We have the pleasure of working with individuals who dedicate their lives towards their chosen sport. These individuals require the best training regimes and support to ensure they continue to excel. They take their sport seriously, and so do we.
Qona Christie
Qona’s love for the sport of Judo is surpassed by few. Her wortk ethic is surpassed by even fewer. Qona recently came back from Australia after winning the junior women’s Oceanaia Judo Championship title. She is no stranger to being on the podium.
Qona’s next international tournament is the Sydney International in February 2020. Now that she is too old to compete in the junior women’s division, her full attention will be on the senior women’s division. Jordan is training with Qona on a weekly basis leading up to the event, to ensure she is in the best possible fighting condition, come February.
Qona and Jordan have mapped out specific areas of her physical performance that need to be worked on, which will be applied through a structured training regime in both a gym setting and in the Dojo. Qona is an extremely hard worker so we are excited to see the progress we can make. This is her story:
When and why did you start doing Judo?
“I started judo when I was 7 years old because my family friends grandma was a black belt so she encouraged my mum to take me along to classes as I was such a hyper kid.”
What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve faced?
“One of my biggest challenges so far was overcoming my shoulder injury. I injured my shoulder at the worst time of year. I hurt it only a week out from my first international training camp and 3 weeks out from nationals.”
What’s been your biggest success?
“Winning the Oceania judo championship in both junior and senior women’s division.”
What are your goals for the next few years?
“Goals for the next few years would be work towards qualifying for the 2022 commonwealth games and 2024 Olympics. And also to chase more qualifying events overseas.”
John Maxwell
John is the kind of person that you can’t help but be inspired by. Even if Judo, or sport in general, is not your “thing”, his character and the values he lives by is something we can all take a learning from.
Jordan first started training with John in 2018. John had set goals that he wanted to achieve in order to improve his Judo, focusing primarily on speed and power, while remaining injury free.
While training together, John won a plethora of gold medals, with the highlight being a gold at the Commonweath Judo Tournament in the masters division. A credit to the extremely high standards that John sets for himself, as well as the pride of bearing the silver fern on his chest and fighting for it on the international stage.
John is currently overseas, competing in a number of tournaments as well as taking a well earned break. This is his story:
When and why did you start doing Judo?
“I started judo at the age of 11. I was involved in a lot of fights (never looking to fight but my ego refused to allow me to back down). My parents realised I needed an outlet...they tried various martial arts but I loved judo because it was so hands on.”
What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve faced?
“For any minority sport in NZ, it’s the funding. I came from a poor background and could not afford to attend many national events, let alone international competitions.”
What’s been your biggest success?
“Winning the Commonwealth Championships in India last year (2018) and in the same competition, fighting for a bronze in the open age men’s event. That would be my pinnacle so far, but my fondest memory is fighting the world champion, Michael Swain at the USA open in 1984. I finished in the final 8 and was only 19 years old. Unfortunately I suffered a serious shoulder injury fighting a Norwegian Olympian, Alfrado Cinchila in the repercharge and this still causes me issues today.”
What are your goals for the next few years?
“I’m inspired to push for a medal at the world championships, I have failed to advance from the first rounds in two showings now, and albeit I haven’t yet had a point scored against me, I have failed to fire, and feel there is a lot of unfinished business. I also want to win the Commonwealth Championships in South Africa…And Jordan, without a doubt, having your positive influence and knowledge in my corner has been one of the most important foundation blocks I could have, in my continual search of the perfect judo.”
You can hear more about John’s story in this video