In a little country town in Queensland, Australia called Murgan population 4,757 there is a unique group of young people playing the Olympic sport of Judo.
Unique because some of the players are intellectual disabled, but this has not deterred their instructor Stan Munday who recently moved to Murgon from Adelaide in preparing the players for gradings/promotions (certainly South Australia’s loss and Queensland’s gain). Stan a National Accredited (Coaching level 2) a 3rd drgree Black Belt and a National A Class Referee is highly qualified for the job and freely gives his time to the club and sport.
The training of Judo players with intellectual disabilities is unique in Queensland and Stan found that there was no incentive for these players to advance, so he embarked on a journey to have an appropriate Grading syllabus approved for them. He has found good support from friends and high graded players as well as overseas instructors and Federations.
Recently the Murgan Judo Club had its first grading for their two intellectual disabled Judokas, it was a tremendous success. The results were Corey Smith and Dale Mackay were both graded to Senior 5th Kyu, Yellow belt. I believe these maybe the first in Australia to be officially graded with the support of the JFA Qld Inc.
Above right to left are Corey Smith, Cathy Wilson CEO Life Stream
Foundation, and Adin Brown Sports Development Officer for
Life Stream Foundation and Dale Mackay.
It was indeed satisfying for Stan to receive the level of support for outside agencies as well, for example the ‘Life Stream Foundation’ and the JFA (Qld) Inc senior grades and overseas instructors. The CEO of Life Stream, Cathy Wilson and Adin Brown, their Sports Development Officer travelled three hours by car from Brisbane to attend this special occasion. They were impressed with the individual training and personal interaction the Murgon Judo Club has provided to Corey and Dale. The inclusiveness of people with disabilities in sporting events promotes valued status and positive social outcomes within our communities.
Both these young men have been training twice a week for the grading for over eight months and have shown dedication and commitment.
Stan has also found support in Ben Van Der Eng, the Chairman of the National Committee for the Disable Judo Bond in the Nederlands. Ben has given tremendous support to Stan in his endeavors to have these Judokas officially recognized by grading.
He has also given Stan and his two players a generous invitation to attend the European Judo Union Judo 4 All Festival. It is expected that 500 to 600 competitors will attend with and eight mats running. This will be done in very controlled conditions with quite a number of different disabilities divisions, however education, safety and fun will be the most important part.
Stan has also received support for this event from the Dutch Judo Association with a generous offer to provide his team with free accommodation for the European Judo Union Judo 4 All Festival. Now all we need to do is find a sponsor for three airline tickets from Brisbane to Amsterdam (Schiphol) to arrive before the 3rd April 2008 and return after the 7th April 2008
If sponsorship eventuates this will be the first time an Australian Judo team with intellectual disabilities have had the opportunity to compete at an International Judo event. We wish Stan well in his endevours.
