Three Western Australian judoka travelled to Melbourne for Judo Australia’s Veterans National Training Camp, held at the National Performance Centre from 6–8 November 2026.
Luc Tournier (UWA Judo Club), Lucho Danessa (Kano Judo Schools) and Slawek Misiun (Perth Judo Club) represented WA’s veterans community, joining fellow judoka for a weekend centred on training, shared experience and connection.
The camp offered an opportunity for participants to step outside their regular club environments and train with a wider group of partners. Bringing veteran judoka together also provided space to exchange knowledge and strengthen connections across the national judo community.
The weekend’s program began with an optional Friday evening session from 7–9 pm, followed by two sessions on Saturday and a final session on Sunday morning. With training spread across the three days, the schedule provided several opportunities for participants to work together on the tatami.
A social event following Saturday afternoon’s training complemented the on-mat program, giving participants time to reconnect with familiar faces and get to know fellow veterans away from the dojo.
Camps such as this provide a valuable avenue for continued participation in judo, bringing together people who share an interest in training and maintaining their involvement in the sport. For WA judoka, attending a national gathering also creates opportunities to connect with training partners beyond the local club and state network.
Judo WA acknowledges Luc, Lucho and Slawek for making the trip to Melbourne and contributing to WA’s presence at the camp. We also thank Judo Australia and the organisers for bringing the veterans community together for a weekend of judo.
