Adaptive athletes and coaches learn, train and network in the home of Judo

The Australian delegation welcomed to Japan - full details below.

An enthusiastic team of adaptive athletes and support crew have just completed a three-day training camp in Japan as part of the ID Network’s learning tour for adaptive judo.

Hosted by Nihon Bunka University in Tokyo, athletes representing Australia at the well-attended camp were Jakob Edwards, Bernard Tandean and Phoebe Ladlow of Sydney clubs  Zenbu, Budokan and Kokoro, Lillee Wakefield and Liam Hudson from Tiger Adelaide, Aleah Gaudry of Kitsune Lismore, Tobias Sampson of Seishin Hobart and Robert Girdwood from Kano Perth.

While training and developing their judo was an important goal, the trip had a wider purpose – to allow adaptive athletes, their coaches and support personnel to develop knowledge and personal networks necessary to advance the cause of Adaptive Judo.

Designed to invite players with physical, sensory or intellectual differences to participate in judo, Adaptive Judo adjusts the training and/or competitive environment to deliver a safer and more enjoyable experience for Adaptive players. 

The challenge for judo clubs around Australia is to be aware of best-practice approaches to working with adapted rule sets, providing more welcoming environments, and enticing new players into the Adaptive Judo community.

Managing the team and the wider expedition was Mayumi Hamashima of Brisbane Judo Club, working alongside coaches from around the country: Lewis Willing of Seishin Hobart, Melissa Avgoulas of Kitsune Lismore, Brenton Pring of Tiger Adelaide, Franciscus Tandean of Budokan in Sydney and Carla Johnson of Seishin in Hobart.  Support crew included Grant Girdwood, Phil Ladlow, Nikita Pring, and Stephanie Dellepiane.

As well as training sessions on the tatami, the camp included cultural aspects such as the history of judo with a focus on its founder, Jigoro Kano, and a traditional tea ceremony. 

A competitive element built in was several rounds of friendly shiai competition as part of the Ninagawa Cup, and the team is now hoping to be able to secure a training session at the Kodokan – the traditional home of judo.

Judo Australia has been able to provide a small subsidy for athletes and coaches and provide some items to be used for thank you gifts to their Japanese hosts.  The opportunity for our Adaptive leaders to learn new strategies to develop adaptive approaches in clubs, as well as coaching and refereeing adaptive tournaments, will deliver benefits for all Australian judoka, as well as young people yet to discover our sport. 

Adaptive judo, along with Para Judo for visually impaired players, and the J-Girls program for women and girls, are key areas of focus under Judo Australia’s PlayWell strategy, a multiyear plan to build inclusive, fun experiences to underscore the fact everyone has a place in judo.

(Enjoy our gallery! Click to see the photos in full)

Friendship and respect on show.

Australian adaptive judoka meet their camp mates.

On the tatami at Nihon Bunka University in Tokyo.