The UNSW Judo Club is one of the six high performance clubs at the university. An empowering sport with many facets, the club welcomes people of all age and skill levels.
Heidi Wright got into judo after starting at a small regional club in Lismore. Now president of the UNSW Judo Club, Heidi’s mission is to make the sport a little less intimidating and more inclusive for those starting out.
"Most people grow up playing good old team sports– it can be pretty confronting turning up to a sport where, instead of a ball, you’re throwing people around!" she said.
"Classes cater for everyone from beginners to recreational and advanced, competitive players. We’ve put a large focus on female participation in the last few years, starting female only courses to foster a friendly and inclusive environment. We want to share our love of judo. For some that’s teaching them the techniques needed for their first belt grading, and for others it’s training them to win competitions and qualify to represent Australia overseas."
The judo club has hit the ground running in 2019, with an exciting range of activities that club members have taken part in. Two young club members, Dylan Katz and Ivan Samsonov, were selected to attend a four day Judo Australia Futures training camp at the Australian Institute of Sport on Canberra in January. The camp provided guidance in techniques, training methods and nutrition, as well as the opportunity to train with the top junior athletes from across Australia.
Another group of young athletes took part in a national cadet and junior squad training camp in Japan in January. The group trained at a number of high schools and universities, getting the opportunity to participate in cultural exchanges with Japanese hosts.
While improving their judo skills was the main order of business for the group, team coach Kylie Koenig and Japanese liaison Hitoshi Kimura (both from the UNSW Judo Club) were called upon to use another skillset.
The Australian team was returning from a training session when their bus drove past a collision between a car and woman on a bicycle at a major intersection. Koenig, who is a police officer, she saw the collision through her window.
"I could see the lady in her 60s was unconscious and when I checked she wasn’t breathing," Koenig said. "Then I pretty much went into police mode.
"I’ve been in the police for 24 years. It didn’t matter that I was in another country and didn’t understand. It was just instinct."
Kimura’s translating skills were put to good use and Koenig was able to restore the woman’s breathing and keep her safe until the ambulance arrived. In recognition of their fast thinking and proactive response, they received letters of appreciation from Hideaki Adachi, Chief of the Ageo Police Station.
There will be plenty more excitement for the club this year, though hopefully it will be restricted to the mats at they prepare for some important competitions. Whether you’d like to keep fit, learn some self-defence skills or do some serious training, the UNSW Judo Club has you covered.