Kris takes home gold

A young Whangaparaoa champion is on a roll competing for the top spots in judo.

Kris Hollings, 9 has been on a winning streak this year and is undefeated in his weight category at both national and international levels.

After training sometimes up to three times a week for the past five years at the Nippon Judo Club, Kris has taken out gold medals in a number of national and international competitions.

Kris won a gold medal at the New Zealand Judo Championships in Wellington last month in his 24kg category and also another at the South Islands Championship in September.

‘‘I have won lots of medals and because I won my category in the New Zealand Judo Championships I got to go up a weight level, to 28kgs and got bronze which is still awesome,’’ Kris said.

The Whangaparaoa Primary School student said he is still the national north island champion for judo.

‘‘We didn’t have the Northern Island Championships this year but I won that last year. I also won the Judo Auckland International competition in July against people from New Caledonia, Tahiti and New Zealand.’’

Kris also won the Bay of Plenty’s in June.

‘‘I love the sport and how there is no kicking and punching. I like how there is a lot of throwing and it is self defence,’’ he said.

The objective in all competitions has been to get the opponent on their back or held down for 20 seconds.

‘‘I hope to compete overseas one day and in the Olympic and Commonwealth Games.’’

Kris is now orange belt and gets ranked by his coach, Johan Boshoff twice a year.