Big Judo Central Kids Get Ready for Grading

Great to see all the kids getting ready for their grading on 7 December 2013. Here are some photos of the city team.  Even though Ben is off the mat with a ruptured Achilles tendon Jordan, Tracey and the team have done an awesome job keep things on track and making sure the kids are prepared properly.

Big Judo Auckland Update

Some photos from Big Judo's two kids classes in Auckland. Awesome watching the kids develop and the parents getting involved in Auckland we have three Dads who regularly attend and it is neat to see kids and Dads all participating in Judo.

Beginners 1-2 pm 

This class is aimed at kids starting Judo.  Big Judo is a Kosen style Judo club and we focus entirely on ground fighting skills for the first 6-12 months.  Fighting on the ground is a great medium teaching the kids gross motor skills that transfer into their stand up fighting later.

Jordan and Trev teaching the kids about fighting in the 'guard' position

The kids always have a good wrestle 

Big Kids 2-3 pm

The big kids class continues to have a solid ground work and grappling element but we extend the teaching to include throwing.

Big Judo Pukekohe

Big Judo Pukekohe photos.  The class is going real well.  After six months of focusing on the basics; break falls, balance breaking and ground fighting the kids are really starting to come along nicely. 

Geoff and Tracy teaching the kids O Goshi (Major Hip Throw)

At Big Judo we find that the best way to teach is to do! Crash mats are a great tool for letting kids practice throwing. 

But we follow a Kosen Judo tradition so we always do some ground fighting.

And trophies at the end for the best players.

Big Judo Rewards for Zac

Judo brings lots of rewards.  Some intangible some more tangible. The kid's have a pretty tangible reward system. We always make sure that there is a 'Player of the Day' given out for bravery, good technique or demonstrating good values.  Zac here was last Saturday's Player of the Day. 

Zac's Dad and I have been doing Judo with each other since 1983 (when we were both about the same age as Zac) and we thought it was pretty neat to see another generation coming through doing Judo and thought it would make a neat blog post!    

Big Judo Term Four Starts

Big Judo's fourth term for 2013 started this week.  Ben and the other instructors are back from their holidays and we are ready to 'rock and roll'.

The Puke class had 17 kids on the mat and we are currently discussing splitting this class into a bigger kids and a smaller kids/beginner's class.

The Central class had 10 and 14 on the mat for the Beginners and Advanced classes respectively.

Good solid numbers for our first sessions back.

Big Judo Howick Fun Day Contest - First Photos

Big Judo's first ever competition team fought in the Howick Fun Day Judo contest.  Our kids did very well.

We entered seven kids but a pre-tournament concussion and stomach bugs reduced our numbers on the day to four fighters.

But even with only four kids competing we picked up three medals which is fantastic for a first tournament.

We also had an awesome turnout from parents and supporters and then finished the day with a BBQ. It was a fantastic day although I have to say that I think coaching is more stressful than competing!

Well done team. 

Here are the first installment of photos as get more we will put them up so you can see some of the team in action.

Ben on the sideline.

Ben and Jordan and the team.

The hall at the start of the day.

Samuel from Big Judo holding an opponent down.

Scott Silver

Weston Bronze

Samuel Bronze 

Big Judo - Motivation - Great Video

Another good video we found on You Tube.  Not very politically correct!