MUNCIE, Ind. – Ball State University’s Judo Club team is back in action, returning to its regularly scheduled practices.
The team looks to remain competitive as a few points of emphasis are already being pursued this year. Club Vice President and green belt Elijah Greer shared those aspects as they’ve already gotten a glance at some local competition
“This year it's just physical fitness, teaching, and carrying on the tradition and sport of Judo, and just building community. We have done practices with other schools like Purdue and
IU and some other local colleges, where we get together and it’s less of a tournament and more of a combined practice,” Greer said.
Ball State’s Judo Club team has had a handful of highly competitive fighters walk its halls.
Yellow belt Madeline Tarnecki describes what they’re doing to make sure that trend continues.
“We teach both traditional and competitive Judo here, so we try to integrate a lot of competition Judo into our daily practices, making sure people who want to compete are getting those drills in,” Tarnecki explained.
Preparation is a crucial aspect in Judo, but Greer emphasizes the club shouldn’t look past organization, as it helps with the preparation process.
“I think just be better organized, especially with the officers and keeping in touch with the Rec and just doing that kind of thing,” Greer said.
He furthermore explained how that pushes the preparation mindset.
“Obviously, as you can see, we’re out there practicing so that’s reaching our physical fitness and we go to competitions, so that helps in that area.”
A competitive club team is taking the steps to succeed as they know what it takes to do so, creating an environment that is built to have yet another promising year.
Contact Aiden McNally with comments at aiden.mcnally@bsu.edu.
