Catch some Waverley Judo’s memories from 2025.
Gippsland Judo Championship Highlights
Catch all the exciting Waverley Judo highlights from the Gippsland Judo Championships held in Drouin on October 26th, 2025!
We had a small team - just 2 athletes, but we secured 4 medals.
Well done Tani! Gold in both the U90kg and 90kg+ divisions.
Aiden collected 2 silver medals for the Jnr Men U66kg & Snr Men U66kg divisions.
Parents Night '25
Last year's Father's Day event was one of the highlights for Waverley Judo in 2024. In an effort to be more inclusive, we are pleased to announce that this year we will host a Parent's Night instead. Recognising that not all children had fathers able to attend last year and there were not enough participants for a separate Mother's Day event, Parent's Night welcomes all parents and siblings. The session will include lots of fun & games as well as some basic judo skills. If all goes well, (and the parent behave), we’ll try to finish the night with a round of “Chuck a Sensei”.
We invite all our junior’s families to join us on Thursday, September 4th from 6pm to 7pm for an awesome evening on the mat.
JVI Winter Tournament Highlights
Our biggest medal haul for in a long time!
4 Gold, 4 Silver. We finished 3rd overall on the day.
JVI Autumn Tournament Highlights
The latest JVI Tournament was a blast! Our club totally rocked it this time around, showcasing some top-notch skills and sportsmanship. We had a bunch of first-timers stepping onto the tatami who impressed everyone with their grit and determination. For our more seasoned competitors, it was a day filled with fun, fierce matches, and a whole lot of high-fives.
In the end, we scored an epic haul of medals! 🎉 But wait, there's more! Huge shoutout to Tani & Aiden for cementing their spots in the Victorian Team heading to next month’s national championships. 🚀 What an achievement!
Don’t miss out on the action – check out the highlights from the JVI Autumn Tournament on our brand-new YouTube channel! 📹💪 Let’s keep the momentum going, team!
Results:
Aiden: GOLD u66kg Jnr Men & SILVER u66kg Snr Men
Bryan: GOLD u73kg Snr Men Kyu Grades
Dennis: GOLD u81kg Snr Men
James: SILVER u81kg Snr Men
Tani: SILVER Open Snr Men & BRONZE u100kg Snr Men
Izzy: 5th Open Snr Men
Rae: 5th u63kg Women
Nathan: 5th U9 u26kg
John: 5th U11 u34kg
Michael: 7th U9 u26kg
Melbourne International 2025.
Congratulation to the Waverley lads who competed at the Melbourne International Judo Open on the weekend. Great to see the boys full of confidence and giving it a red-hot go. Our team was small, but their determination was huge. It was also fantastic to see so many of our new members coming along to cheer on guys. Thank you all.
Tani - Gold U100kg Men
Aiden - Gold U66kg Kyu Grade Men, 7th Jnr U66kg men
Kaz - 5th U81kg Kyu Grade Men
James - 7th U81kg Kyu Grade Men
First Time Tournament Success
Well-done to all our enthusiastic beginners who bravely competed for the very first time in Sunday’s exciting tournament at Senshi. All up, we had seven first timers on our team this time around, consisting of three energetic kids and four determined seniors. Little Nathan, our star of the day, had an outstanding tournament, winning all his rounds comprehensively with a truly dominating performance. Young Lana and Kosta both showcased their talents, cleverly collecting silver medals in their respective junior divisions, with both kids demonstrating great throwing techniques that impressed their coach and parents.
The seniors faced a tough affair; the tournament turned out to be a bit of a mixed martial arts competition, attracting many representatives from Jiu Jitsu and BJJ. Unfamiliar techniques and the challenge of maneuvering those tricky BJJ gi’s made it particularly tough for our brave beginners, but all four seniors managed to collect well-deserved bronze medals on the day. A huge round of applause for Arden, Bryan, Holly, and Rae – you all performed remarkably well, showing flashes of great skill throughout the competition!
JVI Tournament Highlights
Congratulations to our brave warriors who competed in Sunday’s JVI Summer Tournament. It was great to kick off the year with some great Judo success!
RESULTS
Cadets:
U66kg - Jo. SILVER
Junior Men:
U66kg - Aiden. GOLD, Jo 5th
Senior Men:
U66kg - Aiden. SILVER
U73kg - Steve. GOLD
U100kg - Tani. GOLD
Kyu Grade Men:
U100kg - Zach. SILVER
Discover the Thrill of Judo for Kids!
Discover the Thrill of Judo for Kids!
Are your kids ready to embark on an exciting journey of physical activity, camaraderie, and personal growth? Look no further than Waverley Judo. Our dynamic program is designed specifically for young warriors.
In our program, children aged 5 to 12 get to experience the thrill of judo while learning essential techniques, terminology, and values. Here’s what makes it special:
Fun and Physical Activity: We believe that learning should be enjoyable. Kids Judo combines playfulness with physical movement, ensuring that your child stays engaged and active.
Fundamental Techniques: From throws to pins, your little judoka will master the basics of this ancient martial art. These skills not only build physical strength but also enhance coordination and balance.
Japanese Culture: Judo is steeped in tradition, and our program introduces kids to Japanese terminology. They’ll learn words like “ukemi” (falling safely) and “sensei” (teacher), fostering cultural awareness.
Values That Last: Beyond the mat, Judo instils essential life values. Friendship, respect, and discipline become second nature as your child practices judo.
Why Choose Waverley Judo?
Physical Fitness: Judo improves cardiovascular health, muscle strength, and flexibility.
Mental Agility: Quick thinking, problem-solving, and focus are integral to judo.
Social Bonds: Your child will make friends and build a supportive judo community.
Confidence Boost: Achieving belts and mastering techniques boosts self-esteem.
Classes run every Monday & Thursday from 6pm until 7pm. Term 2 commences on April 15th.
If you'd like your child to give Judo a try, head over to our website to book your free trial.
A Terrific Start to '25
2025 is off to a great start for Waverley Judo. Congratulations to club owner and head coach Andrew, tying the knot with long time love, Sue. A fantastic night was had by all who attended. It’s fair to say that Andrew has made a great start in making Sue “The happiest lady in the world”.
A Blast from the Past
Many thanks to Kathy L. who posted this gem on the Waverley Judo Club messenger chat today. The article tells of the National Championship success for the club in 1979 - former club owner and living legend Mike Keane among the winners mentioned in the article. We’re still a way off, but hopefully our club can re-live some of this past success in this year’s national championships.
IJF Rule Changes for 2025
Nage-No-Kata Champs!
Aiden & Tani
Congratulations to Aiden and Tani, the Nage-No-Kata Victorian Champions of this year. Aiden's enthusiasm and determination have been remarkable at the club throughout the year. He embarked on learning Nage-No-Kata several months ago with the goal of competing in the State Titles. A significant challenge for Aiden was securing a partner. Initially paired with Matt, a knee injury unfortunately sidelined Matt two weeks before the tournament. Tani stepped in for Matt, and despite a 30kg weight difference and just three training sessions, the task was formidable. Nevertheless, overcoming these hurdles, Aiden and Tani triumphed to become the Victorian Nage-No-Kata Champions for 2024!
