Martial Arts: Golden duo leading judo revival

Rotorua's Megan Pekin (left) and Paul Kirk have been performing well in judo. Photo / Stephen Parker

Judo in Rotorua is in safe hands with a pair of recently named New Zealand champions running the local club.

Rotorua's Paul Kirk and Megan Pekin were both awarded gold medals at the Judo New Zealand National Championships in Tauranga last month, for their age divisions. They also received their black belts in judo earlier the same month.

It was a great reward for the pair, who have been heavily involved in promoting the sport in Rotorua over the past few years.

Three years ago, the pair founded the Pacific Judo Club - as it's now called - at the Pacific MMA Gym on Maisey Pl.

It is the only judo club in the city associated to the governing body Judo New Zealand and has been steadily growing, boasting more than 50 members now.

"It was a real sense of achievement getting the club going and seeing the younger kids moving up and doing well," Kirk said.

He said their goal was to help build the sport in Rotorua and to share their experience and knowledge.

"It is a great sport and there is a lot of opportunities to compete locally, nationally and internationally."

He said both he and Pekin had grown up competing in judo in Gisborne, but had stopped for a couple of decades for various reasons.

However, they were both drawn back into the sport later in life, mainly through their children, and had simply fallen in love with the sport again.

"I did not realise how much I had missed it," Kirk said.

Pekin would like to see more people who used to compete or train in judo come back and get involved in the sport again, especially females.

"It was really popular back in the 1990s, every town had a judo club," she said.

Pekin was glad she had got back into the sport after a long break, and encouraged others to do the same.

Judo is currently an Olympic event and hugely popular overseas.

If you would like to join the Pacific Judo Club pop into the Pacific MMA Gym or call Paul Kirk on 021 816 702. The club meets on Monday and Wednesday evenings.