MedicalParamedics and Emergency Medical Response

ER24 branch manager scoops gold at SA Judo Champs

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ER24 North Metropole Branch Manager, Grant Stewart, struck gold at the 2015 South African Judo Open Championships held in Stellenbosch recently.

The 38-year-old blue belt holder obtained a gold medal in the Masters Under 90kg, 34 to 39 year male category.

He also obtained a gold medal for the group events as the team manager for the boys U/10 category.

Grant, an advanced life support paramedic originally from Roodepoort in Gauteng but now living in Cape Town, said, “The tournament was stressful. I was nervous. During a tournament like this I focus on technique and my breathing during the fight. You have to believe in yourself and your ability. However you also need know your own limits.

“Every fight can change in a split second. The best judoka is not guaranteed to win as a small mistake or judgement error can cost you the fight. I am proud of what I have achieved in such a short period of time. Generally, judokas my age have years of experience behind them. They usually start judo at the age of about eight.”

Grant, who is registered with the Tygerberg Judo Club and Judo South Africa, only started judo training in October 2012. “My eldest son started judo training in Johannesburg in 2010. After moving to Cape Town in 2012, we registered him at the Tygerberg Judo Club. After about three months, my youngest son decided that he also wanted to take up the sport. I decided to start while watching them train. It seemed like it was good for one’s health. The sportsmanship and professionalism showed by the sensei was very inviting,” he said.

His sons also competed at the South African Judo Champs this year. Grant’s nine-year-old son obtained a gold medal for an individual and group event and his 12-year-old obtained a bronze medal in an individual and group event.

This is the second South African Judo Champs that Stewart has competed and obtained a medal in. He obtained a bronze medal in the 2013 tournament.

He has also obtained a number of medals in various Boland and national ranking tournaments.

Grant advises people to consider participating in sports because it offers a number of benefits. “I run, cycle with my family and play a bit of golf with my sons. I do anything the family wants to do together. Family is very important to me. Any sport is good for your health, mind and soul. Judo seems like an aggressive sport, but it is not. If a person shows any aggression on the mat, they will be disqualified immediately. Judo has taught my sons respect in sport and to accept defeat,” he said.

He added that it is easy to sit on the side and tell your child what to do in a competition… until you have to do it yourself. One only realises how difficult and technical a sport it is once they participate in it.

“There are fathers who participate in judo with their children at our club. Adults should never give up. Never say you are too old to start. You do not have to compete at the highest level. You simply need to enjoy it. Set yourself reachable targets and re-visit these targets from time to time. Do not overdo it,” he said.

Grant generally practices twice a week. In preparation for tournaments such as the South African Judo Open Championships, practice increases to about three sessions per week. “Training entails fitness, ground techniques (Ne-waza), standing techniques (Tachi-waza), armlocks (Kansetsu-waza) and strangulation (Shime-waza).  The name judo also means ‘the gentle way’. Judo teaches you how to be calm under any situation and respect for other people,” said Grant.

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