My name is Johan Orrbo, my father took me to the dojo when I was five years old, since then I have been doing a lot and somehow always fallen back into the judo world. Since a long break I’m active again, and this time in Stenungsund Judo club. I rediscovered judo in the spring of 2011, and became quite rapidly involved with the club chores when I work in IT as a server specialist/consultant, are currently responsible for all IT in Stenungsund Judo club. I  have three children, my oldest daughter Amanda, my son Carl and in the middle of last year’s GOG Cup our smallest daughter Frida was born. Both Amanda and Carl today practice judo. I took my brown belt this spring and hope to get the black belt in a not too distant future.  

Shortly after that I got back to judo I introduced my daughter who was then ten years old to judo and she seemed interested. I brought her to the GOG Cup in the spring 2011. She were like glued at the edge of the mat and looked at all the kids who were competing on the mats, I asked her after having complied with her ​​most of the day if this was something she wanted to try? She replied yes. The thing is that Amanda was born with Down syndrome and  has a retardation. We  have for a pretty long time been looking for a hobby or pastime that she would like and most importantly somewhere to be included and feel welcome.

So when the fall  started in 2011, I took her to the dojo and she started in our beginners group. Everything went very well and she managed the techniques, learned to tie her belt even with a “Kata” knot, she was well received by the group and were thrived to be there. She learned the falling techniques and is now a master of somersaults practicing at full speed to get to manage wheel compounds. Amanda fought well and after two semesters she managed with a traditional grading to take her first belt. Both me and her happiness was complete, she would get a new gi and got to choose one herself and chose a blue judo gi. She is the only child in their group with blue judo gi so it’ss very easy to keep track of her.

This was also the starting point for myself when I got up on the mat as assistant-coach for the first time in a long time. A new semester started and she moved up to the continuation group and was also there accepted and included. For the first time in her life so far she feels at home somewhere, I also realized pretty soon that the Swedish judo federation has what I believe in Sweden a rather unique setting, ” judo for all” . There are few sports associations / federations that invites and embraces all this way, I don’t pretend that judo is unique for us but it’s a small group that allows everyone to participate.

After two and a half semester it was time for the Little Cup, a competition that Lilla Edet judo club staged. We asked Amanda if she wanted to compete, and she wanted to try. The competition debute for her went quite ok, she had to fight a few matches and shined like the sun despite heavy losses. After this event, she has been fighting in all competitions that she may be on in our neighborhood, GOG Cup, Jk Active, Trollträffen and Judith’s trophy. She has not won any match in a regular competition yet, or as it’s known by in her world “mainstream judo“,  but after every game she has learned something new, and she stands up a little longer. One thing remains after each match, her joy to be competing and be involved.

Göteborg Open 
In the fall of 2012 it changed some of Amanda, she was in the running again for a traditional graduation, conquered her second belt and we got through one of my work contacts aware of the existence of competitions that were adapted for children with special needs. That every fall was a such competition in Gothenburg, we signed up immediately and went to Gothenburg Open. It soon turned out that Amanda was the youngest and smallest in the whole camp, but she wanted to compete so she ended up in a group with two much larger and older ones than herself. When the contest started she succeeded against all odds to throw the older girl and followed it up with a retention and won her first match. It was awesome  to see that both as coach and as a parent. In match number two she got to meet an older guy who was much bigger and stronger, she offered good resistance but eventually lost in a retention. Amanda then stepped up to the podium and receive her first silvermedal. The weekend in Gothenburg was a fantastic experience for myself personally and especially for Amanda. It was also the reason that I got some contacts with other clubs and Amanda quickly gained some new friends.

Staffanstorp Open
In spring of 2013 we were at Staffanstorp Open in south of sweden, this would prove to be another great experience for me and especially for Amanda. Me and Amanda went down with her brother Carl and ended up in the same place as some of who we knew in Jk Active club from Kungsbacka that we got to know in Gothenburg Open. The whole experience with camps, competitions and sleepover in a local school was completely new to Amanda. She began to take liberties and show a very independent side, which in other circumstances might have been difficult to give her. She met a lot of new friends and I barely saw her, I think she grew well during our stay in Staffanstorp. Under the time Amanda trained under very capable coaches, I had to sit in the classroom and go through a Special Needs Trainingprogram with both swedish and foreign reeferees. I have previously attended on a district training for referees, however I have not yet dared to referee any matches yet. During this training, I realized even more how this judo community in the world allows everyone to participate. Everyone can do something, you adapt the otherwise strict rules of the contest and judges who otherwise are very strict are becoming the third contestant. It all gets a completely different role. Although the interaction between the coach and the referee is very different both on and around the mat to be involved regardless the disabilities. The education was very rewarding and gave me a lot of inspiration and new contacts. My goal of the training was perhaps not primarily be a special needs referee but to get a better insight into this amazing world that I only six months ago did not know even existed.

Competition
On the competition day it was again Amanda who was the youngest, smallest and was this time going against three bigger and older guys. Referees and coaches then decided to even the odds out and all matches with Amanda were performed in ne -waza. As there was plenty of time and both participants and graduates referees to get as much experience as possible, the contest was done twice. Amanda fought very well and won two fights and was placed overall on a third place! When it was time for the awards ceremony Amanda had received her bronze next two much taller and older boys, she would just step down after customary shooting and posing. Before she could step down from the podium they told her to stay and also told her to step up to the top of the podium. She looked confused and stepped right up and got the audience’s warm applause to receive the special price “competition’s best fighter“. She was thrilled when she got a Judo Panda model larger. It is now almost always in her gym bag. Personally, I had very hard to hold back my tears, a very moved and proud father. When the evening came the camp ended with banquet and disco, she ate well and danced all night and I believe that the day was one of her best sso far. We look forward with excitement to next year of Staffanstorp Open 2014.

Inspiration
After this weekend I took with me my experiences and new connections back to the club in Stenungsund, and talked with the board about starting a group for children with special needs. I received the board’s support and found a workout-time and an assistant coach who could help me. I did some inquiries from various interested groups we as parents are active in and got the impression that there would be people on the trainings. After the trip to Staffanstorp we got a whole centerfold in the local newspaper. Coming fall we had twelve children who were active in our new gruop. The sport has proven to work very well for people with intellectual disabilities. They often have problems with physical movement skills and coordination. As in many martial arts so it encourages judo in the repetitive behavior that usually suits them very well. It is also very good with clear rules and procedures contained within martial arts. Amanda will during the coming school year go through the basic assistant training and eventually might get a more help coach feature in our new group.

As for my own goals it is to continue to educate myself in judo and mainly focus will be on special needs. The need across our country is big then there is no sensible activity of children, youth and adults with special needs. We will most likely start a group for older special needs in the spring of 2014, when we believe that the interest is big enough. Thanks to Amanda my judotrip it all took an unexpected turn which I hope will take both her and me far together. I am currently on full swing to find sponsors so I can take her to the Irish Open and Scotland next year and maybe even Holland. Amanda is training today four sessions a week. Monday and wednesday she is practicing judo in the “mainstream” group, and on Thursdays she is with her mother on the club judo fitness group and finally she is in our special needs group on sundays.

Today I am very happy that my father took me to Morlanda Judo Club’s dojo in 1982 when my judo trip started. Is also very happy that I in Spring 2011 began with judo training even though I’m not twenty anymore. I can not think of anything more fun to deal with like sports and especially thee judo lifestyle. I would like to thank all the amazing people that I and Amanda have met on the road so far both judokas and coaches.

Johan Orrbo

Stenungsunds judo club