2025 major events
Our participation at the Nationals this year was the highest in our 23-year history of competing at Nationals, with 37 athletes competing in 56 divisions as well as 3 athletes contesting 3 Kata divisions. Medal tally this year was also very impressive with Budokan contributing approximately one-third of all medals won by the NSW team and one-third of NSW’s Gold medals. The attached report is very detailed and for those who love statistics, it gives you plenty to ponder over. In essence, the trend in participation and performance for the club is very motivating for us. More importantly, many of our athletes are developing a solid maturity to their Judo and we are excited about our future. Feel free to let me know if you find any errors in the report.
Being presented with my OAM by the Governor of NSW at an Investiture ceremony on 27th May at Government House and sharing the moment with my family was very special. It was also nice to take the award to the club and share it with all club members and their families. Quite an honour to be the second #TeamKatz and #TeamBudokan member to receive such acknowledgement and I am very grateful to all Budokan members and their families for supporting us and sharing our vision for the club. Special thanks to club Vice-President Scott Young for sponsoring the nomination.
In less than 2 week’s time, Korean Judo superstar An Ba-ul will be running a seminar/masterclass on the weekend of 28-29 June. As a former World Champion, 2 x World Bronze medallist, Olympic Silver and Bronze medallist, 2 x Masters and 4 x Grand Slam winner, this event should not be missed.
4 of our Juniors (U/21s) have been selected to 2 Junior European Cups and international camps in Prague, Czech Republic 5 - July and in Paks, Hungary 12 – 13 July.Congratulations to: Clarissa Vumbaca, Mackenzie Cook, Bianca Tandean, and Max Zollinger on these selections.
A week later, the above 4 athletes join 8 more Budokan Cadets and Juniors (Crosby Peake, Lochlan Cook, Kento Asano, Nicholas Platonov, Eric Jang, Grant Gu, Billy Nyamdorj, and Anita Nourafshan) for the Asian Cadet and Junior Cups in Hong Kong. The 8 Cadets and Juniors will also follow up again a week later with the Macau Cadet and Junior Cups.
Announcement of this team will be made shortly so I am unable to report on the club’s representation at this time, but this will occur as soon as JA confirms the team.
