The Judo Way of Life

A conversation with Aoife Coughlan...Part 2!!

Julien Brulard, aka The Judo Nomad,  is a French Judoka who has undertaken the greatest of Judo adventures.

Travelling solo, Julien has set out to visit and practice Judo in every single country around the World…that’s 197 countries.

The last time we spoke, Julien had just reached Kazakhstan and was only able to find wifi in a local Starbucks coffee shop (so you may be able to hear some milk being frothed in the background)!

Now he has made his way around to Sydney Australia and we can share a coffee together whilst we catch up on the highs and lows of Juliens journey since Kazakhstan and what's keeping him focused on continuing with the project!

If you want to follow or help support Julien’s project, you can find all that information via https://linktr.ee/julienbrulard_

Romina is a highly accomplished grappler, specialising in Judo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

As a Judoka, Romina has trained around the world, learning various styles of Judo, before reaching Sydney Australia, where she recently attained her Dan Grade. She won the 2021 Australian National Championships in the -52kg category.

Romina is also a BJJ Brown Belt and in 2021 she won the ADCC National Championships Pro Division and the UAEJJF Oceania Continental Pro Championships, which she also won in 2020. She also won the IBJJF Pan Pacific Championships and IBJJF Sydney International Open in 2019.

We talk about how she got involved in Judo and BJJ, why she took some time away from Judo and what brought her back to the sport, how the two disciplines align for her and the Australian Grading process.

 Aoife is an Australian Judoka who competes in the -70kg category.

In 2021, Aoife fought in the Tokyo Olympics, placing in the Top 16 at her debut Games and followed up this in 2022 where she won Gold at her debut Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Since 2012, Aoife has won 9 Continental Championship medals, including 2 Golds.

We talk about her current training program and how it has evolved over the years, the interesting road to the Tokyo Olympics and Birmingham Commonwealth Games and her plans for the future.

 Julien Brulard, aka The Judo Nomad,  is a French Judoka who has undertaken the greatest of Judo adventures.

Travelling solo, Julien has set out to visit and practice Judo in every single country around the World…that’s 197 countries.

With several limitations, including no flights and no hotels, at the time of recording, Julien has visited 24 countries so far and we catch up just as he reaches Kazakhstan and is only able to find wifi in a local Starbucks coffee shop (so you may be able to hear some milk being frothed in the background)!

If you want to follow or help support Julien’s project, you can find all that information via https://linktr.ee/julienbrulard_

This episode was originally recorded for the Judo Fanatics podcast, which has unfortunately taken a long hiatus, and so was not realised on their platform.

Kindly, the Judo Fanatics Team have agreed to let me share this episode with you through The JudoWay of Life.

I (David Groom) have a very enjoyable conversation with American Judoka, Chuck Jefferson, where we talk about how I got started in Judo, key influences in my development as a Judoka, my thoughts on Judo versus BJJ and the content I filmed for Judo Fanatics.

Alex Haecker has extensive coaching experience, working his way up through the German system, to the Sports Director at Hamburg’s Judo Association, before moving on to coach the Luxembourg National Team.

More recently, Alex has relocated to Australia to coach his wife and Australian representative, Katharina Haecker, who under Alex’s guidance, has won 6 Continental Championships, multiple IJF World Tour medals, placed 7th at the 2018 World Championships and competed at two Olympic Games, 2016 and 2020.

We discuss the German Judo system, differences between Judo in Germany, Luxembourg and Australia, the importance of doing the right training at the right time in an Athletes development and the amazing opportunities that Judo offers.

 Michael Horley represented Great Britain for a number of years, with career highlights including competing at the 2010 world championships in Tokyo, ranking number 1 on the European ranking list in 2013 and also winning numerous European Cup medals including gold at the prestigious German Open.

Following his competition career, Michael has smoothly transitioned into High Performance Coaching, initially at Judo Scotland and now in Saskatchewan, Canada, where he works with the Talent Squad and Development Squad.

Andy Hung began his Judo journey in his home State of Hawaii as part of the High School system there. From here, he continued his learning at the prestigious San Jose College, where he also graduated with a Business Management Degree. Andy has medalled at  numerous competitions, including the 2008 Beijing Olympic trials for the US Team, the US Miami Nationals, the NCJA Florida Championships, NCJA Illinois Championships and the USA Fall Classic in Harlingen.

Following his competitive career, Andy created the Dojo Outfitters where he sells his own brands of Martial Arts apparel and gear through his online store. Andy holds a Black Belt in Judo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and runs academies in BJJ and Judo called PDXBJJ and Portland Judo.

Vince represented Great Britain as a Cadet, where he fought at both the European Championships and Youth Olympics, as a Junior and Senior Level Athlete. Following an early retirement at 24years old, Vince transitioned into coaching, initially at the prestigious Camberley Judo Club, before going out on his own to build one of the UKs biggest Judo Clubs, Fighting Fitness Judo.

Vince has a MSc in Advanced Sports Coaching Practice, a BJA Level 5 and UKCC Level 4 Coaching Award.

We discuss coach development, how to get more people interested in coaching Judo and what we think needs to happen to grow the sport.