The Disability Awareness workshop was presented by Kathleen Finn, the Sports Inclusion Disability Officer for the North & South Tipperary Sports Partnerships. This workshop delivered a fantastic overview of disability awareness and the importance and benefits of sports inclusion for disability groups.
The guest speaker was Mr Roy Court the Welsh National SN Judo coach, who has over 25 years experience coaching people with extra support needs. Mr Court was one of the founder members of Special Needs Judo in Europe and has since assisted in the setting up of similar programs all over Europe, Australia, Brazil and the USA.
He was also the special envoy and advisor at the Special Olympic Games in Ireland in 2003 and the Shanghai Games in 2007.
The Irish Judo Association's president and head of coaching Mr Frances Treanor was also in attendance.
The seminar was designed to introduce the concept of Special Needs Judo to the judo coaches and offer them the skills and practical help & support to teach special needs judo in their own clubs. It is our aim by the end of the year to have at least 25% of judo clubs in Ireland to be fully inclusive clubs and to have 100% of clubs fully inclusive by 2012.
Judo as a sport is the second largest sport in the world for number of participants and Special Needs Judo is fast becoming one of the most popular sports of choice for disability groups around the world.
Special Needs Judo is a registered sport of the Special Olympic Games and the Paralympics, and in addition is a major competitive sport internationally with tournaments staged annually all over Europe and beyond.
For the competitive and non-competitive players the benefits of Special Needs Judo are immense; the main benefits for students are,
• Letting go of fears
• Increased self-esteem and confidence
• Building friendships
• Improving social skills
• Increased independence
• Providing a sense of (physical) balance
• Increased motivation
The main benefits for parents are,
• Much needed respite
• Opportunity to celebrate their child's successes
• Socialising opportunities with other parents
• Watching their child grow in confidence
• An opportunity to become actively involved at tournaments (timekeeping etc)
Judo Assist - Ireland with the help and support of the Irish Judo Association and Local Sports Partnerships are committed to making the Olympic Sport of Judo one of the largest and most widely available sports for people with extra support needs in Ireland.
Our next step is to organise taster sessions for disability groups around the country where people can come along and try the sport and experience and witness the benefits first hand.
Black Eagle Judo, Launch Irish Judo Assist Program
September 2010 saw the launch of Judo Assist - Ireland, the first ever Special Needs Judo program in Ireland.
Head coach of Black Eagle Judo James Mulroy started the program with a Disability Awareness & Special Needs Judo Seminar held in Nenagh, Co Tipperary. The seminar was attended by a large number of coaches and officials from all over Ireland with some participants also travelling from Wales and Guernsey.
FREE
Come & Try
Sessions
As part of our national rollout of our Judo Assist program we will be hosting a number of FREE Come & Try Sessions around the country.
The first of these sessions has been confirmed for Tipperary, Cavan, Dublin and Kilkenny.
These sessions are open to anyone with a disability who would like to try judo for the first time, and because they are totally FREE you have nothing to lose.
Visit our Events page for full details including Venue, Times and how to book.
Judo Assist New Sponsor
Hampshire Sports Equipment Ltd trading as Black Eagle is one of the largest Martial Arts Equipment suppliers in Britain, Ireland and beyond.
Irish International Open 2012
dates announced
check out events page
