The Bytom european Judo Hopes Tournament 2025 coincided with the Kodokan Seminar which was led by Kodokan Expert, two-time Olympic medallist and three-time World Champion, NAKAMURA Misato of Japan and Olympic Champion and silver medallist, World Champion and of course, judo legend, Tina TRSTENJAK from Slovenia.
I am very happy to be here, I think its very nice and important to have this kind of competition, to prepare for the children for the next years because there’s a difference when you reach cadet and junior level. It is more serious and this gives them a chance to adapt, because most will competing nationally or even internationally in neighbouring countries but this really feels like a European level event, more professional.
I also really like that EJU are organising the seminars, I think it is important for the point of view of education, I think children can take a lot out of it, and also having the opportunity to meet the heroes. I’ve had the opportunity to watch the competition and it’s nice to see them really throwing, some nice technique, I’m impressed. For the children, it’s really great, they came for signatures and taking photos, but I think it’s nice for them to meet someone who has accomplished big dreams, to see that it is possible for them too in some years.
With 19 countries, this event is certainly considered a success and it very much opens doors to the young athletes, affording them the opportunity to compete with young athletes from opposite sides of the continent. Trstenjak believes this in a very important first step,
It’s nice that they can come together to compete, I didn’t have so much experience like this when I was young, we went to our neighbouring countries mostly, I think I started when I was a cadet but not in the early years. When I was a child I was not so good, especially when we had competitions in Slovenia, I was always taking third place out of four competitors, or losing first round! So I started to make better results later on, for example I never competed in the Cadet World Championships, one time I competed in the Cadet Europeans but placed 7th. Then when I became a junior I was better, but this is why I think it’s important, this is the preparation for the next years.
Author: Thea Cowen