Sometimes life is not just about Judo

Kariotahi Beach in winter fantastic. Almost as good as Judo?

The Apprentice Becomes the Master

A couple of weeks ago we published the picture of two boys mopping the mat and discussed how martial arts can teach us about life. At every stage in life you inevitably start at the bottom and it takes persistence and patience to move to the next step.

Its also a matter of time.

With a new junior person in the club the two guys mopping the mat in our last photo transition and become the 'seniors' teaching and supervising our new 'player' as he performs his apprenticeship.

One day (with luck and persistence) instead of teaching their juniors how to mop the mat, the two guys on the left will be teaching their juniors technique.

And that is why we teach Judo because these kids aren't just learning to defend themselves, or to compete well or to be confident they are also learning about life. That the best things don't come easy, that there is no shame in humility and that a good teacher serves before they teach.

Big Judo Adults - A Picture Says a Thousand Words

Since going mats down adult numbers are picking up and we are really enjoying our Judo.  Some photos from last Saturday.  A nice big class.

I think we had 20 on the mat.  Plenty of big boys and few smaller people as well.  Nellie on the right running the class.  Me on the left talking... but I did do some ground work!,

Throw of the day Cherry 48kg Japanese woman flips Jacob.  

Looking down the line at the end. Awesome. And I nice spread of grades too. 

Big Fun at Big Judo

Some photos from recent weeks at Big Judo.  Since getting the mats down we have been having a great time. So thought we would share some photos for fun. 

A Saturday kids class fighting on the ground.  We do heaps of ne waza (ground fighting). Love it.  Kids love it too. The other cool thing is that so many of the adult class have started coming down to help out.  We try to encourage that family mentality  If you are part of Big Judo then we expect you to 'grow' by helping the people behind you 

A cool photo of two cool kids with their medals.  Noah's huge. Cherry is tiny but both of them are a big part of the Big Judo family.  Both wear our colours in competition and both come early and help with the kids classes.  Real role models. 

A photo of the kids about to start tachi waza (stand up fighting). Just so you know that we are a Judo club!

Big Judo plus Auckland BJJ - Its a Grappler's Paradise

Its a grappler's paradise!

Big Judo and Auckland BJJ are working together bringing Judo and BJJ to Sandringham.  

Next week Auckland BJJ starts classes in the Big Judo Sandringham dojo. Auckland BJJ will be there on Monday and Wednesday nights. 

Big Judo are doing Judo on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.  

We look forward to having Auckland BJJ co-located with us because Judo and BJJ although different are complimentary and it is great to have this strong, friendly and social club sharing our venue.

Big Judo Life Lessons Too

This photo captures a key part of being a real martial artist. If you choose to pursue Judo you will find out that some of its key lessons is humility and hard work.  That you need to work hard to learn is obvious enough.  But to become powerful on the Judo mat (and in life) you also need to be humble.

You advance in steps at the top of each step is a 'plateau'.

Maybe you transition from being the best kid to being the bottom of the teenager's class.  You work and fight and eventually become the best teenager. You only get to enjoy that status for a short time before you grow and become the person at the bottom of the adult class.  Again you work and fight and maybe you become the top adult.  But the rub is that even if you won an Olympic Gold medal (or two) you still only get to be the best for a short time. Soon enough age will slow you down and the younger players will take over. Then you need to accept that being a competitive player has gone and that you must pursue other things.

At each 'plateau' you have to accept that you aren't the best. That you need to just listen and learn to move up.  You have to be humble and steel yourself for the work that is ahead of you.  Most people can't and they drop out.

These two have just done a tough judo session and being the lowest grades they get to mop the mat The two young guys mopping the floor in the photo are learning  great lessons about humility and hard work.  But we loved that they are smiling and getting on with the job.

And that's actually what Big Judo is about.  We are building strong resilient people willing to take the 'rough with the smooth', accept that there is path to be followed and work hard with good humour to achieve their goals.

Big Weekend for Big Judo

Awesome weekend at the Waikato Bay of Plenty Open competition.  We took five people down to Rotorua and four won medals.  Everybody performed very well.  Good stand up Judo, killer ground work and lots of heart. We will put up some more photos as people send them through.

Wiremu looking happy with a Gold for his weight and a Bronze in the Open Weight Category.

Noah also looking pretty happy.  Bronzes in his weight in two age division.  Well done.  

Scott and Wiremu.. It is Scott's first time back on the mat after taking a break to 'grow into' his next age group.  He did very well winning Silver in his weight. 

Sorry don't have a photo of Cherry with her medals She won her weight and then the weight above. 

All round an awesome day.  We also had strong contingents of supporters out watching and cheering.