Judo showdown coming to town

JUDO competitors from around Australia will descend on Bendigo over three days in October for the first ever Judo National Club Teams Championships.

The event has been designed to mirror the corresponding Olympic teams competition, with male and female judoka set to compete over various weight divisions and skill levels.

A coaches forum will also take place during the tournament, with topics on the agenda to include an increasingly prominent version of the sport known as Adaptive Judo, which is suitable for community members living with a disability.

Shane Alvisio, Judo Australia’s head of operations, explained that the new championships will be a grassroots celebration that could become the “biggest event” in national judo.

“This is our most important thing,” he said. “It honours the roles clubs play in the judo family, and includes everybody. Judo is a sport for all, and we should be celebrating that together.”

“Competitors will be more passionate about contesting this event on behalf of their local clubs.”

“Often it’s with a volunteer coach and training partners who mightn’t be as keen on competition. But, to support their friends, to train together towards a goal – that’s the judo spirit.”

Judo Australia CEO Beck Hamilton thanked the City of Greater Bendigo for helping organise the event, which more than 200 clubs have been invited to.

“The support we’ve had from the City of Bendigo will go a long way towards ensuring Judo Australia can establish the National Teams Championships as an annual celebration of our sport,” she said.

“It’s going to be truly exciting to see the entire Australian judo community come together and converge on your city for this incredible weekend.”

The inaugural Judo National Teams Championships will be run between October 18 and 20 at Bendigo South East Stadium in Flora Hill.