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KEY DATES & CALENDAR FIRST CLUB TRAINING SESSIONS FOR 2024

PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE TO A COUPLE OF DATES PREVIOUSLY ADVISED   

  1. 8 - 13 Jan 24             National Training Camp NPC Melb. (Senior, Junior M/W, Cadet)
  2. 11 - 13 Jan 24           National Futures Camp - AIS (Juniors DoB 2009 and 2010 i.e last year Senior B/G and first year Cadets, turning 14 or 15 in 2024;
  3. 16 Jan 24                  First Junior and Senior class (Tuesday/Thursday)
  4. 22 Jan 24                  First  Monday night
  5.  27 Jan 24                 First Saturday sessions for Competition Juniors and Seniors
  6. 7 Feb 24                    First Dinos and Mons class
  7. 17 - 18 Feb 24           2024 ACT Open - Goulburn
  8. 26 Feb 24                  Next Committee meeting TBC
  9. 2 - 3 Mar 24               2024 Sydney International - Liverpool
  10. 17 Mar 24                  Budokan Mons Competition
  11. 13 – 14 Apr 24           2024 Melbourne International Open – Broadmeadows VIC
  12. 7 - 9 Jun 24               2024 Nationals, Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre, Carrara
  13. 30Jun24 or 1Sep24   TBC or alternative - Budokan Mons and Juniors
  14. 20 – 21 Sep 24         Open Schools Ch/Ship and Brisbane International – Nathan, Brisbane
  15. 18 Oct 24                  Open Club Team Ch/Ship – Broadmeadows VIC

BUDOKAN JUDO CLUB 21ST ANNUAL AWARDS NIGHT 7th December 2023

  • 25 years ago, this club had 10 members and ran 2 classes a week. 4 years later we held our first Awards Night, so this year represents the 21st time that we have come together to acknowledge the achievements of the club and its members.
  • The reason Budokan thrives is because our coaches really care about our athletes, the athletes really care about each other, and the parental support is second to none.  For us, success has always been about encouragement, participation, and acknowledgement.
  • Acknowledgement of:

Kerrye who will soon be presented with a NSW Government Service Award from the NSW State Member for Castle Hill; and Ali Yuldashev being recently graded to 1st Dan black belt.

  • Formal recognition and presentation of certificates to 17 of the club’s long-term volunteers via the NSW Government Volunteer Recognition Program: (5yrs) - Susi Tandean, Peter Jennings, Liam Stewart, Kate Peake, Jo Edwards, Jarrad Cooper, Franz Tandean, Dieter Riechert, Daniel Kennedy, Aziz Yuldashev, Alainya Zollinger, Scott Young (10yrs) - Andras Koltai, Lubo Petr, and Cathy Roach; (Life) – Dale Keogh, Kerrye and Rob Katz. Thanks to Scott for arranging these.

 

  • Highlights for the club this year:
  • Club Membership.  Stable this year at around 200 with all our classes having a healthy attendance. Acknowledge Kate Peake, who has done a great job in taking over management of our club training fees and Judo NSW membership fees.
  • Venue and Finances. We continue to make progress with grant applications and improvements to our club building and training equipment through the hard work of Scott Young. We also provide financial support to our State and National team members.  This year we were able to run our first club-hosted NSW Mons and Junior competition in two years and we look forward to continuing this tradition nest year.
  • Our International and National Representatives. This year we had a very strong National Team representation, with 8 club members representing Australia in 20 international events. We also had huge participation at the Nationals and at most interstate Open events. Kerrye will run through the details of these shortly.
  • Our Coaching Team. Kerrye and I can’t say enough about the support we have received from our main coaches Dale Keogh, Jarrad Cooper and Liam Stewart. We are also very grateful to our assistant and support coaches on the mat: Cathy Roach, Dieter Riechert, Daniel Kennedy, Lynne McCredden, Ben and Lilly Zollinger, Flynn Mogilin, Michael Bielby, Aziz Yuldashev, Lubo Petr, Phoenix Edwards, Simmy Waraich & Mina Woo.

 Acknowledge Budokan’s international representatives for 2023:

  • Nathan Katz. Nathan fought in 11 international competitions this year including his fifth  Senior World Championships. Winning a number of matches, he made the Round of 16 in the Turkey Grand Slam, the R32 in the Georgia GS, and the R32 in the Portugal Grand Prix. He also competed in Grand Slams in France and Israel, and Grand Prix in Austria and Tajikistan and in the Pan-American-Oceania Continental Championships. 4 months ago, Nathan and Josh moved back home from the National Performance Centre in Melbourne and Nathan has recently announced his retirement from competition. He is now recovering from surgery and we wish him well for the future. As he is unable to be here tonight, we will honour his achievements next Tuesday night between the Junior and Senior Sessions.
  • Josh Katz. Josh fought in 8 international competitions this year, missing a few due to injury, including the World Championships. He had a solid year winning half of his 20 international matches with career best results fighting for a medal at both the Israel GS, and recently at the Perth Oceania Open as well as winning a Silver medal at the Pan-American-Oceania Continental Championships. He also made the R16 in the Mongolia GS and the Portugal GP, and fought in Grand Slams in France, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Abu Dhabi ending the year with a world ranking of 27 and on track for qualification to the 2024 Olympic Games. We wish him well on his Olympic road ahead.
  • Bianca Tandean. Bianca won Gold in the Junior Asian Cup Macau, Silver in the Cadet Asian Cup Macau and the Cadet Pan-American-Oceania Continentals; and Bronzes in the Cadet Asian Cup Hong Kong, the Perth Oceania Cadet Cup, and the Perth Oceania Junior Cup. She also placed 5th in the Junior Asian Cup Hong Kong and competed in the Cadet World Championships, the German Cadet Women’s Cup and the Czech Cadet European Cup
  • Max Zollinger. Max won Silver in the Perth Oceania Cadet Cup and Bronze in the Perth Oceania Junior Cup. He placed 5th in the Cadet Asian Cup Hong Kong getting injured fighting for Bronze, so had to miss the Junior event as well as the Cadet and Junior events in Macau. He had 2 good wins at the prestigious Bremen Cadet Masters and also competed in the Czech European Cadet Cup. He was selected for the Cadet Pan-American-Oceania Continentals but unable to compete due to injury.
  • Aaron Xu. Aaron won a Bronze in the Perth Oceania Cadet Cup and placed 5th in the Perth Oceania Junior Cup. He also competed in the Cadet and Junior Asian Cups in Hong Kong  and Macau.
  • Crosby Peake.  Crosby placed 5th in the Cadet Asian Cups in Hong Kong and Macau. In Macau he fell ill and couldn’t fight for the Bronze medal. He also competed in the Perth Oceania Cadet Cup.
  • Bernhard and Bjorn Tandean - Bernhard and Bjorn qualified for, and competed in the World Kata Championships in Katame-No-Kata.

 

  • National Championships. Presentation to the club of Budokan’s 37 athletes selected to the NSW State Team to the Nationals. Including Kyu Grades, Masters and No Limits divisions, Budokan had 37 athletes compete in 40 divisions winning 20 medals: 6 Gold, 5 Silver and 9 Bronze. We also had 4 athletes contest 3 Kata divisions winning 2 Gold and 1 Silver medal.
  • Thanks also to a number of our club coaches who were NSW representatives. Kerrye – Junior Team Coach, Rob – Senior Team Coach, Dale – Kata Team Coach, Liam – Senior Kyu Grades Team Coach, Franz – No Limits Team Coach, Lubo - NSW referee
  • Including our officials, we had 45 club members participate in this Nationals, over 22% of the total club membership, which is really great participation for such a large club.

 

  • Volunteers.  Our volunteer base is enormous, from our fantastic Coaches and Committee, to parents and athletes who support many of the club’s activities and volunteer at State competitions. Special mention of:
  • Dale - NSW BBR Kata instructor, a State Kata Coach & NSW Dan Grades examiner
    • Lubo - International referee; and, sitting close behind him are our youngest upcoming referees: Trent, Johnny, Daniil and Ethan.
    • Liam - State Kyu Grades Coach, Franz as a State No Limits Coach, State Kata judge.
      • Our website sponsor: Guido and Trend Marking, and also Carlo and Pizza Alfresco for his catering sponsorship for our Awards Night.
      • Committee members: Scott, Kate, Peter, Andras, Franz, Nick, Kenny and Life Member Dale
      • Scott and Kate for their work on major projects this year, and Peter for ensuring our finances and governance remain sound.
      • Also Alainya, Susi, Pyit, Kenny, Kate, and Yuan for your support during training sessions with attendance records, cleaning, merchandising and fees.

 

HEAD JUNIOR COACH AWARDED THE NSW GOVERNMENT COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD

Budokan Judo Club Secretary and Head Junior Coach, Kerrye Katz has been awarded the NSW Government’s Community Service Award. The media Release follows: 

  • On the 21st December 2023, Kerrye and I attended the office of the NSW State Member for Castle Hill, Mark Hodges MP, so that Mark could present the award.

 

  • “This award is in recognition of Kerrye’s inspirational leadership and dedicated level of service to the Hills community for over 20 years,” Mark Hodges said.

 

  • “Kerrye spends countless hours supporting, motivating and encouraging each and every one of her athletes irrespective of their skill level, age, fitness or ability from those undertaking their first class as nervous toddlers under 5 years of age, to National Champions and National Team members, providing an immense benefit to the local and broader communities.”

 

  • “Together with my husband Rob, it has been a privilege and an honour to lead Budokan Judo Club and to see many of the club’s youngest athletes develop into happy, confident and successful adults not just as Judo athletes, but in life. This award is a tribute to the whole Budokan family of coaches, committee members, parents and athletes who make the club so special and I am very grateful” Kerrye said.

 

  • The holder of a 5th Dan black belt, Kerrye has competed at Judo’s highest level representing Australia at five World Championships and the inaugural female Judo competition at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. 
  • In addition to Club coaching, Kerrye has been the State Junior Team Coach to the Nationals for many years as well as the State Junior Development Squad Coach. She is also the current National Cadet (Under 17yrs) Coach, often travelling overseas for international events including the Youth Olympic Games and World Championships. 
  • At Budokan, Kerrye and Rob lead a team of 16 assistant coaches, all volunteers who offer up to 12 sessions per week for 200 athletes representing a diverse cross section of the community.
  • Budokan caters to a diverse community demographic throughout the Castle Hill electorate and beyond.  From pre-school toddlers, recreational players and members with spectrum disorders to veteran competitors and Olympians – athletes are guided along pathways which maximise their enjoyment and potential.
  • Her coaching role in the club makes her responsible for the development of all Juniors 9 to 14 years of age, from beginner to National Champion. She has up to 50 students in these classes. 
  • Kerrye also created the “Dino Kids” pre-school pre-Judo program for pre-school 4 and 5 year olds. The program commenced in April 2017 and under Kerrye’s lead, has been a great success as an introduction to Judo principles and discipline whilst creating challenges in a safe environment.
  • Budokan consistently achieves outstanding results in National competition.  In the 21 National Championships in which Budokan has been represented since 2002, 502 athletes have competed in 723 divisions and have achieved 384 medals comprising 141 Gold, 102 Silver, and 141 Bronze medals.  This enviable level of consistent success is a testament to Kerrye’s service and commitment to both Judo and the Hills Community over many years. 
  • At the opposite end of the competition spectrum, in August 2023 Budokan hosted its 25th NSW State competition for MONS (under 9 years) and Junior (Under 12 years) athletes from NSW clubs. These events provide an opportunity for all of NSW’s youngest competitors to experience competition Judo, many for the first time, and doing so in a friendly club environment.  Importantly these competitions expose Judo to the Hills community as well as bringing the NSW Judo Community to the Hills.
  • In all Kerrye’s commitment to Budokan Judo Club and the community exceeds 15 hours per week whilst continuing to work part time as a Special Needs Teacher.  
  • Budokan won the Hills Shire Council Australia Day 2020 Community Group of the Year and was also a finalist in the Sport NSW Community Club awards during 2019.  In 2017, Budokan won the Judo Australia Annual Club Award for initiative. 

 Kerrye is a selfless coach who instils her Olympic values in each of the junior athletes she coaches motivating them to achieve their life goals both on and off the Judo mat. Congratulations Kerrye on your fantastic contribution to Judo and Budokan.

CELEBRATING NATHAN KATZ’S INTERNATIONAL CAREER

On the 12th December, a presentation was made to dual Olympian Judoka Nathan Katz at the club, to commemorate his retirement from competition and to celebrate his long and distinguished service to Judo as an international representative and an ambassador for Judo and for Australia. The media release follows. 

  • In November 2023 Nathan announced his retirement from international competition after 12 years of representing Australia at the highest level.  The Budokan Judo Club Distinguished Service Award was introduced by the club in 2017, and is dedicated to the memory of Craig Leishman, a member of one of the longest standing families in our club. The purpose of the Distinguished Service Award is to recognise the service to Judo of one of our club’s members through their long-term dedication and commitment to a specific aspect of Judo, one which contributes significantly to the club’s overall performance. Nathan is well-deserving of this award.

 

  • This was the first time in 21 years of holding Annual Awards Nights, that the club has recognised an athlete for their service to Judo as an international competitor and an Australian representative. In Nathan’s case, his contribution has been much greater than his own competition career.

 

  • With his parents (Rob and Kerrye) coaching in Melbourne in the late 90s, Nathan was born on the mat there and has never left it. He started Judo formally in 2000 at 5 years of age at Budokan Judo Club which his parents took over in 1998. 11 years later at the age of 16, he fought in his first Cadet World Championship in Ukraine where Rob was his National Coach.

 

  • This would be the first of 8 World Championships in which Nathan competed, 5 of which were Senior World Championships where he won numerous matches making the top 16. His career highlights are no doubt qualifying for 2 Olympic Games: the 2016 Rio and the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games where he also made the top 16, and winning a Bronze medal at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games. He qualified for 2 World Masters, and fought for medals in the 2019 Montreal Grand Prix, the 2021 Asian-Oceania Continental and the 2022 Perth Oceania Open. He fought in nearly 40 Grand Slams and Grand Prix’s placing 7th in the Tokyo Grand Slam in 2015 and placing in the top 16 in a number of Grand Slams and Grand Prix.  He also won Silver and Bronze medals at a number of Continental Opens and Continental Cups. In total, he competed in nearly 90 international events. In the local region, he holds 11 Oceania medals, 7 of them Gold, and 18 Australian Championship medals, 10 of them Gold. An amazing career by anyone’s standard. 

 

  • Nathan has had many career highs and of course also many lows and we shared them all together with equal commitment and enthusiasm. Setting ambitious goals and applying his genuine passion for Judo, with planning, discipline and a stubborn determination, Nathan succeeded in reaching many of these, but others were not met; but that is life’s lesson – about being proud of doing the best you can, of doing everything you can, and he has certainly done that.

 

  • Off the competition mat, he has always been there for Budokan Judo Club, for Judo NSW and for Judo Australia, assisting in coaching whenever he was available. His generosity extends to such activities as mentoring school children through the Olympics Unleashed program, being an AIS Mental Fitness Ambassador, chairing the High Performance Combat Centre Athlete Committee and most recently acting as a mentor and team leader at the Olympic Change-Maker National Summit.

 

  • He and Josh have now started their own business, named TeamKatz whose purpose is to provide guidance through presentations and mentoring to inspire and motivate young people to fulfil their full potential in school, sport and career. They are well qualified for this task.

 

  • We are very proud of Nathan and how he has navigated his career as a Judo athlete and we look forward to participating in the next part of his journey as a coach, a mentor and as a sports media professional.

 Congratulations Nathan on your stellar career, your contribution to Judo and in winning the 2023 Budokan Judo Club Distinguished Service Award.      

CLUB FEES UPDATED

At the club Committee meeting in November 2023, it was voted to increase club training fees by approximately 10%. Before recommencing training, please make sure that both your Judo NSW registration or that of your child, is current and that your training fees are up to date. The new 2024 club fees have been updated on our website, on our Fee Instructions and also on the Square Reader at the club.