SANIX International, Juvenile Team Championships – Fukuoka Japan 22 – 29 December 2025
What Have I Learnt as a Coach?
Coaching at international level events and working alongside world-class coaches and athletes has been an incredible learning journey. Each experience has broadened my understanding of judo — not only as a sport, but as a lifelong pathway for growth and development.
Learning From the Best in the World
I’ve had the opportunity to observe different judo styles from across the globe — from Japan to Europe and Asia. Each region brings its own gripping strategies, tempo, and tactical mindset, and seeing this diversity first-hand has enriched the way I teach.
A major lesson has been the importance of mastering the fundamentals. Top nations place huge emphasis on basics such as kuzushi (off-balancing), ashi-waza (foot techniques), smooth transitions, and strong ne-waza control. This has helped me refine the way I coach core techniques at every level.
Coaching Young Athletes Effectively
Working with high-level athletes aged 12–14 has deepened my understanding of what young judoka are truly capable of — both technically and tactically. I’ve learnt clearer, calmer and more supportive ways to guide and correct them, especially under competition pressure.
Another key area has been helping athletes manage nerves, focus, and confidence — particularly on the international stage where the environment can feel overwhelming.
Understanding Team & Competition Dynamics
Through team events and international tournaments, I’ve learnt how to motivate athletes, adapt match strategies, and support them through both success and disappointment. I’ve also gained valuable insight into how elite systems develop athletes long-term while still protecting their wellbeing.
Respect, Culture & Connection
Experiencing Japanese judo culture and etiquette first-hand has deepened my appreciation for the values of respect, humility, and discipline. Cultural exchange with coaches and athletes from around the world has also strengthened international relationships and broadened my own coaching philosophy.
Holistic Athlete Development
Beyond judo techniques, I’ve learnt how important it is to support athletes emotionally and socially — especially when they are travelling abroad. Duty of care, safety, communication and supervision are all vital parts of responsible coaching.
Behind the Scenes of World-Class Events
I’ve also gained a strong understanding of how international competitions are structured — including tournament logistics, officiating standards, rules interpretation, and event discipline. This knowledge helps prepare my athletes better for what to expect on these stages.
Reflecting on My Own Coaching
These experiences have allowed me to benchmark my own coaching programs — identifying strengths while also seeing where I can grow and improve. I continuously bring new technical ideas, drills, and preparation strategies back into my dojo to benefit every student I teach.
Most importantly, these journeys have renewed my passion and purpose as a coach. They remind me why I love helping athletes grow — not just as judoka, but as confident, respectful and resilient young people.
Message from the two Eden Judo judokas – Zoe de la Croix & Ruwayda Fortuin
My Judo SANIX International, Juvenile Team Championships 2025 Experience
What I Experienced and Learned
I learnt so much on this amazing trip, but these are the biggest things I’ll remember:
I learnt new techniques from people all over the world that will really help me in future competitions.
I discovered lots of new throws, turnovers, and hold-downs, which I can’t wait to use in my judo.
I also learnt how to communicate in different ways with people who don’t speak English. This helped me improve my communication skills, and I made many new friends from other countries.
My Favorite Parts of the Trip
I honestly enjoyed the whole trip because it was fun and exciting, and I made great friends — both from my own team and from other countries.
I especially loved talking, training, and playing with girls from other countries. Fighting with them on the mat helped me get to know them better on and off the mat.
I really appreciate that I got the chance to go on a trip like this. I loved our outings to the malls and shops in Japan. The big mall was my favorite because I got to explore, learn, have fun, and be more independent.
My fights went fairly well but very difficult, and it makes me happy to know that I’ve really learnt a lot from this trip.
My Least Favorite Parts
I honestly didn’t have many bad moments, because this was an incredible opportunity and I feel very lucky that I got to go.
I didn’t enjoy getting hurt or dealing with bad carpet burns. I don’t like injuries, and my knee was my least favorite problem because sometimes it just stops working.
I also won’t forget how long the flights were — they felt endless, and the babies crying made it even harder to sleep, lol!
The toughest part was being away from my family. It was hard not seeing or hearing my parents for about a week and a half and trying to stay strong while missing them was difficult.
My coach added this: The coaches were amazing! That made things a bit better
-“Zoe de la Croix”
My judo trip to Japan was really nice, but it was also very sad to leave my family. I was scared to go on the plane at first because it was the first time I flew, but once we were flying it was actually very nice. I met a lot of new friends there, and I started to feel like I was at home.
We learnt so much from the Japanese and other teams. We made friends with them, and they wanted to take pictures with us. They were so kind, but we struggled to talk sometimes because of the different languages.
For Christmas we went on an outing. Thank goodness because the day before we trained very hard. It was really special going with my friends and Senseis.
I wanted to stay longer, but I also really wanted to see my family again. It was very cold there, and it even started snowing, more like ice everywhere. After practice, we played in the snow and had so much fun.
The trip back to George took forever — about 28 hours! But it was so nice seeing my family again. My mom was working that day, and it made me a bit sad because I wanted her there, but I went to her work to say hi. My dad and sisters were there, and it was so nice seeing them again.
There is so much I will remember from this trip. I know now that I need to train much harder than I did before, and I am excited to start this year and practice what I have learned. I also look forward to seeing my new friends again at the next competition.
-“Ruwayda Fortuin”
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