Welcome to the Home Page of Elite Judo Club Bloemfontein History of Elite Judo Esme-Joan took over the club from previous coach Willie Maas in 1983. The club, originally located at Jim Fouche Primary School, started that first year with only 10 members. The chairperson was Dr. Attie Vermaas and Mrs. Vermaas was appointed secretary and treasurer. In those early days, class fees were only R12-00 per term. Esme-Joan had to borrow R450-00 from her father to pay for the first judo mat. Later a larger and better mat was bought for R1 000-00. This mat had 'n real judo canvas and was also a standard sized competition mat. Approximately 2 years ago the club bought a 10 meter square puzzle mat, at a cost of R20 000-00. Esme-Joan had trained at the club as a junior, and that is why it was so meaningful to her to restore the club to its former glory. During her student years she coached at Sand du Plessis Primary and Koot Nieman Primary Schools. The three clubs combined in 1988 and was renamed Elite Judo and, in 1990, moved to the University of the Free State. In 1987 Vincent joined the club. There have been many coaches helping with the training throughout the years. Currently Bennie de Winnaar is assisting with the coaching. The first club emblem consisted of 'JF' which also featured on the Jim Fouche Primary School sports uniforms. When the club name changed to Elite Judo the emblem changed to a circle and a square, that represented a judo mat and a wrestling mat, since the club originally also had a wrestling division. The club colours were green and white, the same as JF's school colours. In time the colours of the club changed to red and white. The current emblem relates to the founder of Judo Jigero Kano's symbolism of Judo: a red flower (Japanese rose) forming six leaf points, each of which with its own meaning: loyalty, knowledge of the sport, respect, humility, discipline and willingness. Memories - Vintcent (November 2007) Ja, waar begin ek na my 20 jaar van betrokkenheid by Elite Judo. My begin, was 'n romatiese begin. Ek en Esme -Joan, toe nog jonk- en-vryerig, maar het ook 'n gemeeskaplike liefde gehad en dit was Judo. Dit, wat judo vir ons albei beteken het, was iets, wat met ander gedeel moes word. Dit was hierdie iets, wat 'n sport gees, 'n kultuur van oorwinning na harde werk, self versekering, en sosiale same vatting, wat in Esme-Joan se wese gevoel het. As dame het sy besluit om 'n klub te begin. Dit was 'n pionierspad vir 'n dame in 'n baie man dominante judo-afrigters-wêreld. Tog was Esme-Joan goed gekwalifiseerd. Sy was 'n tweede dan en met haar Liggaamlike Opvoedings graad het sy geweet hoe en wat nodig was om 'n klub te bestuur. Op hierdie stadium was daar weinig vroue wat op hul eie, onafhanklik as afrigters gefunksioneer het . Sy was waarlik 'n pionier in Vrystaat judo en ook in Suid-Afrikaanse Judo. Die klub het 'n skarige begin in 'n skool saal nl. by Jim Fouche skool gehad, met 'n paar entoesiasiese kinders wat wil kom leer Judo. Op die stadium was sy afrigter en speler. Iets wat ook nie alledaags was nie. Dit neem baie tyd in beslag om die bestuur van die klub te behartig en nog kompeterend ook te wees. (Lees gerus haar CV, haar prestasies spreek vanself) Sy het gedien op die Vrystaat bestuur, en sedert 1996 op JSA kommisssies. In 1997 was sy aangestel as die eerste vrouelike afrigter vir 'n Junior Protea span, en later die Senior Protea Dames span. My vrou was ook, dalk die enigste, vroulike afrigter van 'n senior mans weermag span. (Hulle het 'n derde plek op die SA Kampioenskappe behaal). Tog was die belangsteling groot as dit by afrigting van seuns en dogters kom. Ja van hierdie dogters is vandag ouer as was Esme-Joan was toe sy die klub begin het. So met tyd het die jong judokas ouer geword, uit die skool uit, 21 jarige verjaarsdae is bygewoon en later troues. En van hulle kinders judo nou. As ek terug dink dan weet ek verseker dat die kinders baie harder geoefen het in vergeleke met nou, hulle is gedril, fisiese oefening was erg en ja, die dissipline was van 'n hoe standaard. Tog wil ek sê die suksesse wat spelers onder die afrigtershand van Esme -Joan, nie net gemeet moet word aan die medaljes wat verower is nie, maar die noue band wat tussen haar en die spelers was. Die wen was nie alles nie, die speler kom eerste. Die ontwikkeling van die kind was vir haar baie belangrik. Sy het ook vele maal gesê, " Gee net "So- en- So" 'n kans hy/sy sal nog bo uitkom". En dit was ook so! Met haar unieke manier van motivering het baie spelers aangehou en wel bo uitgekom, al was dit vir gradering vir 'n swart belt. Die potensiaal in elkeen is raak gesien en aan gewerk. Daar is plek vir almal en almal sal hul potensiaal bereik. Dit is die misie van Elite Judo Klub. Ek is trots om te sê my betrokkenheid van 1987 met Elite Judo klub is en dit is deel van my persoonlike lewe wat betref as eggenoot maar asook die afrigting van my eie twee seuns en afrigter van judokas. Dankie aan almal wat deel is van die wonderlike instelling en deel in die viering van die 25 ste bestaans jaar. Memories - Estony Hattingh Where, does one begin, putting 25 years of your judo life into a couple of pages. Judo for me was not only a sport growing up, Judo was my life, not even school was as important as going to judo come rain, snow or sunshine I was always there. My judo voyage began in 1978 as a little girl in Krugersdorp, where the coach taught grading, believe me when I say to you, I think my brother and I knew the grading syllabus out of our heads and needless to say when we arrived in Bloemfontein we knew nothing about judo fighting. I started at the Jim Fouché Judo Club in 1983, it was quite a nerve wrecking experience here is this little "soutie" amongst all of these Afrikaans people. You must remember I was brought up in an English home and went to an English school, so this was all a bit daunting to this little girl. As a child my judo motivation was Esmé-Joan, I looked up to her for everything. I even followed, in her footsteps and ended up in the Woman's Army College 10 years after her, Esmé -Joan and Mrs Vermaas even attended my Basic's "uitpasering's parade in George. My South African Championship participation as a representative of Elite Judo spanned over several years from 1983-1989. There are two stories in particular that I will never forget. In 1984, the SA's were in Bloemfontein. I was a small little girl with short blonde hair, we all got together at the University Hall to weigh in, I was not very well know to my fellow Free State judokas and the next minute I felt someone tapping on my shoulder "Die span bestuurder soek al die seuns om in te weeg." I just looked at him, what does this have to do with me I am a girl. He got very angry with me and said again "Die span bestuurder soek al die seuns om in te weeg." I got annoyed turned around to him and said very loudly "I AM A GIRL NOT A BOY." That same day I started growing my hair. I can't remember which South African championships it was, but I was a bit rebellious and had an attitude on a judo mat, you know those terrible teens, I was fighting and just did not seem to do anything right on the mat that day. Out of frustration on the mat while fighting, I eventually said "($%$%*@#)" well when I got off that mat I thought I had killed someone, Esmé-Joan was so angry with me and I repeat her words "as jy ooit weer in jou lewe op 'n judo mat vloek sal ek jou persoonlike lewenslank skors" harsh words. But only later on did I realise that she taught me that winning was not everything but how you played the game, it is all about your attitude. Needless to say I never did that again. I think out of all the judoka's that have gone through Esmé-Joan's hands I was the one that gave her the most grey hairs. I hope that I have made up for it? In 1985 Esmé-Joan started a judo club in Shannon, Koot Niemand Judo Club. Well, when she asked me to help her coach, my immediate reaction was yes, how I could say no to her. For four years, every Thursday afternoon we would get into her little white "volla" and drive the long journey on the big road, as a young child any journey seems long, to the judo club. We have some really good memories in that little white "volla", loud music, waving and pulling faces at the people driving past us, they must have thought that we were really mad. However, on a more serious note, I learnt so much about coaching in those few years; it would be the foundation on which I based my coaching. As a judoka, you have an internal competitive streak. I always had the urge to beat Esmé-Joan on a mat (to prove myself), even if it was just during training, but was never afforded that opportunity, Esmé-Joan made sure that she was always one up on me. Hey, what kind of a coach doesn't even give her student one opportunity, ESMÉ-JOAN. Nevertheless, how do they say you have to fight for what you want. In 1989 the West-German team was touring South Africa and Esmé-Joan and myself were in the then "Free State Team" that would fight against them. Wow, you must see the women they were scary; I mean guys would have run away from them, to top it all, I was still a junior. We did not do too well against them, but all of us put up a brave fight. The newspapers reported the following on the competition "Die enigste Vrystater wat goeie teenstand gebied het, is Estony van Heerden van Bloemfontein se Elite klub wat die volle vier minute geveg het en die minste punte van almal afgestaan het". Sorry Esmé-Joan but for once it had seemed as though I had done better than you on a judo mat even though it was not against you. I realised that day though, so long as you win in your heart you do not have to prove any thing to anybody. I accepted that I would never beat you Esmé-Joan, no more competitiveness. I am the first one to admit that though, my physical judo career spanned over so many years; I never achieved what I wanted to. In those days, what every judoka worked for was "Springbok Colours", yes, I did not achieve this, but I gained so much more in my life, more valuable and precious than wearing the Springbok on my chest. For this, I can only say thank you Esmé-Joan you taught me those things and you will always be my COACH, my MENTOR and most importantly my FRIEND. Another little story, not about judo though. When I was 16, Esmé-Joan was busy with her thesis at the University of the Orange Free State, she asked me to help her with the typing during my school holidays, to which I obliged. One day she dropped me off at the University library to do some typing and I had to take out a book as some of the information that I need was in there. I was given strict instructions to exactly what page, paragraph etc, to type, which I did. Then it came to the end of the day, I put all the books in my bag and started on my way out. Well the next minute the libraries alarms went haywire and I was surrounded by security guards. My knees became jelly when the guard asked me to open my bag, what did I do? The book that Esmé-Joan asked me to type from was not allowed to leave the library, it was an Afrikaaner, how was I supposed to know that, I mean after all I am only a blonde-haired girl that was still at school. Dad and Mom played an integral role in my judo; they were supportive of me and gave up so much of their time to take me wherever I had to be. I must admit I pushed mom into situations and volunteered her to do things without, her prior knowledge or asking her if should could or would. Like mother like daughter, she never said no. I am proud of what mom achieved in judo, team manager, Free State Ambassador of the Year award and a table official. To all you parents out there please get involved in judo, it will make such a great impression on your child, I know I was impressed. Mrs Vermaas, I don't know if you remember this but one day I was driving with you as I so often did and I told you that I was going to drop maths at school. You said to me I must not do that because maths is so easy and I am just not learning it properly, you taught me something that day and until today I have never forgotten it, 1-10=9 and a upside down 9 = 6, yes that's right your postal address, can you guys reading this figure is out? Oh, Dr Vermaas, I don't think as a young girl I was ever as scared of anyone as I was of you. Do you remember the South African championships in P.E, where we disappeared on the beach, I needn't say more, but as I got older that fear turned into the greatest respect. Vintcent dear Vintcent, well I have got to know you as Esmé-Joan's boyfriend, fiancé and husband since 1987. I was there from the beginning, Esmé-Joan asking me advice "Estony what do you think, should I go out with him?", to "Estony please will you make my wedding dress?" and then "Estony please will you be my bridesmaid?". I am just surprised that she never asked me to teach her to cook. Believe me, she cannot cook, Vincent please accept my sympathies. Seriously, it took you guys long enough to get there! However, all of that aside, thank you for your input into my judo life and the contribution you have made to me as judoka. There were good days and special memories that we as fellow Elite judoka's share, but unfortunately there were some very sad moments as well. Our thoughts and memories go not only to fellow judokas but also to good friends Pieter Bester, Deon Nel and Anneri du Preeze who died tragically in separate car accidents and Kobus de Jager who committed suicide. Our judo days were good together, training, competitions and all the South African Championships. Dr Vermaas, Mrs Vermaas, Esmé-Joan and Vintcent, you made those days good, special and memorable. You went out of your way to always help us whether it was for judo or for personal reasons. You have made an impression in my life and that I will never forget. The Southern Free State Judo team in 2000 Kovsie Judo team 2000 Vintcent Redpath is second from left in the front. Next to him on his left is his brother Edwin Redpath. Trophy donated to Elite Judo Club Jasper (grade 12) donated this trophy that he made himself to Elite Judo club. This trophy is still today handed out at the yearly prizegiving for the best Master Judoka Left: Esme-Joan Vermaas (Redpath), Jasper Wolfaardt, Vintcent Redpath. The Kovsie Judo team in 1989 at the South African Student Championships Members of Elite Judo Represented the Free State Judo Association at the South African Judo Championships 1988 FRONT ROW: Mark Smith, Rudi Dreyer, Johanna Cilliers, Henriette Burger, Martin Dreyer, Yolanda Dreyer MIDDLE ROW: Edwin Redpath, Ruan Viviers, Kobus de Jager, Nardus Messerschmidt, Estony van Heerden BACK ROW: Willem Messesrschmidt, Esme-Joan Vermaas (Redpath), Frikkie van Wyk ABSENT: Leticia Maartens, Vintcent Redpath, Nikkie Smith The South African Judo team against Italy in 1983 Second from left is Lorraine Baily-Job and third from left is Esme-Joan Redpath (Vermaas) National Ladies Team Copyright: Elite Judo Club