Joey Payeur
Grace Petsnick will be live at Budokan but this is no “cheap trick.”
After that, she’ll be mauling in Montreal.
The 14-year-old member of the local Borderland Judo Club will have her skills evaluated by some of the top judo coaches in both the province and the country in the next couple of weeks.
Petsnick first will be in Oshawa for Judo Ontario’s week-long Camp Budokan, which starts Sunday and runs through July 29.
From there, she will head to Montreal as one of only eight females (and 16 invited athletes in total) to Judo Canada’s Judo School 2017 from July 30-Aug. 5.
Petsnick was the lone Ontario female to win gold at the 2017 Canadian Open judo championships May 25-27 in Calgary, which was enough to get her on the radar of those deciding who would be invited to the national camp.
“When I first received an e-mail about this opportunity, it was before nationals and I wasn’t even planning on applying to go because of my packed schedule with summer in other camps and the fact that they were only choosing eight women,” the teen recalled.
“I never thought I would be chosen so we made other summer plans,” she chuckled.
“When nationals were over, my mother was contacted again more directly about the training opportunity that I could possibly have and after some talking, I decided that I might as well apply,” Petsnick added.
“The day after applying, my mom received an e-mail that I was accepted.
“It was really exciting and I just felt on top of the world, completely elated by the thought of being selected,” she enthused.
Camp Budokan will be more of an inclusive event as it is open to all registrants.
Participants will go through two-three judo sessions a day, plus learn katas (proper judo form), do endurance training and physical conditioning, as well as go through a refereeing seminar.
The instructors will be a who’s who of Ontario judo elite.
Karl Doherty, a former 12-year national team member, is the camp director.
Also on hand will be camp founder and Judo Ontario provincial grading chairman Bill Doherty, as well as two-time Olympian and 1981 world bronze-medalist Kevin Doherty.
National Austrian junior development co-ordinator Martin Jahoda also will attend.
In Montreal, training will be overseen by cadet and junior national coach Jean Pierre Cantin.
The judoka will do two training sessions per day, plus take part in conferences based on psychology, physical preparation, nutrition, and more.
“I think training among the best judoka in Canada will not only be a completely unreal opportunity, but show me what I need to do to get to that next level,” said Petsnick.
“The training I need to continue to compete at that gold-medal performance.
“Next year, I will move up an age category so I will be a younger competitor,” she noted.
“As well, I have grown quite a bit this year so I will be moving up a weight category.”
Petsnick isn’t overly concerned with perhaps getting put through the wringer against some of the top judoka athletes and instructors in the nation.
“I really don’t care if I get thrown around down there; as long as I’m being thrown by the best in Canada,” she remarked.
“My goal is to go down, show myself and my drive for judo, meet some very important people, and just have a good time,” she added.
“My priority is to train my best and fit in with the other judoka training with me.”
Petsnick, meanwhile, is extremely appreciative of the guidance and support from those closest to her that now have her being recognized provincially and nationally as someone who can reach great heights in the sport.
“I owe everything to my parents and my Sensei,” she said.
“Without all the trips they have taken me on, and the time everyone dedicates to the judo club like all the other coaches, teammates, and other parents . . ., I would or could’ve been sitting at home or in school instead of winning those three provincial titles and proving to everyone what I can do.”
