Judokas learn from renowned martial artists
A TOTAL of 10 judokas and three coaches from the Coral Coast Judo Club attended special training sessions in Cairns.
Two intense training sessions were delivered by Megumi Hamashima, a sandan (third degree) black belt hailing from Osaka in Japan.
Hamashima has competed successfully on the international circuit, winning the 2018 Australian National Championships and bronze at the Queensland Open.
While on holiday in Cairns, Hamashima delivered the coaching clinics to judoka and coaches from Coral Coast, Innisfail and Cairns Judo Clubs.
North Queensland state coach Andreas Schmidt said: “It is great we can have a highlevel female competitor who is also an active coach come and demonstrate her favourite International techniques and participate in randori (free practice) sessions.”
These clinics were the first in a series of internationallevel judokas visiting the Far North.
In March, Coral Coast will host French Olympian and sixth-degree black belt Ferrid Kheder. Kheder’s resume includes two-time European Champion, five-time World Cup Champion, five-time French Champion and World Champion in No-gi Ju-Jitsu as well as 34 fights in MMA.
FNQ Judo chair Xavier Barker was delighted to host Kheder at Coral Coast, saying he was “one of the most wellrounded grapplers in the world”.
“Few people have medalled in both bjj and Judo at the highest levels and then gone on to enjoy a successful MMA career,” Barker said.