Some of Australia's leading female judoka have stepped forward to head up J-Girls, a program designed to get girls and women into Judo and back on the mat Australia-wide. Funded under the PlayWell Strategy designed to create safe, welcoming, inclusive and enjoyable sporting environments, J-Girls will do exactly that - nationwide!
The J-Girls National Mat Takeover will be led by our J-Girls Ambassadors in nine cities around Australia, with support from local organisers and our Brains Trust steering committee. Our Ambassadors - elite female judoka from the National Performance Centre - are looking forward to the chance to return to their home states and spend some time on the mat focusing on fun and community.
Taking place in cities around the country on March 23 (Hobart, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Darwin, Cairns and Brisbane) and March 30 (Sydney and Canberra), the National Mat Takeover will be very special for all of these judoka, but for Maria Swan, Saya Middleton, Anneliese Fielder, and Alannah Joyce, it offers a very special opportunity to give back to their local communities.
All four elite judo athletes are based in Melbourne at the CombatAus National Performance Centre, but will travel home to Perth, Brisbane and Darwin to lead the National Mat Takeover in those cities.
"We spend a lot of time training and a lot of time travelling," explains Alannah, the Northern Territory's 2024 Sportsperson of the Year, and up again for honours in 2025.
"Going home is always special, and I always try to get to the club as much as possible, but the chance to meet new people just getting into judo, to help inspire them to try judo, and stick with judo is really exciting."
Alannah will lead TAKEOVER: DARWIN, while fellow national team members Maria Swan and Saya Middleton will head home for TAKEOVER PERTH.
Queenslander Anneliese Fielder will head north for TAKEOVER: BRISBANE, while Commonwealth Games gold medallist Tinka Easton will head south to Tasmania for TAKEOVER: HOBART and to the capital for TAKEOVER: CANBERRA.
"I am really excited to have the chance to give something back to judo and help develop girls judo in Australia," says Tinka, who calls Melbourne home. "We spend so much time overseas that coming back to Australia is special enough, but getting on the mat with the young kids is my favourite thing to do, and it's going to be great to take it on the road!"
Like all of our J-Girl crew, Tinka is an accredited judo coach and will join Tasmanian organisers Logan Palmer and Lisa Svenby to introduce judo skills, judo games, and judo fun to girls and women of all ages. A J-Girls t-shirt will welcome everyone to what is hoped to become a regular fixture in the calendar, and BBQ will help local J-Girls connect with their judo community.
"For so many of us, that's what judo is all about," Tinka explains. "The people you meet on the mat, and the shared values that being a judoka tends to develop. We try to live by the code, and Friendship is right up there."
"And honour, and respect for each other," continues Tinka's long-time teammate, two-time Olympian Aoife Coughlan. Fresh home from the Paris Olympics, Aoife is refocusing for a new cycle, and thinking about how much judo has given her.
"The Moral Code is something that makes judo unique, and more than just a sport. Obviously, it is my sport, I give it my all, but it's much more than that. Some of the best judoka I know have never competed, because judo is about so much more than that."
Aoife will lead TAKEOVER: CAIRNS on March 23 and TAKEOVER: SYDNEY on March 30, travelling the length of the country during her preparation period for the 2025 Pan America-Oceania championships in April. Many of the young judo champions participating in the National Mat Takeover are focused on this critical leadup to the World Championships; it underlines the importance they place on fostering young talent.
The Coughlans know what it's like to be the only girls in the club, and that was part of the inspiration behind J-Girls, Aoife's sister, Maeve Coughlan, explains. Maeve, project manager and Ambassador-in-Chief for J-Girls, will lead TAKEOVER: MELBOURNE.
"We were all young girls once, and as we grew up we saw our judo friends stop for some reason or another. Having other girls to train with makes judo a much more inviting place, whether its the reliability of a regular training partner, or just a laugh after training. That's true whether you are on the National team, or just looking for a new hobby," Maeve explains.
Fellow Victorian Ryley Rametta will travel to Adelaide to work with planning committee member Hannah Bradbury to lead TAKEOVER: ADELAIDE. It's a big ask of our national team members so close to a major international competition, but the Ambassadors know it is worth it.
"J-Girls is not about making everyone into a top competitor, it's about saying 'hey, judo is fun! Bring your mates!' and getting people on back on the mat if they've taken a break, or trying it for the first time. We just want everyone to get the chance to be a Judo Girl!" Maeve says.
"Sign up now - and we'll see you on the mat!"
WHEN & WHERE? March 23 from 10am-4pm: TAS, VIC, SA, WA, NT, FNQ and SEQ. March 30 from 10am-4pm: NSW and ACT.
HOW MUCH? Registered JA/State members: $30. (tshirt, workout, BBQ, fun!) Non-members: $90. (for all of the above, plus essential insurance for 12 months of J-Girls events).
REGISTER NOW AT REVSPORT:
*Non members: please sign in as a GUEST
HOBART: Hobart University Judo Club, Unigym, Grace Street, Sandy Bay. TAS.
MELBOURNE: CombatAus NPC, Lakeside Stadium, Aughtie Drive, Albert Park. VIC.
ADELAIDE: Western Youth Centre, 79 Marion Road, Cowandilla, SA.
PERTH: UWA Judo Club, University of Western Australia, Claremont, WA.
CAIRNS: Northern Beaches Judo Club, 119 Wattle Street, Yorkey’s Knob. QLD
BRISBANE: Ohori Judo Club, 40 Molle Road, Ransome. QLD.
SYDNEY: Judo NSW Training Centre, Newington Armory, Silverwater. NSW.
Comments