Bringing judo to the kids

MICK McMahon teaches what he says is the only official judo course in a secondary school in Australia at Dripstone Middle School.

Dripstone Middle School judo instructor Mick McMahon is nominated for a Pride of Australia Medal

MICK McMahon teaches what he says is the only official judo course in a secondary school in Australia at Dripstone Middle School.

The school also has its own judo club with about 20 junior and 20 senior members between six years and Mr McMahon at 65 years.

He has been nominated for 2014 Pride of Australia Medal in the inspiration category.

Mr McMahon said he got involved with judo at university in Adelaide 50 years ago and hasn’t stopped.

He was the former head coach at the PCYC Judo club at Berrimah. Through circumstance a new location and name had to be found in 2010.

What is the oldest continuous judo club the Territory become Judo at Dripstone, where there are now also 25 kids to a class, with classes across Years 7, 8 and 9.

“This is a community-based club, it is non-profit and none of the coaches are paid,” he said. “Everyone just does it for the love of the sport.

“(And) The Education Department and Dripstone were very helpful in this process.

“It has been tough because we have about a quarter of the space we had before but ... all the members that moved with us here are still with us.

“Obviously I feel good about it because the parents and the kids, from juniors to seniors have all supported not only me but the club.

“We are there for the kids and that is always the first priority, the kids.”

Mr McMahon moved to the Territory in 1991, teaching at Katherine High School and teaching judo after hours for three years and after time on Bathurst Island moved to Darwin in 1997 and began teaching judo again at the PCYC.

In class, in additional to the actual judo, the kids have to do written, language and IT components. The course has been running for eight years.

“It teaches discipline and self-control and these are the key elements for kids,” he said.