Technically outstanding new black belt

Masterton Judo & Ju Jitsu Academy founder Simon Ogden, centre rear, with other candidates and judging panel members at the New Zealand Judo National Technical Exam at the weekend. PHOTO/FACEBOOK

MASTERTON Judo & Ju Jitsu Academy founder Simon Ogden has been awarded a judo black belt and captured praise for his outstanding technical knowledge of the sport at a national exam in the capital at the weekend.

Ogden, 39, who also holds a fourth degree black belt in shorinji kan ju jitsu, received his shodan grading at the Judo New Zealand National Technical Exam weekend along with several other senior judoka from throughout the country.

Ogden, who has been a ju jitsu fighter for almost two decades and a judo player since the age of 5, said his success at the weekend capped a five-year hiatus for him from the sport, a situation matched by some of his fellow candidates who also successfully achieved higher grades.

"There were quite a few people there at the weekend who, like myself, had returned to judo after leaving for quite a long time," Ogden said.

He said the first day of the exam was on technical judo and the second day focused on kata, which are demonstration patterns of judo techniques practised in pairs.

Judging panel head Bill Vincent also praised Ogden as "technically outstanding" and he was spared the kata examination after taking silver medals in Nage-no-kata at both the 2014 Wellington Open Championships and at the 2013 New Zealand National Championships.

He said his achievement had been possible only through the support of his wife Anya Ogden, Wai Weight Gym owner Bevan Mackenzie, who helped keep "my body in rough shape and fitness", his kata partner and academy instructor Vinnie Morris.

"I have to thank all those people, the judging panel and, very importantly, the guys at the Masterton academy; the grade is a reflection of their input in to my judo career, as much as my own to be honest," he said.

"The technical exam pointed out that four of the six people grading had all been judoka and been away for 10 or 15 years and then came back. There was only one candidate in his early 20s, while the rest of us were pretty long in the tooth.

"That just goes to show that anybody can achieve their black belt in judo. It's just putting the time and effort in. I hope it just inspires all the guys who are currently training."

Judo lessons are on offer at the Masterton Judo & Ju Jitsu Academy for juniors, cadets and adults and ju jitsu for adults. For more information go to www.jitsunz.weebly.com or call Simon Ogden on 021 248 6111.