MASTERTON martial artist Simon Ogden has been selected to fight in the New Zealand judo squad.
Ogden, who six years ago founded the Masterton Judo & Ju Jitsu Academy, holds a 4th dan black belt in ju jitsu and late last year graded in judo to black belt, while also winning praise from the grading panel as "technically outstanding".
British-born Ogden said his national team status was a first in his two-decade martial arts career and he was honoured to have won a berth in the Kiwi squad.
His selection qualifies him to compete in the masters class at the Oceania Judo Union Tournament at the AIS Combat Centre in Canberra from April 8 to 10 and the Pan Pacific Masters Games at Jupiters Casino on Queensland's Gold Coast from November 5 to 13.
Ogden, a father of five, said his family commitments have meant he must forgo the earlier competition but he was aiming to do battle at the Pan Pacific Games.