World Judo Day 2013: PERSEVERANCE

The theme for World Judo Day 2013 is Perseverance. This day is dedicated to coaches, fans, judoka and everyone with a passion for one of the world’s most widely practiced sports. 28 October is the birthday of Jigoro Kano, the founder of judo.Today, more than 20 million people practice judo around the world on a daily basis. Athletes explain what perseverance is for them.

Yarden Gerbi (ISR) – 2013 World Champion

I think without perseverance you can't succeed in judo. For example I was working for a long time on a specific  technique. I felt it was really good but I had never used it in a fight. I kept working on it and one year it took me till I  used it during a competition. Without perseverance I don't think it's possible to succeed for a long time in judo, or in  your job, studies, or any other goal in your life. Even when it's hard, it is perseverance which helps you reach what  you really want.
 

Loic Pietri (FRA) – 2013 World Champion
I think that perseverance is the first quality of all champions.
 

Kayla Harrison (USA) – London 2012 Olympic Champion 
I think perseverance is a huge part of judo. There will always be ups and downs in every career but a champion is defined by those who persevere through the challenges. A champion is someone who does not give up. And judo teaches that and allows us to apply that in all areas of our life.
 

Antoine Valois-Fortier (CAN) – London 2012 Olympic bronze medallist
For me perseverance is to be able to cope with disappointments. Everyone faces deceptions one day or another, the important thing is not to be defeated! Defeats are necessary for learning to know who you are. Perseverance is a very important quality to be able to stand up again and come back stronger! It is the little speech my dad gave me as a young man!
 

Miryam Roper (GER) – 2013 World Championship bronze medallist
Perseverance means never give up chasing your dreams. Life isn’t always easy. From time to time you face obstacles, setbacks or even failure. These are the times you need perseverance. But once you've overcome those difficulties and you then achieve your goal the success feels even better because you've earned it.
 

In judo perseverance is essential. For once you are never done. You've never learnt everything. There is always something to master. Perfection is not a state of mind but a steady progress. Also, in judo perseverance pays off. At least for me. Judo has always been my passion but only my persistence, sometimes stubborn ambition to improve has brought me where I am now, a World medallist at the age of 31. It definitively took me longer than most others, but here I am. I didn’t give up, I followed my heart and I keep working hard to chase my dream of becoming Olympic Champion.
 

Gevrise Emane (FRA) – 2013 World Championship bronze medallist
Perseverance for me is the essence of judo. To fall down and to get up: that's what we all do in judo! Do not let go, do not admit defeat has been and remains my motto whether on or off the mat.

And nothing to do with misplaced stubbornness, but just the desire to give my best to go to the end of myself, to ultimately be able to look me in the eye!
 

Taciana Lima-Balde (GBS) – 2013 African Champion
Perseverance is seen in our daily of training, therefore whoever grits one's teeth until the end reaches the victory. Judo teaches us that we need to learn to fall and to rise again and we take this for all the aspects of our life.

Katherine Campos (BRA) – 2013 World Team Championship silver medallist 
Perseverance is very important in judo because all the time in judo we suffer wins and losses, we need to move forwards and never give up. Those who persevere will succeed.

Dieudonne Dolassem (CMR) - IJF Athletes Commission
Perseverance for me it is a word that characterizes everyone in what he/she undertakes with insistence and faith as a project in life especially in a hostile environment.
 

In the framework of judo, it characterizes a state of mind, a commitment and sacrifices which are going together in order to achieve ones goals by overcoming the obstacles on the path to success. There is also a word in the moral code that's akin to perseverance and this is COURAGE.
 

Matt D’Aquino (AUS) – Oceania Education Commissioner and Olympian 
Perseverance is a vital part of a successful judoka due to the fact that in order to succeed you must persevere through tough training sessions, pain, losses, dieting and the highs and lows of competing.  
 

Leadership, teamwork, perseverance, discipline and grit.  Who knew, as children playing games in the schoolyard, that we were gaining attributes that would guide us through life?  Athletes have known it all along. So it is fitting that this year’s theme for the World Judo Day is PERSEVERANCE.
 

Barbara Harel (FRA) – Former two-time European Champion 
Perseverance means going after your dreams! Setting goals and making every effort possible to achieve them. In defeat we must draw lessons for the future! It is important not to get demoralised or to lose hope despite the failures! Judo is a tough sport that requires a lot of sacrifices but when you manage a good result it's worth the effort!