"Here I am writing from Australia again. I actually had a farewell party already but things have changed and I had to come back. I'll explain later because today’s topic is New Zealand.
My first destination was Auckland. My host, Mauricio, a Brazilian-Japanese gentleman living in New Zealand, picked me up at 5 am. I stayed in the city for a week and started judo with Auckland University Judo, one of the main clubs in the country. I met Rob Levy, the head coach, who helped organise my week. Rob has hosted many well-known judo players and, as a former international competitor, has fought some of them as well.
The next day, I was at Nippon Judo Auckland, on the other side of the city. New Zealand is fascinating because it is so multicultural and this club was an excellent example for that. I encountered children speaking Dutch, French, Japanese, Russian and of course English.
The last club I visited had a surprise for me. Three Kings Judo, led by Judd and his wife, decided to show me the tourist attractions. It was amazing! We visited the All Blacks Museum, a very impressive place. Rugby is everywhere in New Zealand and I even went to see a Warriors match to experience the local folklore! We also went to the top of the Auckland Sky Tower and walked on the edge of it! I did this activity with Saif, a young judoka, and Zaynedin. Later, I gave a judo class and enjoyed randori with them. Zaynedin is a young Uzbek working here and who wants to obtain his New Zealand citizenship, hoping to represent the country in international competitions in the future.
We concluded with a 3-hour seminar with all the clubs. It felt like we had just started when it was already time to leave for the next place, a city near the capital of Wellington.
I was invited to watch an international tournament and witness the level of judo in the country. On the way, I stopped at the only McDonald's in the world where you can eat inside a plane; perhaps not the healthiest choice but certainly the most fun one!
Once in Wellington, I visited several judo clubs and trained at a different place every day. I mostly stayed at the Wellington Judo Academy with coach Cameron, where I also conducted a seminar at the end of the week. New Zealand is a small judo nation, yet everyone in Wellington contributed with money to support my project. This support was greatly appreciated. I visited four different clubs in the city before heading to the South Island.
I took a boat between the islands and arrived in Blenheim, where the judo coach, Dave, was waiting for me. Dave is a very special person; at 76 years old, he is the oldest active competitor in the country. He manages everything for his judo club, creating merchandise, designing shirts and even customising his judogi, all by hand. He gave me one of his shirts, which will be a collector's item!
The next day, I was at Canterbury Amateur Judo Club (Can Am Ju) with Jason White, who organised the South Island part of my journey. I met my host, Kurt, and did some activities in the city and surrounding areas. This region is perfect for outdoor adventures and we went on a hike to see the beautiful scenery. The city experienced a significant earthquake in 2011 and you can still feel its impact today, with construction work everywhere.
I also conducted a seminar at the club and visited other associations, including Premier Equipe Judo with Moira De Villiers, qualified Paris Olympian, and her husband, Jason Koster, a former international judoka himself. They have one of the best clubs in the country, with friendly and competitive members.
Then I was supposed to go to Noumea in New Caledonia for two reasons: 1 - To meet the local judo players and practice with them. 2 - To meet the athlete from Vanuatu, Hugo, who will compete at the Olympics, and to have a last training session camp with him.
Unfortunately, everything was cancelled. The political situation in Noumea was too hectic and judo is not a priority for many people there. Hugo, an athlete training for the Olympics, planned to meet me in Australia for his final preparation but most flights were cancelled. So, I had to adjust my project planning and go back to Australia for a final tour. I will now be able to visit the last big cities I missed before. I'll work for three weeks and take a week off before heading back to France for the Olympics.
Thanks a lot for reading and let’s catch up over new adventures that are still to come!"