Judo Victoria will trial an innovation for the NES at the upcoming Melbourne International Open, with Senior Kyu Grades competitors matched to similarly graded rivals.
The aim is to encourage more adult beginners and intermediate judo players to take the leap into competition secure in the understanding that they won’t be contesting with players with years more experience.
“No matter how old you are, your first competition is scary. If you are an adult beginner in judo, you want to test yourself against other adult beginners, not someone who has been a brown belt for years because they couldn’t find the time to grade to black. We’ll do our best to match yellows to yellow, orange to orange, greens to green etc” said Maria Pekli, General Manager of Performance & Pathways for Judo Australia.
While best known for honing the competitive edge of Australia’s high performance players, Maria is also a Judo Victoria member and a longtime club owner and coach at Resilience Training Centre.
“Like every club out there, Resilience wants to see more adult beginners taking up the sport, and sticking with it. Making competition more attractive is one way of helping that happen,” she said.
Senior kyu grades are open to all players aged 15 years and over who have not yet attained shodan (black belt). Registrations for the MIO are now open at Judo Manager:
REGISTER FOR: Under 15 Boys & Girls, U13 Boys & Girls, U11 Boys & Girls, Adaptive Judo
Melbourne International Open – leading the way by matching kyu grades competition by belt.
