About Us

Kazoku judo club, now Academy is led by Sensei Eva who has an international background and in 2018 gained an advanced sport qualification and became the youngest and first most qualified female coach in the south west with a level 4 coaching qualification. Eva works beside a great team of volunteers and gives opportunities to all members not only enjoying their time in a club but also developing to become referees, coaches and officials as well as high performance athletes. Currently, Eva is studying towards IJF Academy recognized qualification to be able to coach of European Cups and bigger events. Come and join the most competitive and (not so small anymore) club in Cornwall.

Eva's Background

My name is Eva and I would like to tell you a bit about myself. I was born in Slovakia, in small town called Malacky. When I was 8 years old, I started judo. Why judo? I am the kind of person who can train anything - football, volleyball, basketball, athletics... I knew about these sports a lot already, but judo was different. Judo had some secrets which I didn't know about and I therefore wanted to try it! I wanted to try something different, new and mysterious and here we go 31 years of training later. I love judo which in Japanese stands for 'the gentle way.' People were always asking me "what is judo about, Eva?" and I said "judo is something indescribable, you don't learn only the sport, but you learn how to behave and how to use the right technique based on your opponent's moves". Judo is about thinking. you learn self defense, improve your fitness and you achieve something. I was training hard to achieve my goal to become the Slovakian champion and I did it! after 11 years of hard work I achieved my aim - "champion of Slovakia 2005".

When I was 15, I was given the opportunity to start coaching children. I trained so many children who achieved great success! When I was 19, I finished secondary school and decided to go abroad. My dream was to see Britain and London and learn to speak English, and here I am. In the end I moved to Cornwall and now I am going to pass on my experience to you guys who are reading this. It is a hard job to achieve something, but at the end of your journey, you will create a new dream which will come true only by hard work, just try a sport, it does not need to be judo, but believe me, it is an amazing feeling to achieve something big!

Now, age 39, I am a sensei ( head coach) of Kazoku Academy which was established 12th of October 2023 as a 1st full time Judo venue in Goonhavern Industrial Trade Park Unit 4D where nearly 100 judoka training on regular basis. Currently, I am studying IJF Academy course which will allow me to be able to coach on European, World or even Olympic pathway. The time is not an enemy to achieve your goal!

My big achievements

  • 1997: silver medal at Slovak championship
  • 1998 - 2004: Member of Slovak representation(league)
  • 2003: Silver medal in Belgium
  • 2004: 5th place in international competition in Hungary
  • 2004: Silver medal at Grand Prix international competition in Galanta
  • 2005: Gold medal at Slovak National Championship
  • 2005: Bronze medal at Play Off, biggest Slovak competition
  • 2006: Gold Cornish championship
  • 2007: Silver Cornish championship
  • 2011: First competition after 4 years silver medal at National championship
  • 2012: First brazilian jiu jitsu UK Premier in Bristol - silver medal
  • 2013: Brazilian jiu jitsu Gold in Cornwall interclub competition and invited clubs from London and Birmingham
  • 2016: Silver medal in Worthing ( first competition after big injury not involving judo)
  • 2017: Silver medal in Kidderminster where I lost only in final, but won against judoka who won bronze on European championship
  • 2017: Representing country on World Masters Championship in Olbia, Italy
  • 2018: Gold in our own club Trophy Cup Championship
  • 2022: became mother
  • 2024: participating in British National Kata Championship 2024- first competition since delivering my beautiful daughter, gold in Kata Championship December 2024

My big achievements

  • 1997:
     silver medal at Slovak championship
  • 1998 - 2004:
     Member of Slovak representation(league)
  • 2003:
    Silver medal in Belgium
  • 2004:
    5th place in international competition in Hungary
  • 2004:
    Silver medal at Grand Prix international competition in Galanta
  • 2005:
    Gold medal at Slovak National Championship
  • 2005:
    Bronze medal at Play Off, biggest Slovak competition
  • 2006:
    Gold Cornish championship
  • 2007:
    Silver Cornish championship
  • 2011:
    First competition after 4 years silver medal at National championship
  • 2012:
    First brazilian jiu jitsu UK Premier in Bristol - silver medal
  • 2013:
    Brazilian jiu jitsu Gold in Cornwall interclub competition and invited clubs from London and Birmingham
  • 2016:
    Silver medal in Worthing ( first competition after big injury not involving judo)
  • 2017:
    Silver medal in Kidderminster where I lost only in final, but won against judoka who won bronze on European championship
  • 2017:
    Representing country on World Masters Championship in Olbia, Italy
  • 2018:
    Gold in our own club Trophy Cup Championship
  • 2022:
    became mother
  • 2024:
    participating in British National Kata Championship 2024- first competition since delivering my beautiful daughter, Gold medal in Kata championship December 2024

Coaching Team

Eva Minarikova: Head coach, 3rd degree of black belt

Born in Slovakia 1986, Former Slovakia Champion 2006, multinational medallist from various competitions. Biggest personal achievement: taking part in World Masters Championship in 2017 Olbia Italy and became the youngest female judo coach with level 4 UKCC qualification with postgraduate diploma in advanced coaching in Sheffield Hallam University. Studying and teaching judo 32 years and has never stopped developing her skills. Currently studying for IJF Academy course to be able to coach on European, World or even Olympic.

Jamie Crossman: Coach of Juniors:

level 2 ukcc coach, referee, walfare officer, black belt, Jamie is now well experienced member of our coaching team. He has a passion in surfing and judo and he knows how he can gain a trust in teaching. Currently, Jamie is focusing on junior coaching

Robert Crow: Assistant coach:

Level 1UKCC coach, British National Gold medallist, amazing technically skilled coach that always has a positive and encouraging approach. Very loyal to the club, great friend to everyone and always happy to help.

We have always space for more voluntering coaches. Come to join our team!

Sponsors and Volunteering

Our volunteer team is pretty much everyone who is part of our club. We are working together and creating a family atmosphere. When it comes to competition organising, our sponsors, mr and mrs Coyle with their solar panel companyHarvestcornwall.com and miss Kalina Borska with her Venus Dental company are kindly supporting players for their development. Current financial help came from Camel Glass with very nice support towards clothing. Many other volunteers are part of club who do first aiders, timekeepers, referees and table officials.

The History of Judo

Judo is a martial art that was born in Japan, and it is now known around the world as an Olympic sport. Judo was established in 1882 by combining jujitsu, a form of wrestling, with mental discipline. The roots of jujitsu lie in sumo, which has a long, long history; sumo is mentioned in the Nihon shoki (Chronicle of Japan), a document from 720 that describes the history of Japan from the mythical age of the gods until the time of Empress Jito, who reigned from 686 to 697.

From the twelfth to the nineteenth century Japan was ruled by the samurai, a class of professional soldiers. This provided fertile ground for various martial arts to develop. In addition to fighting with swords and bows and arrows, the samurai developed jujitsu to fight enemies at close quarters on the battlefield. Several different styles of jujitsu evolved, and hand-to-hand combat spread as an important form of military training.

Read more...

The era of samurai rule came to an end with the Meiji Restoration of 1868, and Western culture began filtering in into Japanese society. Jujitsu fell into decline, but the enthusiasm of one young man rescued it from extinction. That man was Jigoro Kano, the founder of judo as we know it today. Kano excelled in schoolwork but had an inferiority complex about his small physique. So he became an apprentice of Yanosuke Fukuda, a master of the Tenjin Shin'yo school of jujitsu, when he was 17 and worked to become stronger. In May 1882, when he was just 21 years old, he took the best things about each jujitsu style and created a single new school. This was the birth of modern judo. At first he had just nine students, and the dojo (practice hall) measured just 12 jo (about 24 square yards).

Kano went to Europe in 1889 to introduce judo outside of Japan. A famous episode occurred aboard a ship during his voyage: When a foreigner made fun of Kano, he threw the man down but put his hand under the man's head to prevent him from getting hurt. This illustrated how judo combined practical fighting techniques with thoughtfulness for one's enemy. Kano always maintained a global point of view, serving as a member of the International Olympic Committee, and worked tirelessly to spread judo around the world.

Kano's dream came true at the Tokyo Olympics in 1964, where men's judo was recognized as an official Olympic event. Medals were awarded to competitors in various weight divisions, and Japanese competitors swept the gold in all except the open division, where a non-Japanese champion was crowned. This was a sign that judo had already taken root in countries outside Japan. Women's judo was introduced as a demonstration event at the 1988 Seoul Olympics and was added to the official program at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992.

Currently some 184 countries and regions are members of the International Judo Federation. The sport is particularly popular in Europe. In fact, many more people in France practice judo than in Japan.

Achievements

Every year, each member of Kazoku judo club has the opportunity to compete. As small as our club is, we are very fortunate to represent the club in various competitions nationally and internationally. The biggest achievements for our members and club were the Gold medal on British National Championship in 2016 by Mizzy B and international representation by Taryn HC who competed in Slovakia (gold and silver), Belgium and Holland. Each year we visit plenty of competitions where members bring medals back home either gold, silver or bronze medals or sometimes very valuable experiences. Well done everyone.

Current huge achievement has happened to Jerzy Szymanowicz ( George) who was selected to England Talent Development program and will be representing GB and club on international scale! George has incredible year 2023 when he won bronze on Welsh Open, finished 7th on British National Championship and currently holds bronze medal position as British National School Champion. Now doors have opened for him to be selected on international events as he can go as far as European Championship! All this as 14 years old!
  • 2022: CLUB HAS WON 25 GOLD MEDALS, 23 SILVER MEDALS AND 27 BRONZE MEDALS FROM 11 COMPETITIONS ENTERED BY 42 JUDOKA, HAD 2 PLAYERS REPRESENTING CLUB ON BRITISH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AND 1 PLAYER WAS SELECTED TO ENGLAND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT SQUAD
    • 2021: Unfortunately this year we didn’t attend any competitions due Covid 19
      • 2020: Unfortunately this year we didn’t attend any competitions due Covid 19
      • 2019: CLUB HAS WON 21 GOLD MEDALS, 31 SILVER MEDALS AND 21 BRONZE MEDALS FROM 19 COMPETITION ENTERED BY 35 JUDOKA
      • 2018: CLUB HAS WON 46 GOLD MEDALS, 36 SILVER MEDALS, 33 BRONZE MEDALS FROM 26 COMPETITIONS ENTERED BY 37 JUDOKA
      • 2017: CLUB HAS WON 38 GOLD MEDALS, 27 SILVER MEDALS, 35 BRONZE MEDALS FROM 27 COMPETITIONS ENTERED BY 30 JUDOKA
      • 2015: CLUB HAS WON 14 GOLD MEDALS, 15 SILVER MEDALS, 14 BRONZE MEDALS FROM 17 COMPETITIONS ENTERED
      • 2014: CLUB HAS WON 16 GOLD MEDALS, 21 SILVER MEDALS, 27 BRONZE MEDALS FROM 12 COMPETITIONS ENTERED
      • 2013: CLUB HAS WON 12 GOLD MEDALS, 8 SILVER MEDALS, 10 BRONZE MEDALS FROM 9 COMPETITIONS ENTERED 
      • 2012: CLUB HAS WON 7 GOLD MEDALS, 7 SILVER MEDALS, 3 BRONZE MEDALS FROM 7 COMPETITIONS ENTERED 
      • 2011: CLUB HAS WON 3 GOLD MEDALS, 3 SILVER MEDALS, 2 BRONZE MEDALS FROM 3 COMPETITIONS ENTERED  
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