MIDDLETON, N.S. — She’s competed at meets in most major cities in Canada, racked up dozens of medals, and has friends across the country – all because of judo.
And now she’s representing Nova Scotia at the Canada Winter Games in Red Deer, Alberta.
Townsend is no novice at the sport, and the road to the Games started a decade ago – by chance.
“One of my friends back in elementary school used to do it and he said, ‘hey, come on out and try my judo class.’ So I did,” said Townsend. “I’ve loved it ever since.”
While she’s trained mostly at the Hachikin Judo Club in Greenwood, for the past couple of years she’s been learning and practicing at the Atlantic Training Centre in Halifax.
The 16-year-old Middleton Regional High School student is one of nine Nova Scotians competing in judo at the Games. Making it to Red Deer wasn’t a matter of just signing up.
“It took a lot of hard work, determination,” she said. “A lot of practicing. We train. We go through a selection process and if the coaches deem us fit we’re on the team. I compete at the U18 +70 kilogram group.”
Judo
Townsend describes judo as a fighting sport.
“You learn how to defend yourself against somebody without punching or kicking,” she said. “So it’s a lot of takedowns, throws, pins, chokeholds, arm bars.”
Townsend is a blue belt.
“That’s about two belts away from being a black belt and I’m working on my brown,” she said.
One of the big things she likes about judo is the travelling. “Going to different places and meeting new people and experiencing new things,” she said.
She has friends from judo in Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland, PEI, “just everywhere.”
Like most sports, parental support is key, and her mother Karen and father Philip do a lot of driving. They’ve taken her everywhere. Into the city for practices, tournaments, training camps, wherever she needs to go.
Montreal
“They actually drove me to Montreal in January for a competition,” the Grade 10 student said about her parents.
“She was competing in something called Elite 8, which are the top eight athletes in their respective categories – hand-picked by Judo Canada,” said mom Karen. “She was chosen. She went in seven and came out six.”
Karen wouldn’t change it for the world.
“Being able to take your child and watch them achieve their goals, for one, and the bonding experience is another,” she said. “Just watching her grow with the sport, and mature. It’s just amazing for me to see.”
Besides competing, Emilie hopes to be involved in judo in other ways in the future.
“I want to get into coaching and help mentor Games athletes, help them see their dreams as realities,” she said.
She has a couple of years of high school left, but when she’s done, she has plans.
“I want to go into sports medicine,” she said.
Getting to the Games involved a lot more than her own hard work and she credits her coaches along the way for all they’ve done to help her, and for the opportunities.
“Take every opportunity that you’re given. Basically, don’t say no,” she said. “If your coach asks you to travel, go for it. The experiences are great and you hold onto them for a lifetime.”
Details
Emilie Townsend is heading out to Red Deer Feb. 23 and competing on Wednesday, Feb. 27. An open house/pep rally/send off for Emilie will be held at the Middleton Fire Hall Feb. 22 from 6 to 8 p.m.
