Resko and Kazacenko Take Silver in New Ne-waza Challenge

Latvian coach Viktors Resko and his athlete Evelina Kazacenko stepped into a different kind of Judo contest: one focused entirely on Ne-waza. Kazacenko came away with a silver medal and second place at the event’s first edition.

For Resko, the unfamiliar element was not ground fighting itself. Ne-waza is already an established part of Judo, but this competition placed it at the centre of every contest rather than beginning from the standing phase.

That brought a new set of coaching challenges. Resko explained that there were rule details his team only fully understood towards the end of the event, making it difficult to advise athletes without risking an error. Kazacenko had attended the seminars herself, however, and arrived prepared for the new discipline.

A ground-only contest demanded a different approach from both athlete and coach.

The change was also reflected in training. Resko said the warm-up and cool-down remained largely the same, while the main part of each session shifted further into ground work. The team spent more time on shime-waza, kansetsu-waza and holds, rather than working from a standing attack into Ne-waza.

In conventional Judo, athletes commonly begin standing before ground work develops after a throw or takedown. At this event, competitors were already operating from a Ne-waza position, creating a different rhythm and a fresh test of decision-making.

Kazacenko faced the added pressure of competing in a new discipline for the first time. Resko described the experience as more nerve-wracking for the young athlete, but said she handled the challenge well on her way to the podium.

Resko also made sure to recognise the wider club effort. While Kazacenko earned the medal, other athletes from the club competed as well, and he did not want their participation to be overlooked.

The coach was involved in organising the event too, giving him another perspective on its opening edition. Compared with regular Judo competitions, he found the atmosphere calmer and said the event ran smoothly. With heavier categories still scheduled for Sunday, 30 August, the new Ne-waza format had already delivered an encouraging result for Kazacenko and her Latvian team.

Source: EJU.net

Image source: EJU / European Judo Union