Elite Sports Student Keira C and her Judo Journey
I was six years old when my mum and I visited our friends in Newcastle. While we were there, Jaxson (my good friend, who was 7/8 years old at the time) was going to his judo lesson and suggested I go along with him to try it out. I didn't know this sport but was willing to give it a try. I had to borrow a Gi, a jacket, trousers and a belt, similar to a Karate uniform. I really enjoyed it, and one of the coaches said I was a natural with the right build, very strong and sturdy. When we returned home, my parents suggested we look for a Judo class in Northampton, as I really wanted to continue with this sport. We found one close to town, which was ideal.
It was great; I attended twice a week with other kids of similar ages, boys and girls. Some were beginners, and some had been going for a while. Everyone was friendly, and I started to learn different techniques and the names in Japanese and English whilst continuing to practice various techniques.
After around 3-4 months, my Coach mentioned grading to my 1st Mon - this is gaining your first of three tags on each belt. I was very excited and nervous to complete my first grading. I was given a set of techniques (judo moves) to learn and recite the Japanese and English names to move to my next grade.
For junior players, there are levels of skill grades known as Mon, which are denoted by coloured belts along with tags:
1st Mon (Red belt with 1 yellow tag)
2nd Mon (Red belt with 2 Yellow Tags)
3rd Mon (Red belt with 3 Yellow Tags)
4th Mon (Yellow belt with 1 red tag)
5th Mon (Yellow belt with 2 red tags)
6th Mon (Yellow belt with 3 red tags)
7th Mon (Orange belt with 1 red tag)
8th Mon (Orange belt with 2 red tags)
9th Mon (Orange belt with 3 red tags)
10th Mon (Green belt with 1 red tag)
11th Mon (Green belt with 2 red tags)
12th Mon (Green belt with 3 red tags)- Where I'm currently at.
When I reached a red belt, we were encouraged to compete in local Judo competitions. This was when I realised I was pretty competitive. Each time, I brought home a Bronze, Silver or Gold Medal. As time passed and I reached my orange belt (8th Mon), the club organised a ceremony where they would encourage the Judokas by presenting them with medals, certificates, player of the month, and overall player awards. This was a great evening where pictures were taken, and we played games and celebrated our achievements.
I've attended various competitions and local or National events where we've had to travel with an early start as the 'weigh-in' before the event is from 8am to 9 am. My most recent competition was in Sheffield, the Open National Schools Championships 2025. This was my most significant achievement when I came home with a Gold Medal and was also in the local newspaper (Chronicle & Echo). This made me very proud of my achievement. Today, I own 11 gold, 4 silver and 3 bronze medals. I hope to continue judo, pursue my competitive career and bring judo to the next generation.