Idman.biz
Tina Trstenyak, one of the brightest judokas of the recent past, continues her journey in a new status.
The Rio-2016 Olympic champion currently holds certificates in all seven types of Kodokan kata. The legendary Slovenian athlete has visited Azerbaijan many times, and in recent years she has worked in Baku as part of the International Judo Federation (IJF) Academy.
Trstenyak gave an interview to Idman.Biz about her work in Baku and many other topics.
- Tina, you officially ended your judo career on December 31, 2022. How do you assess its results?
- That's right, that day my first career in judo - in terms of competition - ended. The joint efforts of my coach, the federation and, of course, my parents were rewarded with two Olympic medals, four world championships and seven European championships. The pinnacle of my sports career was being an Olympic, world and continental champion at the same time.
- Many people believe that an athlete's career consists only of medals and results. Do you agree with this idea?
- This is the shortest summary of my career. The path in judo is not just the sum of awards. It extends far beyond the bright "hadzime" and "mate" that sound in the most magnificent arenas. Judo helps a person develop, contribute to society and never stop learning.
- You are talking about a "second career" in judo. Where did this path begin?
- My second career in judo has only just begun. With the same discipline and motivation, I began to understand more deeply why and how a judoka becomes a champion. Thanks to a project implemented at the initiative of the IJF president, I gained access to the educational programs of the IJF Academy. These programs, in particular, had a great impact on understanding the 100 techniques classified by Kodokan. In parallel, my educational path in judo led me to refereeing: first I obtained an IJF continental refereeing license, and then an international refereeing license.
- You have repeatedly participated in the activities of the IJF Academy in Baku. What are your impressions and do you plan to come again?
- The work of the IJF Academy in Baku made a very strong impression on me. This is a unique educational environment where high professionalism is combined with respect for the traditions of judo and a desire for constant development. The organization of training, teachers and the general atmosphere create a truly inspiring place for development. It was an honor for me to be part of this process, exchange experiences with colleagues from different countries and continue my education in an international environment. If the opportunity arises, I would gladly come to Baku again - both to continue my education and to participate in the Academy's projects.
- This year, the capital of Azerbaijan will host the World Championship. Undoubtedly, you will not miss this competition and will follow the fight live?
- Of course, such an event cannot be missed! The organization in Baku has always been at the highest level. I also competed in the World Championship held in your country in 2018 and won a bronze medal. The competitions will be very interesting because the Olympic qualifying stage is starting. The fight for licenses points for Los Angeles will be on.
- You have mastered all seven types of Kodokan kata. What did this require from you?
- To complete my kata education, I also learned additional aspects of kata. One of them symbolically reflects the principles of movement, balance and natural forces, and the other shows the historical roots of judo, preserving the classic techniques of armored samurai. I went through an intensive training and examination phase. I currently have certificates in all seven kata - I passed part of the exams in Slovenia, and part at Kodokan seminars in Europe.
