Judo rytieri z Rohožníka 2025

Sport has the power to both unite and divide. It brings great emotions, great effort, and sometimes even great disappointments. These are all things children must learn to cope with in life – and let’s be honest, it’s not always easy even for adults.

The name Judo Knights of Rohožník was born because we wanted the competition to represent our beautiful village, but above all, to highlight how brave all the children are who step onto the tatami.

It’s not easy to put on a gi, tie the belt, and step onto the mat full of expectations, face-to-face with an opponent. You stand there completely alone, even though you’re surrounded by hundreds of people. The hall is filled with little judokas, coaches, parents, siblings – all with their own expectations. Some help, others not so much. The referee calls out “Hajime” (begin), the judokas bow to each other, and the match starts. Every bout has clear rules, with the utmost emphasis on keeping the young athletes safe while allowing them to show their full potential. They grab their first grip, make their first entries. In judo, a match can be won in just a few seconds. We call it: “Grab, throw, leave.” But that’s rare. Most of the time, the young athletes fight for the full 2–3 minutes (depending on age category), and then comes the “Golden Score” – all or nothing. Whoever throws first, wins!

The young judo knight throws his opponent with a perfect ippon (instant victory worth 10 points), followed by an explosion of joy on his face – and disappointment on the opponent’s. Sometimes there are tears, occasionally even anger. But despite it all, both little knights must once again stand face-to-face at the end, wait for the winner to be announced, accept it, bow to each other, and shake hands. That can be incredibly hard. With a single handshake, you must accept that someone was better than you. It’s an act of reconciliation – with your opponent, and with yourself. Of course, it’s easier for the winner, but I’m always moved to tears when the young champion tries to ease their opponent’s sadness with a supportive handshake, a pat on the shoulder, or even a hug. Yes, that happens – and for me, it’s the purest expression of sportsmanship. And that’s what it’s all about…

They say judo is more than just a sport. But it’s not just about judo. Every sport should be “more than just a sport.” Every match should guide us to become better people – towards ourselves and towards others. That’s why we do all this – so that our children grow into strong yet compassionate people.

Organizing such a competition is not easy. Countless people are involved, and everyone has to do their part to make it happen. That’s why I want to thank every single person who contributed. Thank you to the village of Rohožník for their long-term support and for building the new hall that makes such events possible. Thank you to the Rohožník Elementary and Kindergarten for their cooperation, to the hall manager for his kind and helpful approach, to those in the buffet and kitchen for the great food, to the medical staff for keeping watch, to the referees for their excellent work on the tatami, to Zuby v Kuchyni for the fantastic cinema tent, and to Lucka Dinušová for the amazing cakes. Most importantly, thank you to all the parents, children, youth, coaches, friends, and former judokas who helped prepare this entire event. Without you, it would not have been possible.

What makes me happiest is the great team we have become. We look forward to seeing you again – on May 9, 2026, in Rohožník!

Author: Zuzka Recna