Local Judo athletes showed off their skills as they competed against others from around the country and earned 44 medals in total.
The South African Schools Judo Championships took place at the PLG Mellow Oaks Academy in Roodepoort from 28 until 30 September.
Joburg judoka (or judo athletes) from local clubs Tatami, based in Bryanston, and the Hajime Judo Academy, based in Douglasdale, qualified to participate in the championships, which is held annually and hosted by Judo South Africa.
Children took part in either the Novice Tournament (non-national level players) or the Advanced Tournament (national level players).
At this tournament, schoolchildren have the opportunity to earn medals and recognition in the final national tournament for younger judoka for 2018. This year’s championship was eagerly contested by judoka from around the country.
Tatami and Hajime train and develop children from:
- Bryanston Primary,
- Bryneven,
- Kyalami Preparatory,
- Bryandale Primary,
- De La Salle,
- St Peters,
- Fourways High,
- Bryanston High,
- Randpark High,
- St Johns,
- St Davids,
- Dainfern,
- Cooper College,
- Weltevreden Park,
- Kings,
- Bryanston Parallel,
- Curro Aurora,
- Curro Weltevreden,
- Jubilate Primary,
- Deutsche Schule,
- Wendywood Primary,
- Cliffview,
- Reddford House,
- Montrose Primary,
- and Beaulieu.
Tatami clinched 23 medals this weekend. There were two gold and four silver medals earned during the novice tournament and 11 gold, four silver and two bronze medals from the hotly contested advanced tournament.
Hajime took their medal tally to 21. With two gold, one silver and one bronze earned in the novice section and five gold, eight silver and four bronze in the advanced section.
Senseis Basil Smith of Tatami and Paul Nothnagel of Hajime were delighted with the combined 44 national medals their judoka achieved at the prestigious tournament.
“School pupils train extremely hard for this national event and it has been worth all the diligence and commitment,” said Smith.
“It is a great opportunity to introduce competitive judo to our novice judoka, balancing participation and success in a productive tournament experience.
“Competitions are often the best way to determine progress, meet other judo students from South Africa, engage in the competitive world of sport and develop champions.”
Nothnagel, who also represents the province as its chairman added, “Joburg Judo has had a superb year this year with eight clubs in our catchment area all producing fantastic results on a provincial and national level while encouraging the development of the sport.
“Our annual awards evening is scheduled for 27 October at Mount Usambara, where we look forward to recognising our top achievers – players, coaches, referees and managers.”
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