In May this year Rye’s Braydon Robus achieved one of his judo goals, to get his 1st Dan black belt. He started the sport in 2018, a close friend, Dave Gould, introducing him to the sport. Because Braydon is an autistic person, judo helped with his sensory needs, and there is also an adaptive category to support judoka with any learning or physical disabilities.
In September 2018 whilst on his way to a Judo competition to get his last points for 2nd Dan, Dave was involved in a car accident. Unfortunately by chance we saw the signs of it on our way home from Thorpe Park. In March 2019 Dave passed away. He had been a big influence on Braydon’s judo journey and Braydon always said he wanted to achieve his black belt for Dave, who would have loved seeing what Braydon and Sophia have achieved in their judo journey so far.
Dave’s brother, Mick, has always checked in on Braydon’s and Sophia’s progress, but especially in the last 18 months when Braydon started fighting for the points towards his black belt.
He achieved his 1st Kyu, brown belt, then to progress to the black belt he had to fight brown belt and above opponents, win those fights and achieve points towards his next grading, the black belt.
An ippon score equals 10 points and the magic number of 100 points is necessary. You have to pass your Dan grade theory and achieve nage-no-kata level 1. Achieving all this means you have achieved your 1st Dan. For an adaptive judoka this is a huge achievement.
Braydon achieved his last points on finding out that the fight he had recently won in Belgium counted. He has travelled all over the UK and Europe to get his points on the adaptive circuit. He has had highs and lows, but it was worth it.
Braydon’s journey doesn’t stop there as he is now on the Dan grade journey; next comes 2nd Dan and beyond.
Braydon trains at Dynamic Judo in Bexhill-on-Sea and Keisen Judo in East Grinstead, with coaches Sam Werrett and James Draper. They have worked collectively to support Braydon. When he fights abroad, he is under the support from the GB adaptive coaching team: Beth O’Connor, Paul Tansey, and Kerry Tansey (IJF, EJU and BJA adaptive lead).
Braydon has been selected to be part of the GB adaptive squad, chasing European medals. This next big competition is the International Judo Federation Grand Slam, in Lausanne, Switzerland in August this year.
This is the first time adaptive judo has been allowed to enter the competition, and it is the start of a pathway to get adaptive judo into the Paralympics. This is a huge achievement both for Braydon and for the adaptive judo community.
Braydon was presented with his black belt by Mick Gould at Dynamic Judo, the coaches from both clubs there to congratulate him. It was a proud moment as Braydon had worked so hard to achieve this.
Image Credits: Janine Robus .