U našich kamarátov v Mladkove 2023

It’s become a little tradition of ours. This year was already our sixth time visiting our friends in Mladkov. Since our very first judo summer camp there in 2017, many things have changed—both in Mladkov and in Rohožník—but the essence remains the same: the great work of all the coaches, the excellent performances of all the judokas, and most importantly, the wonderful atmosphere of fun and friendship.

When we first came to Mladkov, we didn’t really know what to expect. A big army tent, smaller tents with wooden floors and army beds tucked under the trees. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner in mess tins—which, of course, everyone washed themselves. The “Small” and “Big Pivák” (meaning the uphill paths leading from the village to the camp), the night game, and of course, the bunker. A huge military bunker, once meant to guard the Czech-Polish border, still dominates the camp today. It serves as a giant fridge, a storage space, and—most importantly for the kids—a secret chamber full of mystery.

The daily schedule is more or less fixed. The oldest judokas start very early. At 7:00 a.m. they meet in the gym on the tatami to work on their technique. At 11:00 they continue with conditioning training that leaves no participant without sweat on their forehead—but with the proud feeling of having made it through. Meanwhile, the younger kids have their own 10:00 training session focused on technique and playful skill development. Lunch follows, for some the best part of the day, along with a short rest.

Between lunch and the 4:00 p.m. randori (sparring) session, everyone joins in outdoor games. These include everything from orienteering and smuggler’s tag to the traditional Olympic Games—sometimes even joined by a Roman emperor. This year, however, it was King Kuba who took part, and the competing teams presented him with rare gifts: a sleeping cap (and more), a luxurious cloak (made from a camp dish towel), and a mysterious prophecy. The prophecy was not exactly in the king’s favor, so the messengers had to run for their lives—though judokas are used to such challenges! Which is why, even after dinner, they sometimes went running in the fields behind the camp and played baseball (or something resembling it).

And then came the highlight of the program: the auction. The first law of Mladkov states that whatever is left lying around the camp will soon appear at the auction, and the unlucky owner can only win it back by bidding a large number of squats, push-ups, sit-ups, or sprints up the “Piváks” or rope climbs. This year’s camp record was 231 jump squats for an old “guaranteed working” lawnmower. Other treasures included a surplus pressure cooker and a pair of second-hand ski boots—auctioned separately, of course. Mess tins, cutlery, and abandoned clothing were, naturally, daily staples.

So how to sum up this camp? The children didn’t want to leave. As soon as they were departing, they were already asking when the next camp would be. And that, I think, is the best possible review.

The tradition of Mladkov is long—over 50 years. Some record-holders have been there more than 30 times. It’s simply the kind of place you want to come back to, because the people who run it put their hearts (and a lot of time) into it.

Mladkov is a place where memories and lifelong friendships are made. It’s about judo—and it’s not about judo. It’s about the Pivák, the auction, the pool, the mess tins, the tents, the bunker—but above all, it’s about the people. The right kind of people, who can make the world just a little bit more normal, and a little bit more beautiful.

And we are very grateful to be part of it.

Author: Zuzka Recna