It was a proud moment for the Taylor family and the Willunga Judo Club when twelve-year-old Joel claimed his first national title at the Kodokan National Judo Championships recently held in Adelaide.
The young athlete, who overcame meningitis as a baby, has become the latest in a family of Judo champions, driven by determination, discipline and heart.
“It was amazing winning gold,” Joel says.
“I was in a super tough group in Adelaide back in 2022 against older and heavier boys and was lucky to get a bronze. Last year in Melbourne I was as close as you could possibly be to winning and I made a mistake that cost me my title,” Joel explained.
“I used that narrow loss to motivate me to train super hard over the past 12 months and winning this year was brilliant and the highlight of my Judo career so far.”
His victory came with a moment of family love and now superstition. Joel competed wearing his sister Loren’s Judo gi, still decorated with pink cherry blossoms from her own 2022 national title.
“I got pulled up at the State titles as my gi (uniform) was too small and I couldn’t wear it,” he says.
“My sister lent me hers. It fitted really nice and I won the state titles in that gi, so I thought it was lucky. I didn’t want to take any chances, so I wore it again. In Judo and in life you sometimes need all the luck you can get.”
Joel has been on the mat since he was three years old and is now a green belt.
“I have always loved fighting and wrestling and judo gives me an opportunity to do this without getting in trouble,” he says.
“I’ve got to travel and have met a lot of good friends through Judo too. I love training with my dad and brothers and sisters and playing judo games at our club.”
“I don’t like to lose,” he says.
“I believe if I put in the extra yards I can turn the bronze and silver medals into gold ones like I did this year. I have a goal of becoming a black belt and my dad says if I keep turning up at training that will look after itself. That motivates me to push on.”
For Joel’s dad, Chris Taylor, the victory means more than gold.
“Physical bonding through rough and tumble has kept me and my kids close-knit,” he says.
“All five of my children train Judo. Loren is sixteen, Theo fourteen, Joel twelve, and Ella and Grace are ten. Judo has eight core values that underlie its practice – courtesy, courage, honesty, honour, modesty, respect, self-control and friendship – and I’ve tried to instil these in my children so they grow up as good people. They’ve also learned that discipline and hard work pay off.”
Chris credits the club’s culture for its growing success.
“The quality and dedication of the teachers and the club’s family culture at Willunga, and all of the Kodokan Judo Clubs in SA, are second to none,” he says.
“The Senseis at Willunga and across the Kodokan network give their time to pass on their skills to the next generation, all not-for-profit and all for the good of the sport.”
With four national champions now among its members, the Willunga club is proving its strength.
“A strong family culture that lets kids enjoy their Judo long term gives them the time they need to become champions,” Chris says.
“I’m so proud of Joel. He truly has the grit and discipline it takes to be a champion. He has built confidence from hard work and faced his fears by competing so many times against larger, older opponents. He’s become strong in character as well as physically from this.”
Willunga Judo Club trains students aged eight to eighty and welcomes new members keen to learn the Olympic martial art.
Willunga Judo Club
Where: Old Railway Station, Railway Terrace, Willunga
When: Every Wednesday night Beginners class from 6.30pm-7.30pm.
Advanced class from 7.30pm-8.30pm
For more information, click here.
More News
