Recent news articles

2025 ACT AND SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL OPENS & CAMPS

Don’t forget entries for the 2025 ACT International and 2025 Sydney International Opens are now open. Details and references follow:

Entries close 7th February. An email was sent by Judo ACT on 3 January with links to the entry portal https://portal.judomanager.com/competition/2025_canberra_int_cadets_jwjm...

Entries close 21st February. You should have received an email from Judo NSW on 30 December with links to the entry portal.

CADET (U/18) & JUNIOR (U/21) EUROPEAN TOURS

In our December 2024 Newsletter, I congratulated the seven Budokan athletes who had been selected or re-selected to the National Cadet Development Squad and the National Junior Development Squad. As the result of meetings between National Coaches which took place both during and following the Senior National Camp earlier in the year, athletes will be selected for two European tours comprising competitions and camps as follows (dates approximate): 

  • Cadet Tour: 11 – 28 March 2025 – Cadet European Cups and international camps Croatia (Porec) and Germany (Bad Blankenberg for Women and Bremen for Men). Kerrye will be one of two National Coaches on this tour.
  • Junior Tour: 26 February – 14 March - Junior European Cups and international camps Spain (Malaga) and Portugal (Portimao). Nathan will be one of two National Coaches on this tour.

 The official JA list should be released soon, so I will wait until this happens before announcing any Budokan athletes that may be selected.

NATIONAL EVENTS UPDATE

The club’s National-level athletes trained through the holidays both on and off the mat in preparation for two National camps. Both of these camps were very successful for our athletes and coaches. Budokan’s representatives to these camps were: 

  • 9 – 12 January – National Australia Nextgen Camp 2025 at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Canberra for athletes turning 14 or 15 years in 2025: Daniil Savytskyi and Ethan Zhang

 

  • 13 – 18 January – National Senior Camp at the National Performance Centre (NPC) Melbourne for Cadet and older athletes: Nicholas Platonov, Aaron Xu, Crosby Peake, Max Zollinger, Nikola Dobric, Clarissa Vumbaca, Bianca Tandean. Eric Jang was also selected but was unable to attend. Kento Asano from Ohori Brisbane also participated and has now joined us at Budokan having moved to Sydney.  Welcome Kento to the Budokan family. Also participating were Josh Katz (off mat) and National Coaches Kerrye and Nathan Katz and club coach Rob Katz.  This camp ran for 6 days with 2 Judo sessions being run on most days, a team conditioning session, an IJF Rules Seminar and a practical session on Rules interpretation plus a talk and Q&A on Sport Integrity. The 100 athletes and coaches were well and truly fully occupied. Living in cabins 5-6 in a room was also great for team bonding.

 Also during the holiday break, 4 of our athletes had the opportunity to train in Korea. Congratulations to Alex and Alice Lee, Grant Gu and Isaac Choi.

2025 TRAINING FEES AND MEMBERSHIP PROCESSES

I mentioned in the January Newsletter that the 2025 club training fee schedule and processes have been updated on all club documents and the club website. Please note that since distribution of the Newsletter, Judo NSW issued an advice that their annual membership fees will increase as of 1st February. I will update the website at that time but some hardcopy instructions at the club may still contain the old Judo NSW fees so please note this.            **Judo NSW will adjust the fees as follows:** 

  • Senior Membership will increase by $5 annually to $195.
  • Junior Membership will increase by $4 annually to $154.

Associate Membership and Mini Kids (pre-school) Membership will not be adjusted.

NEW BUDOKAN MERCHANDISE – GET THEM NOW!!!

In our last Newsletter, I mentioned some great new club merchandise. These are now on display in the cabinet near the entrance to the club. Many of these items were presented to award recipients at the Budokan Awards Night in December, but that shouldn’t stop you from getting into the action. These items are cheap to buy and apart from showing your support for the club, showing them off to family and friends will create interest from those who see them, and we may generate more membership.  Please see Kate or one of the Committee members to buy any. Please send me an email at katzfamily@iinet.net.au or text me on 0411409632 if you want to order a customised medal holder - these are only $15 and will have your name emblazoned under the Budokan logo of your very own medallion holder.  Thanks to Andras for producing these items. We have the following available: Key rings (two kinds), Bag Tags & Medal holder (with your name or without).

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