Tag Archives: Ladislav Kende

Family, Martial Arts

Martial Arts • Photo Restoration • 44 • Košice Judo

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• Throughout the 1960’s, both the men’s and women’s judo teams in Košice were far more cohesive than the opposition. During competition they routed for each teammate with far more enthusiasm and passion. It was partially due to their deep routed friendships. Perhaps it was also due to the financial and physical hardships they shared. The team members spent a lot of time on trains – Košice is situated at the extreme East of Slovakia (Czechoslovakia at the time). So traveling from Košice to any tournament was lengthy and taxing. A trip to Prague was over 700 km and took over 11 hours. They would typically travel on overnight trains, and compete the day they arrived. A sleeping car was out of the question, because it was too expensive. An overnight train meant sitting on benches in a cabin that would hold up to eight people. The judoka learned to sleep on overhead luggage racks, or in creative places where there was a chance to stretch out. Friendships survived decades, including post-emigration, and continue to be strong today. Members often participated in many extra-curricular activities, such as hikes, camping, or going to the movies. Many teammates were best friends –  Karol Dusil, Pepo Vosecky, and Igor Fridrich were closest to my dad.

• Lokomotíva Košice was the rail company’s sport club. In the communist system, state factories sponsored various sporting sectors. So Lokomotíva had a sports organization spanning over 20 “oddiels” (translated as “sections” or “divisions”) – these oddiels were in judo, wrestling, boxing, European football, handball, basketball, etc. One perk for the judoka was relatively cheap travel costs. For instance, an express train ticket from Košice to Prague in the 1960’s would cost only 20 Czechoslovakian Koruna (around $1 American dollar in today’s exchange rate). That same retail ticket today costs €54 ($76 US$).

• Košice Judo

If you missed previous posts on Košice Judo, you can find them here:

• Digital Photo Restoration

• 3 minutes 56 seconds

58 - Košice · Vaclav Dusil (boxing gloves)
58 – Košice · Vaclav Dusil (boxing gloves)

• My dad tried his hand at boxing before seriously taking up judo. When I was a kid I  remember watching Mohammad Ali on television, with my dad growing up.  I also had the privilege to accompany my dad to the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, Ontario, Canada. We attending judo and boxing events.  I later learned that Larry Holmes had fought in one of them.

 

• 4 minutes 46 seconds

60 - Košice · Igor Fridrich, Miro Brozek, Juraj Mazanek, Berco Allman, Vaclav Dusil, Adolf Kostrian, Jozef Lemak, Šterc, Jozef Arvay, Csaba Kende, Pepo Vosecky
60 – Košice · Igor Fridrich, Miro Brozek, Juraj Mazanek, Berco Allman, Vaclav Dusil, Adolf Kostrian, Jozef Lemak, Šterc, Jozef Arvay, Csaba Kende, Pepo Vosecky

 

Article - Judisti Lokomotívy Košice nepostúpili
Article – Judisti Lokomotívy Košice nepostúpili

• 4 minutes 13 seconds

60 - Košice · Juraj Bialko, Edo Novak, Csaba Kende, Igor Fridrich, Joe Nalevanko, Vaclav Dusil
62 – Košice · Juraj Bialko, Edo Novak, Csaba Kende, Igor Fridrich, Joe Nalevanko, Vaclav Dusil

• This is the men’s Lokomotiva Košice team. In one tournament, Edo Novak scored a spectacular Ippon against the Czechoslovakian Champion Norbert Pomp using a Ura Nage judo throw.

 

• 5 minutes 50 seconds

 

63 - Košice · Honorary Trophy by the City of Košice
63 – Košice · Honorary Trophy by the City of Košice

• Standing (left to right) – Karol Dusil, Edo Novak, Csaba Kende, Mr. Gonda (secretary of the Lokomotiva Košice Sport Club), Ing. Robert Binder, Pavel Petrivalsky, Juraj Bialko, Dusan Halasz • Lower row (left to right) – Robert Dusil, Vaclav Dusil, & Joe Nalevanko

• Robert Binder was the founder of Slovak Judo in Bratislava in 1954.  According to my uncle, he was a fantastic person and a great help to Lokomotiva Košice, and in the development of Košice judo.  He “belted” my uncle from yellow to brown. Joe Nalevanko coached Slavia Košice, the second Košice Judo team, consisting of mainly engineering students, but Lokomotiva Košice also retained him.

 

• 3 minutes 32 seconds

65 - Split · Vaclav Dusil, Dusan Halasz, Miro Brozek, Vlado Makovsky (Judo Tournament in Slovenia)
65 – Split · Vaclav Dusil, Miro Brozek, x, Vlado Makovsky (Judo Tournament in Slovenia)

 

65 - Split · Pepo Vosecky, Miro Brozek, Vaclav Dusil, Vlado Makovsky (Judo Tournament in Slovenia)
65 – Split · Pepo Vosecky, Miro Brozek, Vaclav Dusil, Vlado Makovsky (Judo Tournament in Slovenia)

• In 1965 my dad, Pepo Vosecky, Igor Fridrich, Vlado Makovsky and Stefan Bartus went to Split, Croatia (Yugoslavia at the time). They attended a judo tournament, competing in both individual matches, and five-member team competitions. In the spring of 1967 Lokomotíva Košice men’s team went to Leipzig, East Germany for another judo tournament and a reciprocal tournament was held later that year in Košice.

• Documents & Articles

Article - Šikovní chlapi
Article – Šikovní chlapi
Article - Noví majstri v judo
Article – Noví majstri v judo
Article - Najlepší oddiel Lokomotívy Košice Judo
Article – Najlepší oddiel Lokomotívy Košice Judo

 

• Tags

Adolf Kostrian, Andrej Collak, Anna Collakova, Berco Allman, Csaba Kende, Czechoslovakia, Darina Poprenakova, Digital Restoration, Dusan Halasz, dusil.com, Edo Novak, Gabriel Dusil, Hluchan, Igor Fridrich, Ivan Spisak, Janosik Bastam, Joe Nalevanko, Jozef Arvay, Jozef Grusecky, Jozko Lemak, Julia Tothova, Juraj Bialko, Juraj Mazanek, Karol Dusil, Košice, Ladislav Kende, Lokomotiva Košice, Maria Collakova-Korytkova, Michal Korytko, Miro Brozek, Nyarjas, Orendas, Pavel Petrivalsky, Pepo Vosecky, Pista Oravec, Pozemné Stavby, Robert Binder, Robert Dusil, Sano Drabcak, Slavia Košice, Slavia Žilina, Slavo Sykorsky, Slezan Opava, Slovak Judo, Stefan Bartus, Ura Nage, Vaclav Dusil, Vašek Dusil, Vinohrady Bratislava, Vlado Babilonsky, Vojtech Agyagos

 

65 - Split · Vaclav Dusil, Miro Brozek, x, Vlado Makovsky (Judo Tournament in Slovenia, thumbnail)

 

 

Family

Family • Photo Restoration • 28 • Taci

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• Our nickname for my dad came about when I was a toddler.  I wasn’t able to pronounce “Tati” – Slovak for “Dad”. The best I could do was “Taci”, pronounced “Tat-see” so it stuck for everyone among the extended family. I had many miss-pronunciations throughout my childhood. They were never corrected and became part of my household vocabulary. It eventually became a problem when we visited other friends of my parents. I was around eight years old when we visited a Czech family and I asked the lady if I could “pikat”.  She looked at me with confusion, and I repeated the request. I started to get nervous as she still didn’t understand me. So I said in English if I could please have a drink. To my horror she laughed uncontrollably, and said something along the lines of, “chceš niečo pit? (Do you want something to drink?)” Suddenly, with this one mistake it occurred to me that my Slovak was terrible, and I would barely speak a word of Slovak until my mid-20’s when I moved to Prague, Czech Republic.

• My dad died 35 years ago today. I miss him tremendously.

I love you, Taci

Home - Signature, Gabriel Dusil ('12, shadow, teal, Gab)

 

 

• Technical Notes

• I don’t like scratch removal solutions provided by scanners. Even though they offer a quick-fix in removing unwanted damage, I find that it degrades the overall image significantly in the process.  My methodology is to always preserve as much detail and texture in the photo as possible, and manually manipulate the images in Adobe Photoshop instead. Even though I sharpen the images, the process will never restore lost data (contrary to what we see on CSI TV shows). Sharpening results in an increase of grain, but I prefer grain over a blurry image.

• My approach is to scan all images without any fancy correction tools, and make the corrections on a pixel by pixel basis in Photoshop.  In some cases I will add content around the edges in order to correct composition issues. I will also paint detail that may be completely damaged. I call this “digital restoration with creative license”.  The entire process requires a lot of patience, but at the same time, while I am restoring the images, I feel that I am apart of that moment in time, and that makes the work more adoring.

• Taci

If you missed the other Taci posts, you can link to them here:

• 1960 • Barca, Slovakia • Vaclav Dusil

60 - Barca · Vaclav Dusil (Graduation photo from Poľnohospodárska Technická Škola)
60 – Barca · Vaclav Dusil (Graduation photo from Poľnohospodárska Technická Škola)
60 - Barca · Vaclav Dusil
60 – Barca · Vaclav Dusil

 

• Prior to matriculation (graduation) from the agricultural middle School in Barca (now a part of Košice), students had a mini-scientific conference.  My dad won the first prize, and in this photo he is presenting his findings.  In the background is one of his teachers.  My mother graduated from the same school.

• Postscript from my Mom • 2014 September • We commuted by streetcar, which took about half an hour. Taci would be around 18 years old in this photo.  This high school was focused on veterinary studies. The table is covered with velvet, so it must have been a special event.

 

Article – Prečo Práve Poľnohospodárstvo

 

67.Apr.9 - Košice · Document, Vaclav Dusil (Veterinary Medicine, class photo)
60.Jun – Košice · Document, Vaclav Dusil (High School class photo)

 

• 1965 • Łysa Polana, Poland • Vaclav Dusil

65 - Łysa Polana · Vaclav Dusil (Polish Customs)
65 – Łysa Polana · Vaclav Dusil (Polish Customs)

 

• 1966 • Brussels, Paris, Amsterdam • Vaclav Dusil

• 5 minutes 26 seconds

66 - Paris · Vaclav Dusil
66 – Paris · Vaclav Dusil
66 - Amsterdam · Vaclav Dusil (harbor)
66 – Amsterdam · Vaclav Dusil (harbor)
66 - Brussels · Vaclav Dusil (Atomium)
66 – Brussels · Vaclav Dusil (Atomium)
66 - Paris · Vaclav Dusil (statue)
66 – Paris · Vaclav Dusil (statue)
66 - Brussels · Vaclav Dusil (car)
66 – Brussels · Vaclav Dusil (car)

 

• My dad went on a trip to Amsterdam, Brussels, and Paris in the summer of 1966. These are a selection of photos from that trip. I still have the leather jacket that he has on in these pictures.

 

• Tags

Andrej Collak, Anna Collakova, Attila Kende, Csaba Kende, Darina Poprenakova, Digital Restoration, Dusil Family, dusil.com, Edo Novak, Erika Dusil, Eva Dusil, Gabriel Dusil, Ivan Spisak, Iveta Kende, Juraj Bialko, Karol Dusil, Kende Family, Ladislav Kende, Maria Collakova-Korytkova, Maria Dusilova, Michal Jr, Michal Korytko, Nyarjas, Orendas, Pepo Vesecky, Robert Dusil, Robert Dusil sr., Slavo Sykorsky, Stefan Kende, Vaclav Dusil, Valeria Kendeova, Vera Kendeova

 

 

66 - Paris · Vaclav Dusil (thumbnail)

Family, Gabriel Dusil

Family • Photo Restoration • 27 • Kende

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• Introduction by Eva Dusil • Editing by Gabriel Dusil • 2014 November

• My mother always instilled in me the need for a good education. She wanted me to have an education in home economics. In those days, my mom couldn’t conceive of a woman attaining a university education. During the socialist era, the importance of serving the greater good was valued above individual needs. My mother believed that secretaries would always be needed in the workforce, and that was her job after World War II. Many woman from that era felt their place was in the home. The fact that she had a job was even frowned upon by the old establishment. In a way, my mother was ahead of her time. Low wages paid by the socialist state drove most women into the workforce after the second world war, to earn the badly needed secondary income for the family.

• Socialism promised to make everyone’s life easier. But as time went on it was clear that was not going to happen. As a child I even believed in the propaganda. I watched my mother toil late into the night after she finished at the office. I spent much of my time helping her. She was a tiny woman, eternally bent over due to scoliosis. Because of her ailments her body aged prematurely. I only remember my mother with platinum white hair. I grew up fearing that she would die at any time. I don’t remember her smiling a lot, and she certainly never laughed. Her face concealed any happiness she may have experienced as a young girl.

• I would constantly bring home stray cats from the yard across from our house. Even though we hardly had food, my mother always find something to give them. She would give me one Koruna (around 5 cents today) to go to the butcher’s store and buy the cheapest meat – usually the spleen. She would cook it and I would feed it to my four legged friends. I’d even go to the school cafeteria and ask them for leftovers so I could feed them. I’d spend hours in that yard just watching the strays scavenging and playing. My mother eventually came to understand my love for animals.

• My father was an intellectual, who also wrote poetry in his spare time. He tried to write plays, but that didn’t quite pan out. He was an antiquarian – an scholar of old books – one of only three experts in Czechoslovakia. We had access to a wide array of books that most people did not. We were all avid readers and literature was certainly my second love. If I wouldn’t have become a veterinarian I probably would have worked with books in some capacity. The cultural sector, as it was called, paid the lowest salaries, so only the love for his job kept my father immersed in his profession. Unfortunately my father did not pass his expertise onto us, which was a pity. But I am thankful that he instilling in me the love of arts, literature, poetry, and opera.

• Kende

If you missed the previous posts on Kende, then click on these links:

• Digital Photo Restoration

• 9 minutes 56 seconds

47 - Košice · Eva Kendeova
47 – Košice · Eva Kendeova

• Postscript from Gabriel Dusil • Isn’t my mom so cute, at two and a half years old?  The major challenge in this photo was recovering touch-ups done by the photographer – It was a common method of “enhancing” the photos back then.  You can see in the restoration video that when I zoomed in to her face, the eyes and eyebrows had been accented by ink pen.  The challenge is to reproduce what is underneath. I’m not an artist, so I don’t quite have a grasp of manually reproducing facial features.  Thankfully, my mom is an artist, so over Skype we hashed out what I needed to do. Eventually we got the eyes and mouth just right. Thanks Mamička. Love you ♥

 

48 - Košice · Eva Kendeova & Valeria Kendeova
48 – Košice · Eva Kendeova & Valeria Kendeova
49 - Košice · Kende family
49 – Košice · Kende family (Csaba, Valeria, Eva, Stefan, Attila)
49 - Košice · Kende family (portrait)
49 – Košice · Kende family (Stefan, Valeria, Eva, Csaba, Attila)
65 - Košice · Eva, Attila & Csaba Kende
65 – Košice · Eva, Attila & Csaba Kende

• Postscript from my Mom • 2014 October • This photo was taken at Krmanova 3, Košice on the day of Attila’s wedding to Anka.

 

• 9 minutes 40 seconds

71.Apr.7 - Košice · Kende Family (Stefan Kende's birthday)
71.Apr.7 – Košice · Kende Family (Stefan Kende’s birthday)

• Postscript from Eva Dusil • 2014 October • This is a family photo, taken on my father’s 71st birthday. From left standing: my uncle Csaba Kende, Ladislav (Lacko) Kende, my aunt Marta Kolos, Anka Kendeova, and Attila Kende holding Tomas Kende. Sitting, Valeria Kendeova, Ingrid Kende, Iveta Kende, Stefan Kende, my cousin Zsusanna Kolos holding Peter Kende, Viera Kende holding Richard Kende.

• 3 minutes 31 seconds

71 - Košice · Aci, Anka, Iveta, Valeria, Tomas, Petr & Stefan Kende
71 – Košice · Aci, Anka, Iveta, Valeria, Tomas, Petr & Stefan Kende
72 - Košice · Valeria & Stefan Kende (audio recording)
72 – Košice · Valeria & Stefan Kende (audio recording)
71 - Košice · Valeria & Stefan Kendeova (passport photo)
71 – Košice · Valeria & Stefan Kendeova (passport photo)
71 - Košice · Csaba, Ladislav, Valeria, Viera, Ingrid & Stefan Kende
71 – Košice · Csaba, Ladislav, Valeria, Viera, Ingrid & Stefan Kende

71 - Košice · Aci, Anka, Iveta, Valeria, Tomas, Petr, Stefan Kende (premiere pro)

Family, Gabriel Dusil

Family • Photo Restoration • 8 • Kende

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• Introduction by Eva Dusil • Editing by Gabriel Dusil • 2014 October

• My mother, Valeria Kendeova, was the shining light in our family. I sometimes wonder where her strength and vision came from, since most of her life she suffered ill health. My mother contracted scoliosis as a teenager. This was due to malnourishment while attending private school in Budapest. When she came home for the summer holidays her mother noticed she had bowed legs, due to the onset of rickets. Valeria told her parents that she was always hungry at boarding school, but they didn’t believe her. Malnutrition at the school later manifested into scoliosis. The curvature of my mother’s spine worsened when she started to work as a clerk – sitting all day at a typewriter. The fact that my mother had a job was considered an achievement. Most women in post-war Czechoslovakia were homemakers. Valeria’s employment was further challenged by the fact that her Slovak wasn’t very good. Her mother tongue was Hungarian, and she also spoke German fluently. My mother also learned French while attending boarding school in Belgium. When the grandchildren were born my mother’s nickname became “Nanika”. This is from the Hungarian, “nagymama”, or grandmother. My mom was the one that guided me to getting a good education, and to strive for post-secondary studies. She allowed me to be independent.

• My father, Stefan Kende’s nickname was “Nadapi”, for the grandchildren. This was taken from the Hungarian “nagyapa”, or grandfather. My father wasn’t involved in nurturing me. Maybe it was different for my older brothers – Csaba who was twelve years my elder, and Attila was seven years older. Stefan had a reputation as an intellectual in our community. He worked as an antique book expert in Czechoslovakia – one of only three experts in the country, who would appraise old books throughout the state. This service was mainly for private libraries, collectors, and antique stores. My father was also a champion chess player – certainly one of the top ten best players in Czechoslovakia. Stefan would finish work at 18:00, come home for supper, then go to the café at Hotel Slovan to play chess. Nadapi played with a group of friends for one koruna per game (about five Canadian cents in today’s exchange rate). With their colorful game commentary they entertained onlookers. He also played in regional and national chess matches. He was a well known chess champion in Košice.

• Kende

If you missed the previous posts on Kende, then click on these links:

• Digital Photo Restoration

• 6 minutes 17 seconds

• 5 minutes 55 seconds

• 5 minutes 25 seconds

 

69.Dec.24 - Košice · Valeria & Stefan Kende
69.Dec.24 – Košice · Valeria & Stefan Kende
70.Apr.7 - Košice · Stefan Kende's birthday
70.Apr.7 – Košice · Stefan Kende’s birthday

• Postscript from my Mom • 2014 October • This photo was taken on my father’s 71st birthday.

 

70.Dec.24 - Košice · Valeria & Stefan Kende
70.Dec.24 – Košice · Valeria & Stefan Kende

 

70 - Košice · Valeria & Stefan Kende
70 – Košice · Valeria & Stefan Kende

 

70 - Košice · Stefan Kende, Valeria Kendeova
70 – Košice · Stefan Kende, Valeria Kendeova

• Postscript from my Mom • September 2014 • This is a photo of my Mom and Dad, taken in Kosice, at their home on Krmanova 3, Kosice, shortly after we emigrated to Canada.

 

71.Jul - Košice · Stefan Kende
71.Jul – Košice · Stefan Kende

 

71 - Košice · Stefan Kende
71 – Košice · Stefan Kende
71 - Košice · Valeria & Stefan Kende
71 – Košice · Valeria & Stefan Kende
73 - Košice · Stefan Kende
73 – Košice · Stefan Kende
74 - Bardejov · Stefan & Csaba Kende (Bardejovské Kúpele)
74 – Bardejov · Stefan & Csaba Kende (Bardejovské Kúpele)

 

 • Tags

Anka Kendeova, Attila Kende, Csaba Kende, dusil.com, Eva Dusil, Eva Kendeova, Gabriel Dusil, Hotel Slovan, Lacko Kende, Ladislav Kende, Marta Kolos, Nadapi, Nanika, Richard Kende, Stefan Kende, Tibor Kolos, Valeria Kendeova, Zsusanna Kolos

 

73 - Košice · Stefan Kende (thumbnail)

Family, Martial Arts

Martial Arts • Photo Restoration • 4 • Košice Judo

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• In the 1960’s, Slovak judo clubs were not good enough to advance to the Czechoslovakian league. The Czech’s already had a standardized belt promotion (white, yellow, orange, green, blue, brown and black belts) and a relegation system.  For this reason Slovakia began to set up a separate league in 1967, in order to improve the quality of their teams. Fighters advanced their skills faster when they fought someone at their own level (or slightly higher), rather than an opponent that who would completely dominate them on the mat. Eight Košice clubs organized their own league: Lokomotiva Košice, Slavia Košice, Slávia Prešov,  Lokomotiva Zvolen, Slavia Žilina, Vinohrady Bratislava, Pozemné Stavby Bratislava and Martin. At a regional level, Košice dominated men’s judo in Slovakia, and had one of the best women’s team in Czechoslovakia for several years. In forming their own league, Košice gained a lot of experience, since each team fought an opposing team at least three times. Their plan to narrow the gap between Czech and Slovak judo was gradually accomplished throughout the 1960’s and early 70’s.

• During his military service in Opava, Czech Republic, from 1961-63, my uncle had an opportunity to fight for the Slezan Opava team in the Czechoslovakian Team Championship (Slezan Opava were part of the official Judo League of Czechoslovakia). He received special permission from the army to train with a civilian club because the military owned sport clubs in virtually every sport.  He returned as the first black belt in Košice judo with a wealth of experience. Csaba Kende, my father and his younger brother were awarded their black belts (Shodan) shortly afterwards.  In 1968, my father was one of the first to get his 2nd degree black belt (Nidan).

• Then came the Warsaw Pact invasion, where approximately 500,000 Russian troops invaded Czechoslovakia, on the night of 20–21 August 1968, and within one year nearly half the men’s team from Lokomotiva Košice emigrated.  Those who stayed had to re-build the Lokomotiva Košice judo club.

• Košice Judo

• If you missed the previous post on Košice Judo, you will find it here:

 

• Digital Photo Restoration

• 4 minutes 18 seconds

60 - Košice · Vaclav Dusil & Robert Dusil
60 – Košice · Vaclav Dusil & Robert Dusil

• This is my dad and his brother in their back yard, in Košice. The house is still standing, on Moyzesova in Košice, just across from the city’s main police station.  It currently houses university facilities. The Dusil’s lived behind the ornamental fence to the right of my dad. Behind them (in the dark “tunnel”, in the photo) was the main entrance to the house.  Around ten families lived there.

 

Article - Judisti sú agilným oddielom
Article – Judisti sú agilným oddielom

 

Article - Tohoročně majstrovstvá nášho kraja v Judo
Article – Tohoročně majstrovstvá nášho kraja v Judo

 

60 - Brno · Dusan Halasz, Robert Dusil, Nyarjas, Edo Novak, Csaba Kende, Vaclav Dusil
60 – Brno · Dusan Halasz, Robert Dusil, Nyarjas, Edo Novak, Csaba Kende, Vaclav Dusil

 

60 - Prague · Vaclav & Robert Dusil
60 – Prague · Vaclav & Robert Dusil

 

60 - Brno · Igor Fridrich, Nyarjas, Robert Dusil, Edo Novak, Vaclav Dusil, Csaba Kende, Dusan Halasz
60 – Brno · Igor Fridrich, Nyarjas, Robert Dusil, Edo Novak, Vaclav Dusil, Csaba Kende, Dusan Halasz

• 6 minutes 27 seconds

61 - Košice · Lokomotiva Kosice, Men's judo team
61 – Košice · Lokomotiva Kosice, Men’s judo team

• Top row – x, Dusan Halasz, x, Jozef Grusecky, Joe Nalevanko, Csaba Kende • Next row – Nyaryas, Ivan Spisak, Juraj Mazanek, Vlado Babilonsky, Pavel Petrivalsky, x • Kneeling – x, Urban, Vojtech Agyagos, Hluchan, x  • Laying: Vaclav Dusil and Robert Dusil with the emblem of the Lokomotiva Košice Judo Club.

• Ivan Spisak was the junior judo champion with my uncle, in 1961. Hluchan wanted to lead the club in the early 1960’s, during a crisis in leadership.  But he did not succeed against the three Dusil brothers.

 

• 4 minutes 12 seconds

60.May.1 - Košice · International Workers' Day
60.May.1 – Košice · International Workers’ Day

 

• This parade was for the International Workers’ Day.  The photo was taken on the main street of Košice.  The communist regime “encouraged” citizens to participate.  In other words, they were required to participate in the parade. The judo team did not attend with fellow students or co-workers, but rather as sportsmen, as it was far more fun.  My dad is holding the Czechoslovakian flag. Second from the right in Judo sweats and dark glasses is Joseph Nalevanko. Ivan Spisak is scratching his nose, and to the left of him is Dusan Halasz.

 

• Publications & Documents

68.Aug.17 - Toronto · Document, Vaclav Dusil (Judo, Nidan)
68.Aug.17 – Toronto · Document, Vaclav Dusil (Judo, 2nd Dan black belt, Nidan)

 

Article - Judo aj v našom kraji
Article – Judo aj v našom kraji

 

• Tags

Adolf Kostrian, Andrej Collak, Anna Collakova, Berco Allman, Csaba Kende, Czechoslovakia, Darina Poprenakova, Digital Restoration, Dusan Halasz, dusil.com, Edo Novak, Gabriel Dusil, Hluchan, Igor Fridrich, Ivan Spisak, Janosik Bastam, Joe Nalevanko, Jozef Arvay, Jozef Grusecky, Jozko Lemak, Julia Tothova, Juraj Bialko, Juraj Mazanek, Karol Dusil, Košice, Ladislav Kende, Lokomotiva Košice, Maria Collakova-Korytkova, Michal Korytko, Miro Brozek, Nyarjas, Orendas, Pavel Petrivalsky, Pepo Vesecky, Pepo Vosecky, Pista Oravec, Pozemné Stavby, Robert Binder, Robert Dusil, Sano Drabcak, Slavia Košice, Slavia Žilina, Slavo Sykorsky, Slezan Opava, Slovak Judo, Stefan Bartus, Ura Nage, Vaclav Dusil, Vašek Dusil, Vinohrady Bratislava, Vlado Babilonsky, Vojtech Agyagos

 

 

60.May.1 - Košice · International Workers' Day (thumbnail)

Family, Martial Arts

Martial Arts • Photo Restoration • 2 • Košice Judo

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• My father, Vaclav (Vašek) Dusil started training judo in 1958, when he was 16.  His older brother started in 1959. The youngest of the three started in early 1960.  My dad and his older brother were the stars of Košice men’s judo throughout the 60’s, although his younger brother won junior regional titles in both 1961 and 1962. My uncle admitted that he was never as good as his two older brothers, but was a reasonably good coach, and a good organizer. This is one of the reasons why my dad gave him the task of coaching the women’s team in late 1961, when the previous coach, Juraj Mazanek went off to complete his military service. My uncle was also the president of the club from 1962 to 1968, and therefore took care of most of the bureaucracy.

•  In 1962, six months after my uncle took over the task of coaching the women’s team, one of the judoka, Julia Tothova won her first gold medal for Košice, at the Czechoslovakian Championships. The following year she also won gold at the the International judo tournament in Bratislava.  This event was attended by Austrian, Italian, and Czechoslovak competitors. Julia beat the reigning Austrian champion in the finals, which became a mini-public relations sensation in their home town. Košice was an eastern Slovakian town that was considered a relative backwater compared to Prague or Bratislava. It was their women’s judo team who mostly made the headlines in Košice in the 60’s. From 1962 to 1969 they won no less than 12 individual Czechoslovakian titles plus an unofficial team title. Due to their success the club also received increased funding for the whole judo team, from the Lokomotiva Kosice “brass”. My dad won a bronze medal in the Czechoslovakian Junior Championships in 1960, which according to my uncle, should be considered at least an equivalent achievement to Julia’s gold, due to the higher level of competition on the men’s side.

 

• A Note to the Reader

• All photos in this blog can be downloaded by just clicking on them.  The images will open in a new tab in your browser, where you can then save them to your computer.  If you want an even higher quality version (if you want a high resolution print for example) then let me know, as I have the original uncompressed Tiffs.

• If you have anecdotal information related to any photos in this blog, then please send me the details, and I would be happy to add your postscript below the photos.  Just send me an email or post your comments at the end of this blog.

 

• 1961 July • Janošikova Bašta, Slovakia • Judo Team Hike

60.Jul - Jánošíky · Csaba Kende, Darina Poprenakova, Karel Dusil, x, x, x, Zuzka Dusil, Robert Dusil, Vaclav Dusil
60.Jul – Jánošíky · Csaba Kende, Darina Poprenakova, Karol Dusil, x, x, x, Zuzana Dusil, Robert Dusil, Vaclav Dusil

• This photo was taken of the Kosice Judo team during a hike in Janosikova Basta, around 20km northwest of Košice.

 

• 1961 • Košice, Slovakia • Vaclav Dusil

• 4 minutes 52 seconds

61 - Košice · Vaclav Dusil jumping over Sano Drabcak, Vojtech Agyagos and Juraj Bialko (restored)
61 – Košice · Vaclav Dusil jumping over Sano Drabcak, Vojtech Agyagos and Juraj Bialko (restored)

 

• This photo was taken inside our the training facility. Juraj Bialko won the junior championship (under 18) Eastern Slovakian Regionals in 1961 together with my uncle, Ivan Spisak and Robert Pinter.  • Sano (Alexander) Drabcak worked as a waiter when the Russians invaded on the 21st of August 1968 (just before you were born). Within hours the stores were stripped of all groceries. The only items available were spirits and wine.  My uncle had nothing for his baby daughter except for sweet tea. Two days after invasion he went to Sano in desperation, and asked for liter of milk for his baby.  Sano gave him one. A week later the food supply returned to normal. Some acts of compassion are never forgotten.

• Postscript from me • 2014 October • Of the judo photos that I have restored so far, this is my favorite.  It’s my dad in action, so-to-speak.  I love his expression, together with Vojtech’s reaction, just as my dad leaps over his back. The press photographer captured the moment perfectly.

 

• 1961 • Košice, Slovakia • Lokomotiva Košice Judo Team

• 4 minutes 30 seconds

61 - Košice · Berco Allman, Robert Dusil, Vaclav Dusil, Joe Nalevanko (East Slovak Region Judo Champions, restored #e)
61 – Košice · Berco Allman, Robert Dusil, Vaclav Dusil, Joe Nalevanko (East Slovak Region Judo Champions, restored #e)

 

• Top row – Juraj Mazanek, Miro Brozek • Standing – Vaclav Dusil, Dusan Halasz, Igor Fridrich, Csaba Kende, Jozef Arvay • Kneeling – Adolf Kostrian, Pepo Vosecky, Jozko Lemak, Jozef Grusecky

• This photo taken inside the judo training facility.  Miro Brozek was the president of the men’s judo club for many years after we emigrated to Canada in 1969.  Miro was also one of the many attendees to Csaba Kende’s 80th birthday. The men and women’s teams separated as part of Csaba Kende’s reorganisation of the club in the early 1970’s. Jozko frequently visited my dad frequently during our early years in Canada.

 

• 1961 • Košice, Slovakia • Eastern Slovakia Regional Senior Champions

• 6 minutes 38 seconds

 

61 - Košice · Berco Allman, Robert Dusil, Vaclav Dusil, Joe Nalevanko (East Slovak Region Judo Champions)
61 – Košice · Berco Allman, Robert Dusil, Vaclav Dusil, Joe Nalevanko (East Slovak Region Judo Champions)

 

• Berco Allman won gold in heavy weight (80+ kg) and Joe Nalevanko won gold in light weight for Slavia Košice (-63kg). Robert Dusil won gold in middle weight (-80kg), Vašek Dusil won gold in welter weight (-70kg), for Lokomotíva Košice. This photo was taken in front of the building which housed a room with soft wrestling mats. This is where the judoka (Judo students) also trained. The building was torn down many years ago.

• Postscript from me • 2014 October • Growing up I saw my dad’s medals, displayed on the wall, on a purple velvet covered plaque. I remember asking him one day, what his medals were for – I must have been six or seven years old.  He told me that he won them in judo competitions.  But he didn’t say much more than that.  Only 40 years later can I truly appreciate my dad’s accomplishments.

 

• 1961 • Prague, Czech Republic • Lokomotiva Košice Judo Team

61 - Prague · Sano Drabcak, Dusan Halasz, Karel Dusil, Juraj Bialko, Robert Dusil, Ivan Spisak, Vaclav Dusil
61 – Prague · Sano Drabcak, Dusan Halasz, Karol Dusil, Juraj Bialko, Robert Dusil, Ivan Spisak, Vaclav Dusil

 

• 1961 • Košice, Slovakia • Slovak Judo Team

61 - Kosice · Csaba Kende, Edo Novak, Nyarjas, Dusan Halasz, Robert Dusil, Vaclav Dusil, Igor Fridrich
61 – Kosice · Csaba Kende, Edo Novak, Nyarjas, Dusan Halasz, Robert Dusil, Vaclav Dusil, Igor Fridrich

 

Article, Ve'lká cena Košíce v Judo
Article, Ve’lká cena Košíce v Judo

 

• Publications & Documents

Article -Tentoraz aj v absolútnej
Article -Tentoraz aj v absolútnej

 

Article - Judisti v Brne na výbornú
Article – Judisti v Brne na výbornú

 

64.Oct.19 - Košice · Document, Vaclav Dusil (Judo Papers, Czech)
64.Oct.19 – Košice · Document, Vaclav Dusil (Judo Papers, Czech)

 

Tags

Adolf Kostrian, Andrej Collak, Anna Collakova, Berco Allman, Csaba Kende, Czechoslovakia, Darina Poprenakova, Digital Restoration, Dusan Halasz, dusil.com, Edo Novak, Gabriel Dusil, Igor Fridrich, Ivan Spisak, Janosik Bastam, Joe Nalevanko, Jozef Arvay, Jozef Grusecky, Jozko Lemak, Julia Tothova, Juraj Bialko, Juraj Mazanek, Karol Dusil, Košice, Ladislav Kende, Michal Korytko, Miro Brozek, Nyarjas, Orendas, Pepo Vosecky, Robert Dusil, Sano Drabcak, Slavo Sykorsky, Slovak Judo, Vaclav Dusil, Vašek Dusil, Vojtech Agyagos, Zuzka Dusil

 

 

63 - Košice · Vaclav Dusil (Regional Senior Championship, thumbnail)

Family, Gabriel Dusil

Family • Photo Restoration • 1 • Mamička

1 Comment

• In my last visit home, to Burlington, Ontario, Canada, I decided to digitally scan a selection of old family photos.  My wish is that one day, my boys and their offspring will have a high quality digital library of their family heritage. This is part of an ongoing pursuit to establish an archive of our family history, and build on the depth of work that my Mom has done with our family genealogy.  My wish is that generations that follow us, will enjoy the the efforts that we made in the preservation of their family history.  I hope to scan more photos on my next visit.  So this is just a start.

• Each month I plan to post a selection of new photos that have been restored. I also wanted to record the restoration process, so that you can see the tedious process needed to achieve a near perfect restoration. I suggest viewing the videos in high definition and in full screen (both options can be selected, using the bottom right icons in the YouTube player). Enjoy.

♥ Happy Birthday ♥ Mamička ♥

I love you,

Home - Signature, Gabriel Dusil ('12, shadow, teal, Gab)

Mamička

If you missed the other posts on Mamička, you can link to them here:

A Note to Family & Friends

• All photos in this blog can be downloaded by just clicking on them – the images will open in a new tab in your browser, where you can then right click on them and save the file to your computer.  If you want an even higher quality version (to print, for example) then let me know, as I have the original uncompressed Tiffs.

• If you have anecdotal information related to any photos in this blog, then please send me the details, and I would be happy to add your postscript below the photos.  Just send me an email or post your comments at the end of this blog.

• 1962 • Keszthely, Hungary • Eva Kendeova

 • 3 minutes 3 seconds

62 - Keszthely · Eva Kendeova
62 – Keszthely · Eva Kendeova
• Postscript from Eva Dusil • 2014 September • This photo was taken in Keszthely, Hungary in 1961, I was 16 years old. My Mom and I were at my grandmothers, where we visited every second year.

• 1962 • Košice, Slovakia • Eva, Attila & Csaba Kende

• 3 minutes 56 seconds

61 - Kosice · Eva, Attila & Csaba Kende
61 – Kosice · Eva, Attila & Csaba Kende

• Postscript from Eva Dusil • 2014 September • On my right is my brother, Attila in military uniform, 23 years old, I’m 16 years old, and my other brother, Csaba (28 years old) is on my left, photographed at my parents apartment, Krmanova 3, Kosice, Slovakia.

• 1964 • Spišská Nová Ves, Slovakia • Eva Kendeova

• 2 minutes 50 seconds

64 - Spišská Nová Ves • Eva Kendeova
64 – Spišská Nová Ves • Eva Kendeova

• Postscript from Eva Dusil • 2014 September • This photo was taken in Spišská Nová Ves, Slovakia, where there was a horseback jumping competition. On this occasion I was attending as a spectator, although my club was taking part in it.  •  Since my mother was born there, I used the opportunity to visit the villa she grew up in, where I spent a happy childhood. Beside the villa was the Haltenberger Textile factory that her grandparents owned in the 1920’s. This textile factory eventually was abandoned and in bad shape, and the business was sold by mother’s uncle Rudolf Haltenberger Jr., to Budapest around 1921-1922.  •  In this photo I am 19 years old. I am wearing a top which was very fashionable at that time.

• Postscript from me • 2014 September • I love this photo so much.  It’s currently my favorite photo of my Mom, from before we emigrated.  She is so beautiful… and still is!

• 1964 March 8 • Košice, Slovakia • International Woman’s Day • Eva & Valeria Kendeova

• 4 minutes 45 seconds

64.Mar.8 - Kosice · Eva & Valeria Kendeova (Woman's Day)
64.Mar.8 – Kosice · Eva & Valeria Kendeova (Woman’s Day)

• Postscript from Eva Dusil • 2014 September • Here I am about 18 years old.  My mother and I were attending an International Women’s Day celebration at my Mom’s workplace.

• Postscript from me • 2014 September • It’s rare to find a photo of my grandmother where she is smiling. I think this is the best one I found so far.  I really love the emotion in this photo. You can see the happiness in her eyes, and how my mom is also enjoying the moment.

• 1965 July • Keszthely, Hungary • Eva Kendeova • Jumping with a Furioso horse

 • 5 minutes 17 seconds

65.July - Keszthely · Eva Kendeova (Jumping with Furioso horse)
65.July – Keszthely · Eva Kendeova (Jumping with Furioso horse)

• Postscript from Eva Dusil • September 2014 • In this photo I am 20 years young. My Mom and I were visiting my grandmother in Keszthely, Hungary, during the summer holidays. Every time we visited, I would ride at the local stud farm. Here I am jumping the trainer’s stud. He was a really powerful horse, and a beautiful animal, from the Furioso breed.  They liked when I visited, and eventually I took part in a competition for them. Later on I represented them at a horse pageant, at a different location.

• Postscript from me • September 2014 • We often hear our parents say that they did ‘this and that’, when they were young.  As kids we don’t know the true extent of their accomplishments until we are old enough to appreciate them.  Memories may fade with time, but these photos will (hopefully) last forever. My mom was an accomplished horseback rider.  This is a great photograph of her in action.

• 1966 • Tatra Mountains, Slovakia • Eva Kendeova

 • 2 minutes 23 seconds

66 - Tatra · Eva Kendeova
66 – Tatra · Eva Kendeova
• Postscript from Eva Dusil • 2014 September • This photo is from a ski expedition we had in the Tatra mountains, organized by my university. I was in my first year of veterinary college.

• 1967 • Poprad, Slovakia • Eva Kendeova with Shagya

 • 3 minutes 3 seconds

67 - Poprad · Eva Kendeova (w. Shagya)
67 – Poprad · Eva Kendeova (w. Shagya)
• Postscript from Eva Dusil • 2014 September • Here I am 21 years old, at an equestrian competition in Poprad, Slovakia. I was representing my university’s equestrian club with my Arabian stud horse named Shagya. This was my last competition I took part in, because Taci did not like me pursuing a sport that was mostly in the company of men. Because of my love for him, I gave up the sport  •  Times have changed… Today the sport is mostly pursued by women. In a way, you can say that I was ahead of my time. By studying veterinary medicine, this was also considered a male’s profession, at that time.

• 1967 December 25 • Košice, Slovakia • Engagement Party • Dusil Brothers & Spouses

 • 5 minutes 44 seconds

67.Dec.25 - Kosice · Dusil & Kende family (Dusil brothers & spouses)
67.Dec.25 – Kosice · Dusil & Kende family (Dusil brothers & spouses)

• Postscript from Eva Dusil • 2014 September • This photo was taken at Taci’s and my engagement in my parents apartment in Kosice.

• Postscript from me • 2014 September • What my dad was about to do with his cup… I think I inherited some of that blood. • Standing, along the top row (left to right): Robert, Vaclav & Karol Dusil, sitting down are Zuzana Dusil, Eva Kendeova (not yet married), and Erika Dusil

67.Dec.25 - Kosice · Dusil & Kende family (Engagement party)
67.Dec.25 – Kosice · Dusil & Kende family (Engagement party)
67.Dec.25 - Kosice · Dusil & Kende family (Engagement)
67.Dec.25 – Kosice · Dusil & Kende family (Engagement)

• Postscript from Eva Dusil • 2014 September • Interesting, that on the left hangs the painting of “The Old Man”  that burned in the fire years later.  I have since painted it myself.  It hangs now in the hallway near the kitchen. My mother loved this painting and once when I visited, my Mom wanted to give it to me. I refused to take it, because said told me on a previous visit that as long as she lived she is not giving it away. I told my Mom to live for a long time, and enjoy the painting.

• Postscript from me • 2014 September • A rare photo with so many Kende and Dusil family members in one photo.  It was great to restore this one.  I love the odd composition of the photo, by capturing “The Old Man” painting so perfectly. • Standing, along the top row (left to right): Robert Dusil, Csaba Kende, Erika Dusil, Karol Dusil, Eva Dusil, Vaclav Dusil, Anka Kendeova, Ladislav Kende, Attila Kende • Along the bottom row (left to right): Zuzana Dusil, Vera Kendeova, Stefan Kende, Valeria Kendeova, Robert Dusil sr.

• Tags

Andrej Collak, Anna Collakova, Attila Kende, Csaba Kende, Darina Poprenakova, Digital Restoration, Dusil Family, dusil.com, Edo Novak, Erika Dusil, Eva Dusil, Gabriel Dusil, Ivan Spisak, Iveta Kende, Juraj Bialko, Karol Dusil, Kende Family, Ladislav Kende, Maria Collakova-Korytkova, Maria Dusilova, Michal Jr, Michal Korytko, Nyarjas, Orendas, Pepo Vesecky, Robert Dusil, Robert Dusil sr., Slavo Sykorsky, Stefan Kende, Vaclav Dusil, Valeria Kendeova, Vera Kendeova

66 - Tatra · Eva Kendeova (restoration)