we can only imagine.
Roy Khoh says:
December 14th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
Just so I’d remember, Box Hill is Asian central of Melbourne.
As in, oriental asians. That’s what I’ve been told by a friend, anyway; and I definitely noticed that there was a large proportion there in Box Hill.
LaJust EBP used at Australian Youth Olympic Games Selections … Law just to Me says:
January 2nd, 2010 at 1:08 am
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