I think I'm probably a rare case in terms of Judo. I have quite a unique claim to fame.... I have only ever trained at one club for my entire Judo career. I mean sure I've done the odd session at other places but regular, consistent training? There's only ever been one place for me. As they say "I found my Home" and I found it early.
I started Judo at the age of five for perhaps the weirdest of reasons looking back at it now as a thirty-six year old. A favour, yep that's 31 years of this crazy sport for a favour. You have to wonder what I was thinking as a five year old to agree and more importantly what my mam was thinking for letting me. My friend wanted to get a badge and the only way to get this badge is to bring a friend to try one session. An easy way to keep the class alive and one that I still use now for my own kids classes. I had to do one lesson. That's it. Simple really. However, for me that one class turned to two then a month and before I knew it, I had been there for 31 years. Same place. Same class. Same Days. So for pretty much my entire life, definitely as long as I can remember, I have known exactly where I would be and what I would be doing on a Tuesday and Thursday evening. I just moved from taking part in the class to teaching it!
Looking back now in what is the Club's 50th Anniversary year. It seems completely insane to me that I have been here for over half of its existence. I can't decide whether its a good thing or bad. I think I'm leaning more towards good. There must be a reason and if I'm honest there are two very good reasons. One - The people. Yes the boys drive me mad most of the time. It's hard being one of the few females in a very male dominated sport. Not that they ever really let me pull the girl card often but if you think about it logically I cant be that bothered or I wouldn't have stuck it out for three decades. They drive me mad but they also give me the best laughs. Like real stomach ache inducing laughs. Whether it be from a silly anecdote to watching their faces as they try to figure out a move. I can always find a smile on the mat with my boys. Boys who don't care what I look like or what I'm feeling. (In the best possible way) They see a judo suit and a fellow Judoka, which is exactly what I am. The second reason? Easy. My Sensei. He is someone who has known me the whole time. Same Sensei. Same Judoka. Whether it was as a five year old getting my first stripe to a 30 year old finally feeling fit enough to compete internationally for the first time and the only time I have competed without him in the room. As my Sensei he knows when to talk to me (and wind me up) and when I only need a dose of reality and shove in the right direction. He has the ability to get on my nerves more than anyone in the world and yet also the ability to calm me down and not take it too seriously quicker than anyone too.
So to answer the question...Why did I stay? Simple really.... I FOUND MY HOME.
