Buchard wins at -57kg in Guadalajara

At the Guadalajara Grand Prix, Amandine Buchard (FRA) continued to show she could do well in the -57kg division. In the recent Lima Grand Prix, she had made it all the way to the final, where she lost to her teammate Faiza Mokdar. In Guadalajara, it was also an All-French affair in the final but Buchard had a different opponent, and this time, it was she who was triumphant. 


She started off well, throwing Jessica Lima (BRA) with her favorite drop kata-guruma for ippon. Next up, she threw Renata Ortiz (MEX) twice with kata-guruma, for yuko and waza-ari.

Her semifinal match was a bit controversial. Things were going according to plan, with Buchard throwing her opponent Acelya Toprak (GBR) with drop kata-guruma for waza-ari and yuko. Then at around the three-minute mark, Toprak threw Buchard with hikikomi-gaeshi which was initially scored a waza-ari. But slow-motion replay showed that Buchard had hooked Toprak’s right leg with kouchi-gake just as Toprak was executing the throw. Since Toprak landed on her back, ippon was given to Buchard.

Buchard’s final was against teammate Ophelie Vellozzi, who obviously knew her very well. Still, Vellozzi could not stop Buchard’s kata-guruma assault. Buchard threw her twice, both times for yuko, with her favorite technique.

It’s interesting to note that all of Buchard’s opponents were right-handed. Buchard’s kata-guruma is best suited to be used against left-handers however, she has show that she can now do her kata-guruma even against extreme right-handers.