"I landed in Malaysia in mid-January, specifically in Borneo, one of the largest islands in the world, shared with Indonesia, Malaysia and the small yet incredibly wealthy nation of Brunei.
Two years ago, while in Penang, Malaysia, I met a judoka from Brunei who invited me to visit his country. I kept his contact and we made it happen. I didn’t know what to expect from Brunei; I prefer not to research too much in advance so I can experience each country with an open mind.
With the help of Mr Chong, whom I met two years ago, and the President of the Brunei Judo Federation, Mr Ali Rashid Alipah, we organised a full week for the Judo Nomad Project. This federation truly understood the project’s philosophy, that it’s not just about judo but also about sharing moments with people and immersing myself in the local culture to showcase it to my audience.
My journey started with a visit to the National Museum where I learned about Brunei’s history. From there, I rushed to the Brunei Sports School where I was invited to give a talk on motivation and dedication. Expecting a small classroom setting, I was instead led into a conference hall filled with hundreds of students, an intimidating yet thrilling challenge! I quickly captured their attention by sharing my struggles with past injuries before diving into a deeper discussion on perseverance and purpose. The experience was fantastic and we exchanged stories, ideas and plenty of pictures!
Next, I conducted a two-day seminar, working with both beginners and experienced judoka. One session was dedicated to coaches, where I shared ideas around pedagogy, techniques and teaching methodologies. The other was for athletes and we had a blast training together.
Brunei’s judo federation is still in its early stages, with about 100 members, but they are working hard to grow. Due to Brunei’s wealth, they don’t qualify for international aid programmes, so they train on thin mats, though they plan to upgrade soon.
The members of the federation introduced me to their culture and environment. We took a boat ride along the river, spotting crocodiles or proboscis monkeys, the ones with the funny noses. We also explored Kampong Ayer, the floating village, where we saw schools, a fire station and homes built on stilts over the river. It was an impressive and vibrant place!
My days started early with hikes through national parks and visits to Sunday morning markets where the entire city centre is closed to cars for the occasion. Afternoons were dedicated to judo. I even had the opportunity to teach judo to people practising Pencak Silat, a Southeast Asian martial art that recently introduced throws into its rules. It was fascinating to share judo techniques with specialists from another combat sport.
Of course, I had to visit Mr Chong’s dojo, fulfilling a promise I made two years ago. It was a small group of poeple but the session was just as enriching. We wrapped up my stay with a beachside barbecue. Everyone contributed: cooking, setting up and sharing stories. We didn’t swim, though as you never know where the crocodiles might be lurking!
On my last day, I was thrilled to see that the Borneo Bulletin published an article about my visit, bringing more attention to judo in Brunei!
From Brunei, I planned to cross Borneo and reach Lahad Datu where I was told I could take a ferry to the Philippines. However, after two days of travel, I arrived only to find out that the ferry wouldn’t run for another week! Left with no choice, I travelled 20 hours back to the nearest big city to catch a flight to Manila. At first, I had no contacts in the Philippines and the few people I reached out to advised me to postpone my trip but postponing meant another expensive flight and organising an invitation from across the world isn’t always easy; it’s much easier to be received when i’m already in the country. So, I took a leap of faith and went anyway.
At the last moment, Dr Mike Santos and Johannes, whom I met in Germany at the beginning of this project, stepped in to help. They split the country between them, Mike handling the north and Johannes the south, to organise my seminars. One challenge in the Philippines is that most judo clubs train only at weekends, meaning I’d have to stay in one place for a full week to attend a single training session. To visit five dojos, I would need over a month!
In Manila, I used the time to focus on my social media, seeking sponsorship and support. I was invited to train with the women’s team champions and at UJFC, one of the country’s biggest judo clubs. Even though I wasn’t teaching, just training alongside them made everyone happy, which meant a lot to me.
Next, I travelled 450km south to Legazpi for a seminar, stopping in Daet and Naga along the way. The 12-hour bus ride was rough. I was squeezed into a seat and struggled to walk afterwards but the real shock came when I arrived and discovered that I had been robbed, my filming gear, safety wallet with my passport and cash donations from Brunei were all gone. The little money I had left was just enough to pay for my hotel, with only $5 remaining for food after a full day of travel on an empty stomach.
For a moment, I thought this was the end of the Judo Nomad project. I always told myself that if I ever ran out of money to buy a ticket home, that would be the end but Alex and Mike immediately came to my aid. They made calls, helped me report the theft and assisted in retrieving CCTV footage. I had promised Alex I’d visit a fighting gym here to inspire young athletes and despite my situation, I decided to go. The energy in that room lifted my spirits, proving that sometimes, the best way to regain motivation is to give it to others.
I launched a fundraiser, hoping to recover some of the US$ 600 lost and the response was overwhelming. I got back more than half of it. Friends and supporters, especially from Australia, came through. Eventually, my passport was found, though the money was gone but the project could continue!
Arriving in Legazpi, we held an incredible seminar in a small but packed dojo. The students were eager to learn and I wished I could stay longer to give everyone the attention they deserved. I was welcomed like family into Alex’s home, which was an incredible honour. Afterwards, he drove me for four hours to the ferry and even covered my ferry ticket to Cebu, an act of kindness I’ll not forget.
Then, just as I was preparing my next steps, I received an email from the IJF, confirming that they would continue supporting the Judo Nomad Project for another season! Their logistical, financial and media support has been crucial and I am incredibly grateful for their trust.
These past weeks have tested me but they’ve also shown me the power of community, resilience and the spirit of judo. If you want me to come to your dojo, send me a message, feel free to contact me on any social network; I’d be happy to talk with you.
