• Introduction by Ing. Maria ‘Cuna’ Cabanová • 2005 April 20 • Translation & Editing by Gabriel Dusil
• In 1962 the girls received their 5th kyu (yellow belt). At that time Košice did not have qualified examiners, so Ing. Robert Binder came from Bratislava. He was the founder of Slovak judo, and now over 80 year old. For me the event was significant because we were told that Mr. Binder was a very charismatic gentleman. He explained to me that judo is primarily for intellectuals and that I chose my sport correctly (at one time in my life I seriously flirted with running instead).
• I couldn’t have chosen better that the 14 years I dedicated to judo. After 45 years I can say that objectively. It was wonderful to belong to a team of smart boys and girls that were considerate, independent and responsible. After all Kajo, our coach, was only two or three years older than most of us. It was the same in the men’s team. Kajo not only secured the training schedule, but all organizational, financial and administrative issues related to the sport – and later with the Regional Judo Association. Most issues were managed by the three Dusil brothers: Robert, Vašek (unfortunately no longer with us) and Karol. When problems escalated, some of us were asked to help. I was among them, as well as Igor Fridrich. I transcribed meeting minutes and various reports that were required by the totalitarian regime. When Robert went to study in Sweden in 1967, Igor Fridrich took over management of the Regional Judo Association.
• I was never a successful competitor, but that did not hinder me, as I felt at home with the team. Kajo was in charge of all women’s age groups and performance categories, and very soon I also began to participate in coaching duties. I taught judo throws and basics to hundreds of girls. Before reaching the age of 18 I became a judge and a class III trainer. These positions sat with me more than the role of competitor. Vašek Dusil was in charge of coaching the men, and when he had other responsibilities, I’d take over.
• In addition to the activities in Košice, we promoted and established judo in other towns across Eastern Slovakia. Erika Mešterová-Dusilová and I came from railway families; we had permanent rail tickets and would go and train girls at the Central Pedagogical School (Stredna pedagogicka škola) in Prešov. We were still in high school. Great promotional events were organized in Michalovce, Slovakia and we combined that with a trip to Vienna. Our accommodations were in someone’s garage. Guarding the boys from the girls was of course, Kajo. As part of TJ Lokomotíva we were allowed to travel across all of Czechoslovakia. We used that to great effect and attended many competitions. If the girls weren’t competing we simply accompanied the boys as fans and observers.
• Košice Judo
If you missed my previous posts on Košice Judo, you will find them here:
64 – Košice · x, Berco Allman, Juraj Mazanek, Miro Brožek, Adolf Kostrian, Pepo Vosecky, Csaba Kende, Igor Fridrich, Vaclav Dusil, Jozef Lemak & Jozef Arvay (judo dojo)64 – Košice · Stefan Bartus, Vaclav Dusil, Pepo Vosecky & Vlado Makovsky (bridge)63 – Košice · Edo Novak, Miro Brožek, Igor Fridrich, x, Robert Dusil, Csaba Kende, Vaclav Dusil62.May.1 – Košice · Vaclav Dusil, Juraj Mazanek, Robert Dusil, Laco Hluchan, x, Ivan Spisiak, Joe Nalevanko, Vojtech Agyagos & Csaba Kende62 – Košice · x, x, x, Joe Nalevanko, Pepo Vosecky, Robert Dusil, x, x, x, Igor Fridrich62 – Košice · x, x, Pepo Vosecky62 – Košice · x, Csaba Kende, Miro Brozek, Pepo Vosecky, x (travelling)
• Documents & Articles
66.Jun.18 – Košice · Vaclav Dusil (judo Article, Rudé Právo, Na tohoročných)69.Jun.23 – Košice · Vaclav Dusil (Article, Večer, Rozšíria prvú ligu)66.Oct.15 – Košice · Document, Vaclav Dusil (judo Majster Kraja, Zá obetavú prácu)
• My dad was the men’s judo team leader and the head coach of Lokomotíva Košice throughout the 1960’s. He won a bronze medal in the 1960 junior nationals. As a senior, my dad always advanced to the final rounds in his weight category and typically ended just behind the medalists in 5th or 6th place. Even more difficult, my dad competed in the heavier weight class, to avoid fighting his older brother. In the early 1960’s, weight classes were up to 68kg (my dad’s fighting weight, in his prime), then up to 80kg and finally, 80+ kg. A judoka weighing 60 kg could compete in the 80+ kg category if desired. Everything being equal, typically the lighter fighter was at a disadvantage.
• Judo weight classes have been revised several times over the years. The weight classes were broader than those in boxing (in increments of 3 to 4 kg). So cutting weight by dieting or visiting a steam bath was far less common in judo than in boxing . Competitive tactics consisted mainly of focusing on the opponent’s weaknesses. Coach would shout tips during tournaments, such as which grip to use or throw to try. As residents of Košice, a city with a significant Hungarian minority, many knew a bit of that language, so tips during competition were frequently coded in Hungarian. On one occasion a referee tried to prevent one of the Košice coach’s to speak Hungarian during a match. An opposing coach complained that he did not understand. My uncle told him sharply, “learn other languages!” and he clammed up.
• My father and his teammates trained twice per week, in the original gym. As time passed they had more gym time and had proper judo tatami (the special mats needed to absorb the impact of a judo throw). By this time they trained three or more times per week. Women trained separately from the men. In the 1960’s the judo oddiel of Lokomotíva Košice peaked close to 100 members.
• I miss my dad tremendously. He would have celebrated his 73rd birthday today.
♥HappyBirthday♥Taci ♥
I love you,
• Taci
If you missed the other Taci posts, you can link to them here:
58 – Košice · Vaclav Dusil (Poľnohospodárska Technická Škola)59 – Košice · Vaclav Dusil61.Apr – Stankove · Vaclav Dusil
• 6 minutes 58 seconds
61 – Slovenský raj · Vaclav Dusil, Zuzana & Robert Dusil61 – Slovenský raj · Vaclav Dusil
62 – Jazero Vinne · Vaclav Dusil
62 – Brno · Vaclav Dusil & Igor Fridrich
• Postscript by Gabriel Dusil • 2014 October • My dad and Igor Fridrich were best friends. Their friendship has also carried down to the next generation.
66.Feb – Košice · Eva Kendeova, Vaclav & Karol Dusil (neighbour kids)
• Postscript by Eva Dusil • 2014 November • This photo were taken in the yard where Taci lived. It’s the winter of 1966, soon after we started dating (happy memories). The two boys are from the neighborhood and were also judoka that your father taught.
• Documents & Awards
67.Sep.7 – Košice · Document, Vaclav Dusil (Faculty of Veterinary Medicine , Czech)14.Nov – Prague · Vaclav Dusil (sports medals)
• During the communist era very few citizens of the eastern bloc were allowed to travel to the west, except for politicians and sportsmen. Travelling amongst countries such as East Germany, Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, and Yugoslavia were allowed. But even that was difficult, since the authorities only allowed travel to the eastern block once every two years. Travel to the west on a Czechoslovakian passport required both a “vyjazdna dolozka” (an “exit visa” granted by the passport police) and an entry visa granted by the western country. Only after receiving the “vyjazdna dolozka” (specific to the country of destination) could the traveler apply for an “entry visa”. In addition, the traveler’s employment manager needed to approve the application.
• Top sportsmen from Czechoslovakia would have a number of STB minders when competing in western countries. STB, or “Štátna tajna bezpečnosť”, is Slovak for “State Secret Security”. Essentially they were the Czechoslovakian equivalent to the Russian KGB. STB minders were present as members of the Czechoslovakian delegation at events such as the Olympics, European or World championships. Despite these minders, some successfully defected to the embarrassment of the communist party – Martina Navratilova (tennis), Václav Nedomanský and Richard Farda (hockey), and many others. In the early 1960’s travel rules and political repression was a bit relaxed. But these political changes were not enough and this led to changes in the communist party hierarchy. It also resulted in the attempted reforms of the new General Secretary, Alexander Dubček, referred today as the Prague Spring. On the 21st of August 1968 the Soviet Union and four other members of the Warsaw Pact invaded Czechoslovakia to halt Dubček’s reforms. This meant in a renewed orthodox communist grip on Czechoslovakia for the next twenty years.
• Dusil
If you missed the previous posts on Dusil, then click on these links:
• In 1969 my uncle requested travel to Paris, His boss asked what would happen to his children. My uncle lied, saying that his children would stay with their relatives. Essentially he was reassuring his boss that my cousins would remain home as “collateral deposit”. This was sufficient to reassure the authorities that the traveler would not defect. On that basis his manager approved their travel request. My uncle subsequently forged his children into the application. They obtained exit visas from the passport police, and then entry visas into France. Ten days later they “forgot” to return. The rest is history…
• Postscript by Eva Dusil • 2014 October • Gabičko, this a very cute photo when you were about two months old. I still remember Nanika commenting how well you were able to hold your head up. Love you, Mom, with happy memories.
• Postscript from me • 2014 October • I think I could have won the award for the roundest head in Czechoslovakia.
69.Jan – Kosice · Gabriel & Vaclav Dusil69.Jan – Kosice · Gabriel & Eva Dusil69.Jan – Kosice · Gabriel & Vaclav Dusil (cradle)69.Jan – Kosice · Gabriel & Vaclav Dusil (kiss)69.Jan – Kosice · Gabriel & Vaclav Dusil (on Taci’s shoulders)
• Postscript by Eva Dusil • 2014 September • This photo was taken at Slavo Sykorsky’s villa in Košice, where we lived until we left Czechoslovakia in August 1969 and emigrated to Canada. Prior to Slavo’s place we lived in Pepo Vosecky’s apartment for short time. You were about four months old.
• Postscript from me • 2014 September • Look at that little baby… Precious!
69.Apr – Košice · Gabriel & Eva Dusil
• 8 minutes 19 seconds
69.Sep.4 – Košice · Leaving for Paris (#1)69.Sep.4 – Košice · Leaving for Paris (#2)69.Sep.4 – Košice · Leaving for Paris (#3)
• Postscript from Eva Dusil • 2014 October • These were taken in Košice on the day before we emigrated. We are at the bus station on our way to Bratislava to catch our flight to Paris the following day. In Bratislava we slept over at a rental apartment with Slavo and Milica Sykorsky. We arrived at Orly Airport in Paris, late in the afternoon on the 5th of September – on Vašek’s birthday. As we landed in France we finally felt free. Our first night was in a university dormatory, since the fall semester had not yet begun. You took your first steps that night. During the trip you had a bad cold, runny nose and fever, but a couple days after arriving in Paris you were fine.■ My father-in-law didn’t know that we were leaving, and later told us he would have informed the authorities.
• Tags
Alexander Dubček, dusil.com, Eva Dusil, Eva Kendeova, Erika Dusil, Gabičko, Gabriel Dusil, Igor Fridrich, Karol Dusil, Lokomotiva Košice, Martina Navratilova, Pepo Vosecky, Prague Spring, Richard Farda, Robert Dusil, Slavo Sykorsky, STB, Stefan Bartus, Truncheon Law, Vaclav Dusil, Vašek Dusil, Václav Nedomanský, Vlado Makovsky, vyjazdna dolozka, Warsaw Pact invasion, Štátna bezpečnosť, Štátna tajna bezpečnosť
• Introduction by Ing. Maria ‘Cuna’ Cabanová • 2005 April 20 • Translation & Editing by Gabriel Dusil
• I started judo in 1961. I was an economic student and my classmate and best friend Erika Mešterová persuaded me to try the sport. At the time our judo facilities were in a small building in Petrov Sad, Košice. We had to share the facilities with the TJ (Telovýchovná jednota) Lokomotíva Košice wrestlers and boxers. The room where we practiced was covered with soft mats, more suited to wrestling than for judo. The building wasn’t heated so in the winter when we came to train, the mats were covered with a layer of frost. We had to wear socks on our feet, otherwise our feet would freeze. In such cold facilities no one took it easy during training. Everyone wanted to warm up quickly with a lot of movement. After training we showered under ice-cold water.
• After completion of the indoor swimming pool in Košice in 1963, our building became part of the swimming community, so we no longer had a place to train. In early September the team organized a march in the center of town with a goal to find a new gym. The event was a success and for some time we rolled around in Room 4 of the Technical University’s dormitory on Vysokoškolska ulice (street). Later we moved to the school gymnasium on Gemerská street. We also bought our own mats, ordered by Robert Dusil somewhere in Bohemia. The training facilities weren’t only for judoka so we only had a few reserved hours each week. The girls needed to train with the boys. Men trained under the guidance of Vašek and Robert Dusil, and the girls were under the leadership of Karol Dusil. Each workout started with laying the mats and stretching the canvas.
• The following school year we moved to the Cadets facilities on Komenského ulici. There we had separate training from the boys, and never trained with them again. In later years we also trained on Podhradová. When I first arrived, the girls were trained by Juraj Mazánek, aka. Hoszu. After a short time he was replaced by Dušan Halász, who we called Marmot. When he departed to military service Karol Dusil took over. Kajo, as we all called him, gave his entire soul to coaching. The first championships titles for Czechoslovakia were awarded to Julka Tóthová in Nuremberg, Germany in 1962 (Unfortunately she is no longer among us). Next champions were Božena Glaubicova-Mikušákova and Hanka Demáčkova in Košice in 1966. The most successful year for women’s Košice judo was in 1967. The Czechoslovakian championship that year was held in Žilina. Winning in their weight classes were Juca Ujjobbágyova, Erika Tordová-Királyová, Valika Zelenayová-Záhradníková and Maja Polončáková. In 1968 in Prague, additional championship titles were won by Milka Kojecká-Mišková and Božena Glaubicova. Gold metals were also awarded to Marta Ujjobágyová and Magda Antolíková. At that time, Košice women’s judo was the best team in Czechoslovakia. In 1968 in Košice took first place in the unofficial national championships. Kajo trained the women until he immigrated to Canada in September 1969.
• Košice Judo
If you missed my previous posts on Košice Judo, you’ll find links to them here:
62 – Košice · Pepo Vosecky, Ivan Krizko, Mato Mohr, Robert, Vaclav Dusil & Csaba Kende62 – Košice · Pepo Vosecky (judo flip)61 – Nitra · Edo Novak, x, x, Robert & Vaclav Dusil, Joe Nalevanko, (judo)61 – Košice · x, Halasz, x, Jozef Grusecky, Nalevanko, Kende, Nyaryas, Ivan Spisak, Juraj Mazanek, Vlado Babilonsky, Pavel Petrivalsky, x, x, Urban, Vojtech Agyagos, Laco Hluchan, x, Vaclav & Robert Dusil61 – Košice · Sano Drabcak, Edo Novak, Vaclav & Robert Dusil61 – Košice · Juraj Bialko, Erika Mesterova-Dusilova, x, x, Joe Nalevanko, x, x, x, Vaclav Dusil (station)60 – Košice · Joe Nalevanko, Vaclav, Robert Dusil, Ludvik Wolf, Juraj Mazanek & Ladislav Magyar (judo dojo)
• Documents & Articles
66.Jun.18 – Košice · Vaclav Dusil (judo Article, Rudé Právo, Lokomotivy VSŽ Košice)68.Dec.10 – Bratislava · Vaclav Dusil (Article, Šport Bratislava, Judisti Lokomotiva Košice do 1. ligy)69.Jun.26 – Košice · Vaclav Dusil (Article, Večer, Žiakom dosť mužom málo)
• Czech judo started in the 1930’s. Slovak judo started in 1954, in Bratislava, by Ing. Robert Binder. One year later, judo was established in Košice by Ladislav Magyar. In 1959 Mr. Magyar left and my dad, Vaclav (Vašek) Dusil, was elected to lead the judo “oddiel” of Lokomotíva Košice. The Dusil brothers continued to build on the foundations laid down by Ladislav Magyar. Judo in Košice had steady growth throughout the 1960’s, mainly due to the efforts of Lokomotíva Košice.
• Slovak men won very few medals in the 1950’s and 1960’s at the national level. The Czechs had a twenty year head start on the Slovaks, so the conditions to improve their skills were more developed. The bigger cities on the Czech side of the country meant more judokas, more and better training facilities & coaches and a higher level of competition. Women’s judo, on the other hand, started in the 1950’s in both Czech and Slovak parts of the country, so the gap in the skill levels was much smaller, if any. In the early 1960’s Bratislava dominated women’s judo on a national level. They captured around 50% of the all medals available (six in weight categories across junior and senior age categories, and one for open competition, where there are no weight restrictions).
• In the 1960’s the top countries at the European level were France, Germany, the Netherlands and later the Russians (who “converted” to judo from their version of Sambo, “Samozaschita Bez Oružija”, meaning “self-defense without a weapon”). Czechoslovakian judoka won a few silver and bronze medals in European championships from time to time. In the 2004 Olympic games, in Athens, Greece a Slovak judoka, Jozef Krnáč won an Olympic silver in the 66kg division.
• Košice Judo
If you missed my previous posts on Košice Judo, you will find them here:
61 – Košice · Vaclav Dusil performing uchi mata 内股 on Robert Dusil
• This is my dad performing uchi-mata (内股) on my uncle Robert – Photographed in their training facility. It has since been torn down.
Article – medzi mužmi v kimonáchArticle – Judisti TJ Lokomotívy Košice
• 2 minutes 47 seconds
61 – Brno · Vaclav Dusil, Juraj Bialko, Juraj Mazánek, Robert Dusil, Ivan Spišák, Joe Nalevanko, Erika Mesterova-Dusilova, Julka Tothova, Milka Matuchova
• 3 minutes 23 seconds
61 – Nitra · Vaclav & Robert Dusil
• This photo was taken at an open air tournament in Nitra, Slovakia. The men’s team beat the local team in the finals.
• 4 minutes 12 seconds
63 – Košice · Vaclav Dusil (Regional Senior Championship)
• In this photo my dad is holding his gold medal and diploma for winning the regional senior championships in both under 70kg, as well as the open class (no weight restrictions).
• Publications & Documents
Article – Judo na košickom závode
Article – Tri Tituly Dusilovcov
72.Oct.4 – Brampton · Daily Times, With Only A Few Pointers From Dad
• My dad and I were featured in the local Brampton, Ontario, Canada newspaper. I am photographed here at four years old “throwing” my dad with a Seoi-nage (背負い投げ, or shoulder throw). I vaguely remember this day. Training had finished, and the dojo was dark. We were at the entrance with the newspaper photographer. My dad jumped over me a few times, and it seemed that the photographer wasn’t satisfied. So my dad asked me to hold onto my arm as he jumped over me. And there we have it – a beautifully staged Seoi-nage!
• 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
• Introduction by Eva Dusil • Editing by Gabriel Dusil • 24th February 2015
• Our wedding was on the 24th of February 1968, and remember that it was a cold day. The first part was a civil wedding ceremony at the City Hall in Košice. From there we went to the big cathedral, Dóm svätej Alžbety. After the reception we went to my parent’s apartment on Krmanova 3. My father hired a cook to do the catering. Taci was responsible for getting the wine. Your father was still in the military at the time of the wedding. He chose his brother as his best man, just as his brother chose Taci when he got married. The wedding group was not very big – somewhere around twenty people. The wedding party included close family, friends and teammates from judo. It was a happy day. Today would have been our 47th anniversary.
• A year and a half later on 5th of September 1969 we left Czechoslovakia. We celebrated your first birthday in Paris, and you took your first steps there as well. We were there with your uncle’s family as well as your godparents, Slavo and Milica Sykorsky. We spent nine weeks in Paris, arranging for visas to enter Canada.
Mamička
If you missed the other posts on Mamička, you can link to them here:
68.Feb.24 – Košice · Eva Kendeova & Vaclav Dusil Wedding (veil)
68.Feb.24 – Košice · Eva Kendeova & Vaclav Dusil Wedding (down the isle)
68.Feb.24 – Košice · Eva Kendeova & Vaclav Dusil Wedding (witness)
68.Feb.24 – Košice · Eva Kendeova & Vaclav Dusil Wedding (ceremony)
68.Feb.24 – Košice · Eva Kendeova & Vaclav Dusil Wedding (ring)
68.Feb.24 – Košice · Eva Kendeova & Vaclav Dusil Wedding (kiss)
68.Feb.24 – Košice · Eva Kendeova & Vaclav Dusil Wedding (signature)
68.Feb.24 – Košice · Eva Kendeova & Vaclav Dusil Wedding (breaking plate)
68.Feb.24 – Košice · Eva Kendeova & Vaclav Dusil Wedding (breaking vase)
68.Feb.24 – Košice · Eva Kendeova & Vaclav Dusil Wedding (sweeping up)
68.Feb.24 – Košice · Eva Kendeova & Vaclav Dusil Wedding (first dance, restored)
68.Feb.24 – Košice · Eva Kendeova & Vaclav Dusil Wedding (family & friends 2)
• Top row – Pista Oravec, Juraj Mazanek, Pepo Vosecky, and his sister Alica Vosecky • Second row – Uncle Nandor Wawrek (My dad’s uncle on his mother’s side), Karol Dusil, Erika Dusil, and partially hidden is Sonja Leitman • Third row – Csaba Kende (“Nadapy” my grandfather) Stefan Kende, Roman Dusil (baby), Attila Kende, Robert Dusil • Fourth row – Viera Kendeova, Zuzka Dusil • Bottom row – Valeria Kendeova (“Nanika”, my grandmother) and the bride and groom, Eva Dusilova and Vaclav Dusil.
68.Feb.24 – Košice · Eva Kendeova & Vaclav Dusil Wedding (family & friends 1)
68.Feb.24 – Košice · Eva Kendeova & Vaclav Dusil Wedding (bride)
68.Feb.24 – Košice · Eva Kendeova & Vaclav Dusil Wedding (car)
68.Feb.24 – Košice · Eva Kendeova & Vaclav Dusil Wedding (Couple)
• Tags
Alica Vosecky, Attila Kende, Csaba Kende, Erika Dusil, Hosszu, Karol Dusil, Nandor Wawrek, Oravec, Pepo Vosecky, Robert Dusil, Roman Dusil., Sonja Leitman, Stefan Kende, Valeria Kendeova, Vavrek, Viera Kendeova, Zuzana Dusil, Zuzka Dusil, Gabriel Dusil, dusil.com
• 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:
• 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 – Tohoročně majstrovstvá nášho kraja v Judo
60 – Brno · Dusan Halasz, Robert Dusil, Nyarjas, Edo Novak, Csaba Kende, Vaclav Dusil
60 – Prague · Vaclav & Robert Dusil
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
• 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
• 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, 2nd Dan black belt, Nidan)
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
Here is my latest mini-project – A 2015 calendar with old family photos. I set out to test my Adobe InDesign skills, and this is the end result. The calendar has a selection of photos that will be released on my blog over the next twelve months. I hope you like it. You can download the calendar in a high resolution pdf here, or click on the image below. The file is 174MB, so expect a fairly long download time, depending on your internet bandwidth.
• 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, 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.
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.
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.
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.
61 – Kosice · Csaba Kende, Edo Novak, Nyarjas, Dusan Halasz, Robert Dusil, Vaclav Dusil, Igor Fridrich
Article, Ve’lká cena Košíce v Judo
• Publications & Documents
Article -Tentoraz aj v absolútnej
Article – Judisti v Brne na výbornú
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
• 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.
♥HappyBirthday ♥Mamička♥
I love you,
Mamička
If you missed the other posts on Mamička, you can link to them here:
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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)
• 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.
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.
• 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.
• 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
• 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)
• 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
Gabriel Dusil • Time Is Relentless 