Judo’s great impact
By Amy Cooper, Year 8, Redlynch State College
I HAVE been partially sighted for as long as I can remember, so I don’t really know any different.
Back when I was a kid, I thought of my vision as pretty good, especially now when I look back, I consider what I had back then normal sight compared to what I see now.
My vision started to deteriorate at age 12, and throughout Years 7 and 8, it only got lower and lower.
As an eight-year-old, I did taekwondo where I learnt to kick, punch and other skills.
Now, since my vision is lower than it used to be, I cannot do those sorts of martial arts very easily.
At the age of 12, inspired by my neighbours, I had my first judo session. I started at Cairns Northern Beaches Judo Club, and my first lesson wasn’t too good.
We bowed in and then were sent off for a few laps around the mat.
The dojo didn’t have many lights, so I was almost completely blind in there.
I couldn’t see people’s faces. I couldn’t make out what gender a person was until they spoke. I could only just make out figures.
I stepped off the mat, hope abandoning its place in me. I couldn’t do this. Coincidentally, a judo instructor from Adelaide, who specifically worked with visually impaired judo players, was present at the time.
He ran up to me, grabbed my shoulder, and said, ‘Let’s go’. If he hadn’t been there, I probably wouldn’t have gone back.
He trained with me most nights, boosting my confidence levels.
And when it was time for him to go back to his home town, I had already learnt a few throws and groundmoves.
From then on, I practised and practised, getting better and better with time and the help of my sensei, grading from a white belt, to a yellow, and most recently an orange.
I have fought in a few competitions at my home club, participated in a few classes with other clubs, fitness training sessions and am going to the nationals in June.
I am so grateful that the instructor was there at my very first lesson because I would have never gotten this far and how inclusive my sensei has been has also pushed me further in this sport.
I have discovered that I love judo. It’s one of the rare sports I can actually participate in.
I don’t have to look down at my opponent’s hands or feet, I can just feel when they’re going to strike, feel where their foot is, and feel which way they are most likely to move.
The instructor from Adelaide said this was common in partially sighted players. It is one of the skills that has helped me in fights.
I am feeling confident about the nationals and will have no hesitation to go far in this amazing sport.