On this part of the site you can meet some of our special needs judokas.
I want to point out that these judoka have a very special story to tell, because even in Europe it is not common that people with a disability choose judo as a sport.
In general there are just a few countries in Europe who developed a program in their judo federations.
Even then people with a disability are dependant on their teachers, coaches or trainers to accept them as students in their club. So it is remarkable that judokas with a disability, against all the odds, grow and develop in their judo.
One such story, is that of Cees Roest who was seriously injured in a car accident in 2000, leaving him paralysed from a spinal cord injury.
It is really amazing that he, in 2008, gained the 2nd Dan.
Even if you knew that he was already the chair of his local judo club, a 1st Kyu judoka and blessed with fantastic support, he still had to fight his way up to the level of 2nd Dan all by himself.
I know Cees a little and I can assure you that he is a modest man who practices judo because he noticed that it gave him more balance in his life. I think he was surprised by the media attention that followed after he registered for the exam of 1st Dan.
Even now while Cees has become some kind of celebrity in the Netherlands, he is still a modest man.
In June 2008 he informed me that he did a demonstration on request of the Dutch Judo and Jitsu Teachers Foundation, who celebrated their 60th anniversary this year. He told me that they enjoyed the demonstration and that in his opinion, all went well.
A few weeks later I was informed by a JBN member of the Board of Direc-tors, that, at the time of the demonstration, there were at least 200 very experienced senior teachers present; even some of the first generation of teachers in the Netherlands, well respected, honourable people who understand the art of judo.
During Cees's demonstration, there was an intense silence and when he had finished, they gave him a standing ovation for a full 5 minutes. The Board member said that there were even some people with tears in their eyes. It was one of those few goose flesh moments that people get in their lives.
The positive contribution for special needs judo from Cees, in 10 minutes, had more meaning than my contribution over the last 34 years.
Judokas with a disability can do amazing things, can teach us amazing things in the art of judo and have a story to tell that is worthy of our attention.
That is the meaning of this site, so if you know a remarkable story, send it to me and I will publish it as soon as possible.
Amsterdam June 2008.
Ben van der Eng
