CATCHING UP WITH
ZACK PIONTEK
GENTLE JUDO AT VERA SCHOOL THE HISTORY OF JUDO IN SOUTH AFRICA
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CONTENTS On the cover 8 - The history of judo in South Africa 14 - Gentle judo at Vera School 18 - Catching up with Zack Piontek
18 27
Regulars 17 - Upcoming events 24 - 1 on 1 with Marli Meiring 28 - Judo at varsity 31 - Judo facilities 34 - Sponsorship opportunities 36 - Rising stars 39 - Top performers list
Features 11 - Judo in South Africa 22- Nutrition aids in optimal performance 26 - Judogi: A brief history 27 - Judo development 30 - Judo jargon for the novice judoka 35 - Improving the quality of life of the disabled 37 - Unelle makes comeback at the African Open 38 - JSA Sports Awards event
Foreword
FOREWORD The establishment of JSA Chronicles magazine is to create a platform for judo fraternity to market themselves and the services they offer to current, “would be players” and potential sponsors. The platform will further be used to mobilise potential judo sponsors and partners. Judo South Africa as the only recognised judo national federation in the country, both by International Judo Federation and SASCOC (Olympic Committee), should exploit this golden recognition and spread its wings and growth to be amongst the big sporting codes in the country. Given judo’s popularity in the world and on the Olympic calendar, the prospects are great for this eventuality to happen and the magazine couldn’t be a better space to facilitate this milestone. Our mandate is very clear, we are tasked to promote, manage and govern sport of judo in South Africa as per the stipulations of the applicable South African Sports Act. In this inaugural edition I wish to share with you a brief history of judo, current context and the future. I hope you will find the read interesting and fulfilling and hope you will continue to support the magazine by ensuring that you get a copy and read it. The magazine will be produced quarterly and distributed across the country to all provinces. Potential advertisers will have depth in their marketing targets as the copies will be distributed nationwide in print form. I am hoping to extend the distribution mode to incorporate electronic distribution in order to reach other millions of people who are able to access electronic media. My heartfelt humbleness to my judo fellows in the Southern African Region (SADC), they showed interest in the magazine. I will be engaging them further with a view to encourage them to provide judo material for the magazine exclusively for the SADC region. I would also like to thank the Judo South Africa national executive committee for supporting my vision. Welcome to this inaugural edition, may you enjoy the read and hope you will continue to support future editions.
Temba Hlasho President
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Editor’s Note
Editor
Nadine Sims
Editorial staff Moeketsi Tigeli Nicole Ludolph Shani Rhoda Zaakir Yassiem
Graphic designer Cinzia Joey-Swartz
Contributing designer Rayhaan Suleiman
Photography Tevin Mostert JSA images
Advertising enquiries
Editor’s Note Judo inspires
I am delighted and honoured to introduce to you the inaugural edition of Judo Chronicles. Judo is a huge sport, across the world and it knows no borders, nationalities or cultures. It is considered to be the second biggest sport worldwide, after soccer. Over the last few weeks while compiling this magazine, judo has crept into my heart and I have learnt a lot about this interesting sport. I have experienced judo first hand and looking back on my experiences I am in awe of the camaraderie that encompasses judo. Every time I visited a dojo I was welcomed with open arms and warmth. After much thought and in hindsight, I have realised that everyone I have spoken to and interacted with during the production of the magazine, yearns to have their story heard. And there are many profound stories to be told.
Tel: 021-839 2507 www.roswikamedia.co.za Ntombizanele Thangayi Sales and marketing representative sales@roswikamedia.co.za
Roswika Media The Pinnacle 10th floor 2 Burg Street Cape Town 8000
Judo SA enquiries
General secretary Ina van den Heever gensec@judosouthafrica.co.za Cell: 082 339 9147 Postal address: 31 Elizabeth Eybers Avenue Jan Cilliers Park Welkom 9549
The work that those in the judo community are doing with disabled and marginalised individuals for example, was especially intriguing and inspiring to hear and write about, read more about that on page 14 or page 35. I have also experienced the love and passion that the parents, judoka’s and sensei’s have and it was inspiring to witness.My hope is that we have the opportunity to tell many more untold stories that will inspire and motivate a young judoka, or anyone that picks up this publication. I hope this magazine is an enjoyable read for everyone that loves and enjoys judo.
Editor
Nadine Sims
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Copyright
© 2018 Judo South Africa All material is strictly copyright and all rights are reserved. Reproduction is without permission is prohibited. Care was taken in the production and compilation of this publication but we assume no responsibility in the effect arising therefrom. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher.
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The history of
Judo in South Africa
Its presence is significant now, but how did the Japanese martial arts sport gain so much popularity in the country? We rewind back to 1945 when it all began and track its growth since then.
1945
1984
During World War II, judo was introduced to South Africa by English immigrants. Judo is derived from Jujitsu, and teaches players how to defend themselves using only their own body.
Judo South Africa (JSA) was established when the formerly white structure in the country - South African Judo Union (SAJU) – unified with the formerly black organisation, South African Judo Association (SAJA).
Judo was established as a national sport after the South African Amateur Judo Association (SAAJA) was formed.
1955
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1992 Judo South Africa (JSA) was formed – gathering members from all the existing organisations to form one single club.
The executive committee of JSA was elected at the first judo democratic elections. These elections have taken place every two years until 2009.
1986
2014
2018
This year saw local players winning medals at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games for their performances. “We have introduced incentive schemes where players who receive medals internationally are awarded,” says the president of JSA, Mr Temba Hlasho. The incentives are as follows: Gold – R15 000; Silver – R10 000; and Bronze – R5 000.
The inaugural Judo South Africa Awards is set to take place at the SA Open Championships. The event will take place at either Sun City or in Cape Town, depending on the outcome of the bid, which will be finalised at the end of 2017.
The national judo elections went from occurring every two years to every four years to coincide with the international Olympic cycle.
2009
Judo is currently practised at over 3 000 registered judoka at 106 clubs. Seven of South Africa’s provinces have judo clubs, with Gauteng having the largest number (31 clubs), with 5 000 of the 18 000 active Judo players being competitive, registered players.
2017
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High School teacher reviews practical video series... As you well know, (see previous Science Stars Issue), BMS Education has filmed and introduced our range of easy to understand, practical video series currently for high school teachers, grades 8-12, doing science and life science practicals. Together with Mr du Plooy and Lerato (amongst other educators) who welcomed the idea, so much work has been done from the inception to the final testing phase. BMS Education is committed to being actively involved with other stakeholders in the country, in improving science in South Africa. Mr du Plooy continues: “This project exists to improve the understanding of Physical and Life Science, exposing teachers to the products in the lab by means of a series of videos highlighting the prescribed practicals required from grades 8 to 12, and later the informal practicals as laid out by CAPS syllabi. Teachers are shown how to do the practical, drawing up of worksheets for each of these practicals, and then students get to do the fun part! I firmly believe that a hands-on practical approach, paired with the theory is the best way forward and this can be promulgated by means of a liaison with the education department as a first step”. Mr Julio Voges from WCED Metro East indicated the following after viewing of them together with a set of teachers: “The experiment process for both teacher and learner to understand. These videos adhere to syllabus and examination guidelines. Learners are able to respond effectively to questions, answers provided are appropriate for discussion afterwards.”
Other teachers comments: Sarelda Koopman from Bellville Technical: “Good interaction, will really support teachers in terms of carrying over the curriculum.” Lydia Opperman from HS Strand: “Very good videos, and the graphs assist with questions.” Loyiso Kanzi from Manyano HS: “For me, the circuit video was helpful in a way that learners can now see the actual components of the electrical circuits and the how the types of connections take place, etc. From BMS Education’s side, we are looking to film the grade 4-7 natural science as well as the Mathematics experiments. We are looking for educators in these fields and would really appreciate your assistance. BMS is currently partnering with various stakeholders in the education fraternity as we are not selling the videos, but they will be made available with our equipment and if all goes well, via different platforms. For more information on this exciting project, or to get in contact with us, please email: sales@bmseducation.co.za or call 021 696 6279. You can view our complete range of equipment at www.bmseducation.co.za
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Judo in South Africa Growing from strength to strength
Judo in South Africa, much like across the rest of the world, is a sport revered and adored by many. Judo is said to be the second biggest sport, with the number of participants, only second to soccer. Judo meaning ‘the gentle way’ and was developed in Japan by Jigoro Kano in 1882 and is derived from jujitsu. The martial art involves no punching, kicking or striking of any kind and is not only considered a physical sport, but a mental one as well. It is important to be physically and mentally alert and smart, explains Vivian Henry, Development Officer for the Cape Winelands Judo Association, “Judo requires you to be disciplined and mentally strong. You need to be able to read your opponent and analyse the situation. It is not only about the physical aspect.” Since judo’s introduction as a sport in South Africa, the landscape and
dynamics of the sport has changed, withstanding many tough times. National coach, Godfrey Kleinsmith, says that during apartheid many judoka’s quit, “You couldn’t move forward in those days. We were sitting with a brown belt for years and it was frustrating. We also had to have permits, because we couldn’t fight in big civic centres.” Kleinsmith says that things have changed, but presently the challenges are different, “Now there are no troubles and the doors are wide open. But we are sitting with the problem of finance. The majority of people don’t have the funds, especially the kids with the potential.” From the judoka’s gi, to travel costs, judo can become quite a pricey sport to participate in. Therefore sponsorships are needed and at the grassroots levels specifically, says Kleinsmith. An amazing aspect of judo is the fact that it is universal and there is a certain set standard, across borders and
countries; even the terminology used is the same. Despite the practice of judo being standardised the world over, there are different styles that may vary from region to region. That is why competing in other African countries and internationally are very important to the development and growth of the individual judoka. The exposure is necessary if a judoka aspires to compete at big international meets, like the Commonwealth Games, for instance. Johan Duckworth from the Gladiator Fight Academy, says our judoka in South Africa has the talent to reach the top. He suggests a minimum of at least 2 big tournaments monthly with international training camps, to help with improvement. “It is important to have a big variety of training partners to work with as well as competition experience,” he says. Continue on the next page Issue 01 | Judo SA Magazine
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In a February 2017 article from TeamSA, Tuks Judo head coach Nikola Filipov, spoke about the challenges one of his judoka faces. Dale Whittaker took home gold in the under 81kg category, at the Ranking Tournament, but Filipov expressed concerned. “Dale has the ability to qualify for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, but for that to become a reality he needs to get the opportunity to train and compete internationally. If he only trains at Tuks Judo he will never fulfil his true potential because there are no other judokas at the club who compete in his category. It serves no purpose for Dale to keep on training against lighter opponents.” Regardless of the many hurdles, judo in South Africa has come a long way, and the close-knit family continues to grow from strength to strength. Johann van Rensburg, from the Tygerberg Judo Club, explains, “It’s about family and the coming together, that is what judo is, it’s a family. This is the way we work, we help other clubs and other regions and when they are a bit stronger we can help someone else.”
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It’s what we build
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We all dream of a better future. For ourselves, our families and our country. SANRAL, as part of the National Development Plan, is improving and expanding vital road infrastructure. In the process we are creating jobs, transferring skills and developing opportunities for all South Africans. We are proud to be a part of the National Development Plan, because we know that roads are more than just roads, they pave the way to a better future.
More than just roads
Vera School
Gentle Judo at Vera School
Autistic pupils find an outlet in judo By: Moeketsi Tigeli
I
t’s a sunny morning in Rondebosch, Cape Town, as young judokas enter a brightly lit school hall in a queue, boisterous and geared up. One of the students runs over to me and clings to my left arm affectionately, the teacher quickly reminds her that I am a stranger and she let’s go and runs back to join the rest of the group. For the next half an hour the youthful judokas at the school crawl back and forward, roll on their sides, bounce, play dodgeball and run around. The list of activities is an assemblage of organised chaos, and this is just group 2 of 9. The kids are all autistic, explains Esmarie Robertson, the HOD at the Vera
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School for learners with autism. Judo has been a feature at the school every Thursdays, for the better part of 10 years. “We do judo on different levels, for the younger ones it’s more of a gross motor activity. Where they will do different types of animal walks, helping the development of muscles and using their own bodyweight as resistance,” said Robertson. Veteran coach, Sensei Jan Olivier, has been at the heart of the program for the past decade. His approach to the training exercises is a vivid picture of a gentle giant rolling on the mat while chanting ‘I’m a crab with no legs’.
Sensei Olivier (the pupils sometimes fondly refer to him as ‘Judo’) remarks that it is difficult keeping everyone insync or getting the instructions across. To give meaning to their instructions, they resort to familiar phrases such as ‘fast-spider’ or ‘crab with no legs’ to explain certain exercises. Considered a pioneer in South African judo, and a coach for 48 years, Oom Jan takes a break to comment on the social aspect of his teachings and the shift in focus, “Sport became work for many people because they are getting paid for what they are doing, the better I do, the more my value increases. Sport was originally there for relaxing, for social interaction.”
Vera School
Autism, also referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is considered a serious developmental disorder that hinders communication abilities and interaction. Physical educator at the Vera School, Josh Bowley, says social interaction is a big part of the sessions. Learning patience, communication, and win or lose, the kids have fun. The older pupils, who wrap up training sessions for the day, get to do the nitty-gritties of judo, with more grappling and physical action. During demonstrations, they exhibit much more competitiveness. Doing locks and holds, and
lifting each other up from the mat after a takedown, all under the watchful eye of the teachers. In judo, you use your opponent’s energy to your own advantage. In the case of Vera school judokas, there are no opponents. The physical interaction that comes with being on the mat seems to be all that matters and to them the judo mat signals fun-time. For the learners, in general, judo is clearly the opposite of competition or the pursuit of achievements. “Even the word ‘judo’ gets them going, that’s all
you need to say. As long as they are on the mat, they love it here,” said Elize Brown, who has been with the school for 15 years as an assistant teacher. Autism is an invisible disability and according to recent statistics by Autism SA 1 in 110 children in South Africa is born with autism. For more information about autism visit the Autism SA website: aut2know.co.za. To find out more about the Vera School for learners with autism, visit: vera.co.za.
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Events
Upcoming 2018 Judo Events
E
very year the Judo community gathers together to reflect, plan the way forward, celebrate strides and compete for the highest honours. These gatherings are periodical and serve to highlight the progress as well as future endeavours concerning the sports. Here are the biggest upcoming judo events to look forward to both locally and internationally in 2018: National Training Camp 5 - 12 January 2018 From the 5th to the 12th of January 2018, the national training camp will take place in Port Elizabeth. National Trials 9 February 2018 The annual national trials are to be hosted in Port Elizabeth on the 9th of February 2018.
South African Open Championships 1 - 7 July 2018 One of the bigger, more hotly-contested tournaments, the SA Open Championships’ is set for the 1st of July. The 7-day tournament will end on the 7th of July, and the host venues will be taking place between Cape Town/Sun City/Port Elizabeth. South African Schools Championships 29 - 30 September 2018 In September, judokas from local schools all around South Africa will gather in Bloemfontein, Free State, where the SA Schools Championships will take centre stage.
2nd NRE on the 12th of May, to be hosted in Gauteng. 3rd NRE on the 25th of August, hosted in Kwazulu Natal. The Commonwealth Games 2018 4 - 15 April 2018 Members of the Commonwealth will compete for silverware in the official XXI Commonwealth Games to be hosted in Australia. Under the motto: “Share the dream” the event opening ceremony will take place at the main venue in Carrara stadium and the tournament will span from the 4th to the 15th of April 2018.
National Ranking Events February, May and August 2018 There are three announced NREs in the pipeline for 2018 and they are as follows: 1st NRE is on the 10th of February, in Port Elizabeth.
Disclaimer by Judo South Africa concerning tournament arrangements: All participants are advised to not make any travel or accommodation arrangements before final invitations have been distributed. Disclaimer by Judo South Africa concerning tournament arrangements: All participants are advised to not make any travel or accommodation arrangements before final invitations have been distributed. Disclaimer by Judo South Africa concerning tournament arrangements: All participants are advised to not make any travel or accommodation arrangements before final invitations have been distributed.
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on the cover
Catching up with Zack Piontek Olympian talks life, challenges and motivation By: Nicole Ludolph
I
n 1996, Zack Piontek received his first judogi from his father. He was 5 years old at the time. 21 years later, Piontek has become one of the most accomplished judokas in South Africa, with 32 gold medals under his belt, 10 of which he won at international competitions. He has also won numerous silver and bronze medals, and is listed as a Junior World Kurash Champion for his excellent technique.
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on the cover Born in Pretoria, Piontek went professional at the age of 18. He was selected by Judo South Africa as one of six judokas to train full time at the High Performance Centre of Pretoria, the home of Tuks Judo. Growing up, he also practiced athletics and rugby, where he learnt different skills to aid his mental and physical development. In 2016, Piontek competed in the Olympic summer games in Rio, qualifying as one of the top 22 International Judo Federation (IJF) judokas in the world. When asked what it was like to compete at that level, he explains that at first it comes as “a bit of a shock”. Reflecting on his experience, he says, “You work your whole life for this big and amazing dream, but after the initial shock, things got into focus and I knew why I was there and what the goal was. The joy of representing your country on such a big stage was something amazing. There is really no expression to explain what it is you feel. But the stress of competing on that big stage immediately goes away the second the referee says ‘Hajime’ [Start]. Then it is all fight mode.” Piontek does not hide his disappointment at his loss to Brazilian Tiago Camillo, but accepts it and says, “I gave it my best and at the end of the day, he
beat me. I can live with that.” Piontek’s judo career was definitely not challenge free. Judokas in South Africa generally have a difficult time getting enough funding or sponsorship to pursue the sport professionally. He acknowledges that the problem of funding is an ongoing one, but confirms that he is lucky because he has had many sponsors help him realise his judo goals.
“The joy of representing your country on such a big stage was something amazing. There is really no expression to explain what it is you feel." When asked what he considers the highlight of his judo career, Piontek lists two events; The 2016 Olympic Games and the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. He won gold at the 2014 event, and describes it as very special. Piontek has no plans to reach the 2020 Olympic Games, and is instead focusing his energy on his family and his full time job. He is still practicing judo and coaches beginners at Tuks Judo.
He describes the differences between coaching and competing as “very different”. Of coaching he says, “Judo is always changing in terms of grips, rules, strategy etc, but it does not affect everyone in the same way. A 48kg female will be different to a 90kg male in terms of strategy, grips, movement. This is the biggest challenge, getting to know your students and making a good plan to fit them.” To judokas wanting to pursue the sport professionally, Piontek says, “Know your priorities”. He urges ambitious judokas to keep their focus and stick to their training schedules, especially when tempted by social or other engagements. He emphasises that professional judo is a hard and bumpy road, which is why he challenges judokas to know what they want in their judo career, and why. Inspiration and motivation are not hard to come by for Piontek. He is inspired by many things, but lists “wanting to be the best I can be at what I do” as his biggest motivation. “Judo is more than just a sport. It teaches very good moral values. Being able to give back to the next generation of judokas inspires me to stay in the beautiful sport we all love and enjoy.”
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Judo is practiced by over 3 000 registered judoka at 106 clubs in 7 of the 9 provinces of South Africa
North West: - 4 clubs
Free State: - 10 clubs
Western Cape: - 22 clubs
Limpopo: - 9 clubs
Gauteng: - 31 clubs
Kwa Zulu Natal: - 9 clubs
Eastern Cape: - 21 clubs
Nutrition aids optimal performance Judo health and diet basics By: Nicole Ludolph
A
ny person participating in any type of sport knows that following a healthy diet is vital to their performance. If you are new to judo, or even if you aren’t, check out these basic tips to help you maximise your performance:
Hydrate
The most basic rule of any physically demanding sport is to keep hydrated, and judo is no exception. Hydration is particularly important during training, because a dehydrated judoka cannot hope to perform at their best. According to website judoinfo.com, judokas should be drinking at least 200ml of water every 15 minutes. The website also recommends water as the best rehydration liquid, since many of the sports drinks available have a high sugar quantity but a very low or non-existent hydration value. There are a few recommended methods for checking just how hydrated you are.
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One of them is checking the colour of your urine. Dark yellow or gold urine usually indicates that your body is trying to conserve water, which means that your water intake is not enough. You can also measure how hydrated you are by your sweat production. A well hydrated judoka will produce sweat continuously during physical exertion. If you stop sweating while you are training, it means that you are not properly hydrated. Don’t be scared of carbohydrates! In a May 2016, an article for britishjudo. org.uk, British Judo team nutritionist Louise Bloor, expands on the benefits of consuming carbohydrates. She explains that carbohydrates are a key source
of fuel for the body, which is why it is important that judokas structure their meals around their training sessions. She recommends that 2 to 3 hours before training, judokas ingest low GI carbohydrates. Low GI foods take longer to digest, which means they provide a steady release of energy during training. Examples of low GI foods are muesli, pasta and sweet potatoes. 30 to 60 minutes before training, Bloor recommends judokas consume foods that are high GI carbohydrates. High GI carbohydrates are digested quickly, and so provide a quick increase in energy. Examples of these types of foods are white bread, cornflakes and white rice.
Lose weight the right way
In an article from My Judo Techniques, nutritionist for the Canadian Olympic team Catherine Naulleau, urges judokas not to wait until the last minute to cut weight. She says, “Start a program eight weeks before the competition and also, make sure you can make the weight without suffering so much. You should aim to lose 0.5 to 1kg a week and not have to dehydrate more than 3 kg of The process of qualifying to compete in water on weigh-in day. Athletes need their preferred weight category is called to identify a target calorie goal with a good breakdown of carbs, proteins and making weight. Job explained that fat and stick to it. Don’t starve yourself; where a judoka’s natural bodyweight you will just crave the food even more. places them in a category where their opponents are heavier or stronger, they Allow yourself a few treats and avoid making drastic diets as they don’t work can decide to “cut weight to be at the on the long term.” top of the next category below”. Mike Job, veteran judo practitioner and sensei at The Judokan in Cape Town, explained that serious, senior competitors monitor and control their body weight pretty carefully. “Because Judo is contested in weight categories, one’s body weight is very relevant to one’s competitive efforts.”
Don’t forget about recovery!
Practicing judo can take a strain on the muscles of your body. It is thus important to eat food with a high protein content, as it aids muscle repair. Bloor recommends that judokas consume recovery snacks within 20 minutes of competition or training. She also recommends a daily protein intake of 1.2 to 1.7 g of protein per kg of body weight. Like any other physically demanding sport, optimal performance in judo is based on sufficient rest and a balanced diet. The best thing to do when considering changes to your diet is to seek the advice of your doctor.
Cutting weight can be a very drastic process, depending on how much weight a judoka would need to lose. According to Matt D’Aquino, founder of Beyond Grappling fitness, competing judokas sweat and eat as little as possible in the run up to competitions, in order to make their category weight.
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Q&A
1 on 1 with Marli Meiring Champion talks about her judo journey By: Moeketsi Tigeli We caught up with junior Judo multi-champion Marli Meiring about her journey to becoming one of the best in Africa, at 16 years old. When did you get into Judo? I started judo at 5 when I joined my sister Bea at training. My younger bro Louis, also started tagged along from an early age. Some would think Judo is not that much fun, what do you say? It is not always fun to train so hard, it’s different things you have to work with, general fitness, strong core and upper body. All kinds of exercises which you must keep on doing, but to train in a group of judokas is awesome! 24
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Championship advice? I’ve done many competitions and only lost a few, but my dad taught us to never underestimate your opponent. Doesn’t matter how many times you defeat them and never think a fight is easy. Of your many achievements, which sticks out the most for you? I once had to fight a boy and my dad overheard his parents telling him to not be too hard on the little blonde girl. Needless to say I really wasted him. Memorable wins? The most memorable competition or fight to this day is my 2x win over Angola at the July SA Open 2017 and winning gold at the Africa Cadets. I was so much more in control and I believed in myself, I was confident in my abilities.
You’ve worked with coaches, and established people in Judo, any lessons about the sport? My brother and I trained with Oom Wessel Boshoff for international competitions. He pushed me to get better and push through even when tears are flowing. What does Judo mean to you? Judo is part of my life, always has been. What are your thoughts on the future and state of Judo in South Africa? I wish a lot of SA judo girls can go to Europe to train and learn more there. Any changes SA needs to make in the sport? We need to do more competitions and training camps overseas. In Europe there are competitions every weekend. Maybe JSA can bring Olympic coaches to SA regularly.
SCIENCE STARS BUILDING LEGENDS
021 839 2507 info@sciencestars.co.za www.sciencestars.co.za /sciencestars.faceb.co.za @ScienceStarsSA Issue 01 | Judo SA Magazine
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Judogi
Judogi: A brief history The one thing that differentiates Judo from other martial arts is its focus on grappling and takedowns. When Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo, developed the sport, he used the traditional Japanese kimono as a uniform. Soon he found that the standard kimono did not stand up to the rigours of Judo, which led to him altering it. Kano made the kimono thicker and heavier so that it does not tear due to grappling. He also made it tighter to increase freedom of movement, but not so tight that it cannot be grabbed onto during a bout. The length of the jacket and pants were shortened as well. The altered kimono became known as the Judogi. The Belt A judogi is not complete without a belt. In the early days of Judo, belts only came in two colours; white and black. The belt colour indicated the skill, grade or rank of the judoka, and as the sport developed, so did the belt system. Today, there are many belt systems across the globe. South African judokas use the belt system set out by Judo SA. International Judogi Regulations The quality of a judogi has a direct impact on an opponent’s tori (ability to perform their technique). It is therefore incredibly important that the judogi not only be in excellent condition, but also that opponents have identical judogis so that neither is prejudiced in a judo bout. The International Judo Federation (IJF) developed a list of technical criteria judogi manufacturers have to meet, in order to be IJF certified. Judokas cannot partake in official IJF events without IJF certified judogis. Certified judogis display the official “Approved Judogi” red label on the jacket, belt and trousers, and come in judo white and judo blue. 26
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In a document called “Guidance of Judogi Control During IJF Competitions”, the IJF has also laid out incredibly specific rules on how judogis should fit. For instance, a measuring tool called a Sokuteiki needs to fit inside the judogi sleeve completely. There are a myriad of rules around the manufacture and fit of the judogi. It is evident that the proper fitting judogi is essential to the successful practice of judo.
Judo Development: Focus on the Western Cape judo As with any sport, starting at a young age allows you more time to fully master the technique and development. Athletes such as Marli Meiring and Jasmine Martin have steadily over the years acquired championships from an early age and are on their way to even bigger achievements. In this focus series, we looked at three judo clubs from the Western Cape:
Van der Stel Judo Club
Based in Stellenbosch is the multi-purpose Van der Stel Sports Club. This club caters for various ages beginning from as early as the judoka feels comfortable. The coach is Sensei Jan Olivier, a name that’s well known across judo South Africa. He tells us of their training exercises and admits that it sometimes gets ‘too lively’ for an old man like himself. “For the little ones we mostly focus on muscle building, we try to instil discipline and a love for the sport.” Training for the little ones runs every Wednesday from 15h00.
Koga Judo Club
As the new kids on the block, Koga Judo club have managed to stake their claim amongst the judo community in the Western Cape. Two of their players have already won accolades. At the Cape Town Judo Association awards, November 3rd, Mohamad Lut Mohamed won best Junior boy 2017 and Ben Kleu won most promising Junior Boy 2017.
through help from the International Judo Federation. Sensei Godfrey says, “Although we lack resources, judo is important to these kids because it develops the art of discipline in them.” Training for juniors is on Monday & Wednesday from 17h30 - 18h30 at the Eddy Howard Hall In Bellville. For more info, contact tel: 082 530 1989 or email: judodesire@yahoo.com
Training for primary school judokas runs every Tuesday and Thursday from 17h30 - 18h30, at the Fish Hoek Scout Hall in FishHoek. For more information contact Jason Milbank on: 071 990 7945 or email: jason_judo@yahoo.com
Western Cape Judo Academy
With arguably one of the best high performance dojo’s in South Africa, Sensei Godfrey Kleinsmith’s judo academy is a grooming place for champions. His dedication has seen him acquire close to 500 judogi’s for his players
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Judo at Varsity A look at the achievements of the Tuks Judo club in 2017 By: Nicole Ludolph
I
t has been a phenomenal 2017 for the University of Pretoria judo team, Tuks Judo. Under the leadership of their coach, Olympian Nikola Filipov, judokas from this team have been excelling in tournaments and competitions around the world. We had a look at their achievements from January 2017 to date.
University Sports South Africa (USSA) Judo Tournament Win
The USSA held their judo tournament in September 2017 at the University of Pretoria. The home team did their university proud by winning the tournament. This is only the third time they have won the event, and they were ranked above Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University and Stellenbosch University (Maties), who came second and third respectively.
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South African Judo Ranking Tournaments
The first South African Judo Ranking Tournament for 2017 was held in Bloemfontein in February. According to the official SASCOC website teamsa. co.za, the Tuks Judo team cleaned up at the tournament, winning a total of 43 medals. The team reportedly won 27 gold medals, 11 silver medals and 5 bronze medals. The African Open Championships Cameroon hosted the African Open for the first time in November of 2017. Tuks Judo sent three judokas to the event, all three of whom earned medals. DJ Le Grange competed in the under 66kgs division and earned South Africa’s only gold medal at the competition, while Michaela Witbooi and Unelle Snyman both came home with silver medals.
South African Open Judo Championship
July saw the hosting of the South African Open Judo Championship in Bloemfontein. Tuks Judos’ popular judo-twins, Donné and Thomas Breytenbach, both won gold medals at the event, as well as DJ Le Grange, Michaela Witbooi and Unelle Snyman.
African Cadets Championship.
A number of Tuks Judo judokas travelled to Egypt to compete in African Cadets Championship. Marli Meiring won a gold medal in the Women’s under 57kg category, while Donne Breytenbach won a silver medal in the under 48kg category. Thomas Breytenbach, Katja Lang and Galaxy Action each placed 5th in their respective categories. It is evident from their achievements this year that the Tuks Judo team are the ones to watch. We cannot wait to see what they will get up to in 2018.
Judo jargon for the novice judoka By: Nicole Ludolph
O
riginating in Japan, Judo was developed by Jigoro Kano in 1882. He derived the sport from Jujitsu, and developed it into a martial art that encompasses physical, moral and mental discipline. Today, the sport is practiced in almost every country in the world, with countries from four continents represented under the International Judo Federation. For those interested in learning the sport, a good place to start is to learn the Japanese terms related to judo techniques. Here is a list of some basic judo terms for the judo novice: Sensei - A feature in almost all martial arts movies, the word “sensei” meaning teacher or instructor. Judoka - A person who studies judo. Dojo - The venue where judokas learn or practice judo. Gi - Pronounced “ghee”, it is the judo uniform. Dan - The black belt rank. Hajime -The command to begin. Kata - The term can refer to the forms in judo; as in the individual, choreographed training exercises a judoka performs. Kiai - Another feature of old martial arts movies, the kiai is a short yell uttered when performing an attacking move. Jigotai - The defensive posture. Shizentai - The natural standing posture. Ukemi - Techniques that allow you to break your fall or to be thrown down without injuring your body. Rei – A bow.
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Shiai – A judo contest. Nage no Kata – The different throwing forms. In most judo dojos, the sensei also counts in Japanese while teaching: 1 – Ichi 2 – Ni 3 – San 4 – Shi 5 – Go 6 – Roku 7 – Shichi 8 – Hachi 9 – Ku 10 – Ju There are many more Japanese terms used in judo training, and also terms that are specific to judo tournaments. Fledgling judokas can head over to www. judoinfo.com/terms to learn more.
Facilities
Judo Facilities By: Zaakir Yassiem “The purpose of the study of judo is to perfect yourself and to contribute to society,” - Kano Jigoro, Japanese educator, athlete and the founder of Judo. Judo Facilities are springing up all over South Africa, and this is no surprise due to martial art being the world’s second most popular sport.
MJ’s Martial Arts Academy, Ju Jitsu & Self Defense
MJ’s was established in 1978 and was founded by Marcial Schroeder. The Head Coach, Kyle Schroeder, is taking the team to new heights. Just last year at the South African Judo Championships, in Bloemfontein, MJ’s received nine medals. MJ’s own Georgia Bage is ranked 1st in both group 5 and 6 under 70kg’s catertory and 3rd in the women’s open category. Eugene Blou is ranked 2nd in the group 3 under 55kg’s. Additionally both Georgia and Eugene represent the
male and female judoka of the year for 2017. MJ’s doesn’t stop there, the dojo hosts four judoka who ranked number one, another four judoka who are ranked number two and two judoka who are ranked number three in South Africa. Kyle Schroeder 078 260 6244 Kyle@mjsjudo.co.za
University of Cape Town Judo Club
“Mutual benefit and minimal effort with maximum efficiency,” the club believes that this is the construct of modern martial arts. At the 2016 USSA (the annual judo tournament to which all South African universities are invited), UCT received two medals and 5th place in the team event. Ariel Cheng, a member of the UCT Judo Club received the most promising female award and achieved 2nd posi-
tion in the female individuals category. Daniele de Klerk then also achieved 2nd position in the male individuals category. UCT Judo has begun to incorporate a variety of other martial arts, such as Brazilian Jujitsu. The head coach is Sensei Eugenio Barlioli, a renowned Jujitsu specialist. He trains judoka on the basis that mentally and physically strength will help the student develop a sense of accomplishment that will help them attain other goals. Tomas Bruce-Chwatt 078 802 29690 Brctom001@myuct.ac.za
Tuks Judo University of Pretoria
The club is affiliated to the Tshwane Judo Association and Judo South Africa. Tuks Judo’s head coach Nikola Filipov, is originally from Bulgaria and won the European Championships Paris in 1992 in his category.
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Facilities Tuks Judo is home to some of the best judoka, such as Michaela Whitebooi who participated at the African Cup Tournament in Cameroon in November; DJ le Grange who has been training and competing in the US and Canada, and producing exceptional results; as well as Unelle Snyman, who is a nine year SA Judo Champion, and gold medalist at African Championships.
One of the many success stories of the dojo is the 19 year old Vernon Henry, who came 1st in at the SA Championships 3 years in a row, from 2011. He then placed 2nd in 2015 and 1st again in 2016.
Tuks Judo produces national judoka who represent the country in the major events and is one of the largest judo facilities in SA.
This is one of the greatest stories in the development of Judo in South Africa: Volkswagen SA judo team had developed into a program that supported individuals with special needs who would like to practice judo. Coach Sondisa Magajana had taken two young hearing impaired contestants to the Deaf Olympics in Bulgaria in 2013 and that was only the beginning of something great. “I’ve always wanted to break new ground. My plan was to include all disabilities, because in sport these are the people that have been marginalised. I had a strong belief that I make a difference in their lives” Magajana said in an interview with Brands South Africa.
Nikola Filipov 082 312 1333 filipovnikola34@yahoo.com
Bellville Judo Club
Sensei Godfrey Kleinsmith is a high performance coach and has 48 years of judo experience. Training Monday and Wednesdays, at his dojo in Bellville, the veteran trains at a high level of intensity. In the 2 ½ to 3 hour training sessions, he also focuses on skills training and is also a familiar face at training camps.
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Godfrey Kleinsmith 082 530 4989 judodesire@yahoo.com
Volkswagen SA Judo Team
1st National
Ranking
Event
10 February 2018 Port Elizabeth.
Judo South Africa welcomes family and friends of young judokas to join us at the 1st National Ranking event of 2018. Be sure not to miss out on this exciting event and opportunity to see the best of the best from across the country.
Venue: Feathermarket Convention Hall 86 Baakens Street, Port Elizabeth Cost: Spectators R20 per person For more information email: sport@judosouthafrica.co.za
Sponsorship
Sponsorship opportunities and fundraising ideas Whether involved directly or indirectly with the sport, everyone would agree that judo is an expensive sport to participate in. This is especially true if you are competing internationally or at other African tournaments.
From your International Judo Federation (IJF) approved gi, to your travel and accommodation costs, judo can become heavy on the pocket. Funding from SASCOC is also limited and athletes usually pay for all of their expenses themselves. Ideally, each individual judoka would have a sponsor that helped out with expenses, but sponsorships are very few and far between. Many companies contacted while writing this article stated that they do offer sports sponsorships, but were not having an intake right now.
Science in Sport SA - They do spon-
sor individuals via their ambassador programme. The selection is based on geographic area, sport, etc. While they already have allocated ambassadors, they stated that are always open to new requests.
Coca Cola Peninsula Beverages - A sponsorship of this kind could be helpful when organising a fundraiser because you can request a donation. Visit the website for more information or email: specialevents@penbev.co.za
In addition to sponsorships, there are other traditional options to raising money that are also effective. Have a look below for sponsorship and fundraising ideas:
Fundraising - Many people opt for the USN SA - USN does recruit individuals and teams on an annual basis, however they are not taking any new applications at the moment. Applicants may send all proposals to: info@usn.co.za
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Crowdfunding - This typically happens
online and on social media. Participants usually make a video or social media post to explain their initiative or reason for needing funding. Friends and family then make small donations via a platform like ‘GoFundMe’.
trusted traditional way of fundraising like hosting an event and selling food or baked goods.
CSI iniative
Improving the quality of
life of the disabled
J
JSA initiative for the physically challenged
udo South Africa (JSA) has announced its plans to roll out an initiative for people living with disabilities. The project, according to a statement released by the association, is a Corporate Social Investment initiative to be implemented through participation in Judo. The organisation has set aside funds to cater for the disabilities sector through equipment, Judo attire (judogi), support, and encouragement of mass participation in competitions provincially, nationally, as well as international participation. In a statement by Development Director of Judo South Africa, Sondisa Magajana, he said, “People with disabilities are often made to feel that they are not accepted in the society because of their conditions. JSA through its CSI Project, with active participation in Judo, strives to add value in their lives, to restore dignity, boost their self-confidence and self-esteem.” The association, which has 3000 registered judoka (members) and 107 clubs in 7 of the 9 provinces, also announced
its blueprint to set up training camps, coaching clinics, seminars, and competitions to enhance the standards of activities and participants. JSA wishes to use this initiative to improve the quality of life for people living with disabilities by offering Judo as a way of therapy. The project will also include children who are physically challenged, deaf and visually impaired. “As much as Judo is helping them in their health and wellness prompted by the constant physically engagement, we also prepare them mentally and spiritually,” read the statement. In the statement, JSA further elaborated on their four year plan of action saying that by focusing investments on building the capacity of disabled child participation within SA and pushing for international events participation, “These children can realise their dream of being Paralympic and Deaflympic Champions”.
WE’RE ALL ABLE
TO DO
ANYTHING!
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Rising star
Rising Judo Star Up and coming judoka’s
Vernon Henry (CWJA)
19 years old Vernon Henry started judo when he was 8 years old and has not looked back since. He is currently ranked 1st in his weight, in group 5. He has constantly snatched 1st place at the South African Championships from 2009 - 2014 and again in 2016. He has a strict training regime he sticks to, training 3 times a day, 4 times a week. Henry’s father, Vivian Henry, says his strength is picking up skills and techniques with ease and applying it when competing. His long term goals are to make it to the Commonwealth Games, as well as the Olympics. Henry says the key, is to remain positive, “When I lose I don’t see it as a failure, I see it as a lesson.”
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Anda Mbanjeni (CWJA)
16 years old Currently ranked 2nd in the group 4 90kg+ category, Anda is definitely a force to be reckoned with. Under the guidance of Sensei Jan Olivier, Mbanjeni has developed his skills and is focusing on building on his strengths. Since starting judo, he also said that it had shown him how to be disciplined and helped him keep calm and focused and deal his emotions much more effectively. When asked about future goals, Mbanjeni said that one of his goals is to receive his South African colours and proudly wear the Protea emblem on his chest.
Jasmine Martin (KZN)
17 years old Born in Brazil, Jasmine Martin started judo when she was only 6 years old. She is currently ranked 3rd in group 4, under 63kg. Martin also came 3rd in the African Champions Cadets in 2017. The talented judoka has great throwing skills and she is especially good with hip throws. She also has strong dominating grips and moves very well. Sensei Johan Duckworth coaches Martin and says that she is an extremely talented athlete with a very strong mind set, which makes his job easier as she is always hungry to train and be pushed harder in order to improve. Martin’s long term goals are to get more international exposure to judo and ultimately compete at the Olympics.
Unelle Snyman Makes A Comeback At The African Open
T
By: Moeketsi Tigeli
he African Judo Open Championships guaranteed silverware for four local Judokas, in what could be described as a tournament of firsts for the winning players.
The championship ended on Sunday November 26, 2017 and capped off a successful tournament for DJ le Grange (gold), Unelle Snyman (silver), Michaela Whitebooi (silver), and Siyabulela Mabulu (silver). The African Open Championships, hosted in Cameroon at the Yaounde Multipurpose Sports Complex, is in its first year running. Athletes tested their abilities and tracked their progress against rival nations as we move closer to the Commonwealth Games and 2020 Olympics. 21-year-old University of Pretoria judoka, Unelle Snyman marked her comeback to judo with a silver medal win, “First of all being granted the opportunity to attend the African senior opens was already quite a miracle and blessing, and then winning the Silver was just next level amazing.” “I met amazing people, competed along some very talented African Judokas. And one of the best coaches in SA accompanied us, who contributed to us all performing really well!” she added, singing praises for renowned coach Nikola Filipov.
year later Snyman has cemented her spot as one of the best in Africa, with the African Open being her first senior international competition. Snyman’s confidence levels weren’t affected by her time away from the sport, she explains, “I felt like I could’ve walked away with a gold medal, but lost focus in the last few seconds of the fight. Overall it was one really interesting experience.” The two-day competition had 14 contested categories. South Africa came fourth in the overall winnings table, behind Argentina (5 gold) and Senegal (2 gold). The big winners were the hosts themselves with a staggering 29 medals, 6 of them gold. The African Open was indeed a tournament of firsts, when the under-66kg men’s final saw Le Grange and Mabulu compete for gold honours. This, according to Le Grange, could be the first time two SA judokas face-off in the final of an international tournament.
Snyman had taken a two year judo hiatus, subbing the tatami for the netball courts instead and making her comeback during pre-season training in November 2016. Almost exactly one
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Sport Awards
JSA Sport Awards Event Recognising and incentivising excellence
Judo South Africa (JSA) has recently launched their exciting new endeavour, their Sports Awards.
The Awards
“We envisage hosting the awards in 2018 during our Open National Judo Championships. The major aim of the awards is the recognition and incentivising of excellence, “ said the President of JSA, Temba Hlatso. Dates for the Open National Judo Champions are said to be between the 1st - 7th July 2018. The following categories will be considered for the Judo South Africa Sports Awards: • Sportsman of the Year • Sportswoman of the Year • Disabled Sportswoman of the Year • Disabled Sportsman of the Year • Most promising athlete of the year • School sport athlete of the year • Community based sport and recreation programme of the year • Coach of the Year
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• Technical Official of Year • Administrator of the Year • Lifetime Achievement award • Sport Personality of the Year • Sport Legend special award
Nomination procedures
All stakeholders including the public can nominate as many sportspersons as possible for any of the categories. Nominees have to be registered JSA players with the exception of legend and lifetime achievement categories. All nomination forms should be forwarded to the independent evaluation and selection team. Details will be made available once calls for nominations has commenced.
Duration and process of nomination The nomination process will run for a period of two weeks.
• Download the nomination form from www.judosa.co.za. Alternatively, forms
will be made available to all districts and may be obtained from the secretaries of respective districts. • Nomination forms must be filled in fully and forms with missing information will be disqualified and disregarded. • A letter of acceptance for nomination of respective categories should accompany nominations forms. • The form should be forwarded to the nominated address by registered post for security and convenience purposes.
Awards
• Five nominees for each category • Winners will be announced on the day • Voting system to select a winner out of five nominees prior and/or at the awards evening will be determined by the evaluation and selection committee. • The inaugural award prize shall be the Jigoro Kano trophy. • Future awards, subject to sponsorship, will include cash prizes per category winner, amount to be determined by Judo South Africa.
Top performers list Below is breakdown of the top performers in their respective age groups. Which region they are from and their weight category are also included.
10 years old F
Misa von Wielligh, CWJA, 44+ Jene-Mare Swanepoel, CWJA, 40
10 years old M
11 years old F
Group 5 M
Devon Cook, TSH, 60 Christiaan Zietsman, LEJW, 100 Mosa Thetsane, MMJA, 55
Eric Beyl, JBJ, 27 Chad Fortune, CTJA, 30 Matthew Hunt, JBJ, 38
Group 6 F
Kayla Cameron, TSH, 63 Zelda Olivier, BOL, 57 Unelle Snyman, JBJ, 78
Catalina de Oliveira, TSH, 36 Berlyn Serfontein, CTJA, 40 Janke van Rensburg, CWJA, 57
Group 6 M
Dale Whittaker, JBJ, 81 Preston Davids, MMJA, 60 Jay Niemann, NW, 100+ Nico Louw, EJA, 73
Group 6 M
Dale Whittaker, JBJ, 81 Preston Davids, MMJA, 60 Jay Niemann, NW, 100+ Nico Louw, EJA, 73
11 years old M
Alex Hristov, JBJ, 46 Llewellyn Jones, JBJ, 30
12 years old F
Keagan Diab, WR, 57 Machel Luddick, LEJW, 57+
12 years old M
Atlegang Mosese, MMJA, 27 Erin Baisley, NMBJ, 46
Masters 30-34 F
Bianca Visser, CWJA, 78
Group 3 F
Crystal Acton, EJA, 63
Masters 30-34 M
Christiaan Bann, LEJW, 81
Group 3 M
Jeremy Stops, KZN, 66+ Dillon Rudolph, CWJA, 46
Masters 35-39 F
Almarie Horn, NW, 78
Group 4 F
Katja Lang, GN, 70 Charne Griesel, GN, 57
Masters 35-39 M
Steve Lengole, EJU, 73
Group 4 M
Mosa Thetsane, MMJA, 55 Tiaan Giliomee, JBJ, 81
Group 5 F
Jasmine Martin, KZN, 63 Donne Breytenbach,TSH, 48