Theil-sur-Huisne’s first black belt returns to sport in Japan

“As a kid in Theil, it was difficult for me to practice team sports, because I wanted to win, so I did judo, because it was individual and I was looking for perfection in sport”, says Stephane Turmel.

The club’s first black belt

He then joined the club created by the baker of Theil-sur-Huisnein Val-au-Perche (Orne) Maurice Chouteauand was, at 17, the club’s first black belt in 1978, four years after his first steps on the tatami.

The president was then Christian Terrenoire and the educator, Robert Billardelle. “These people worked on the development of the club, they allowed me to evolve in this sport”. It is in particular thanks to the Lebranchu family and the Theillois home that the association could continue to exist.

After several years of competition in the Orne and with good results, he took over the management of the Nogent association and won numerous individual titles which enabled the Nogent-le-Rotrou club to obtain his first departmental titles.

This change will allow him to train at the Orleans judo club, where the high level is very present.

At 36, after the French corporate championships and obtaining 50 points in 5 fights for his 4th dayhe puts an end to the competition.

“My judoka career was stopped because I no longer had the opportunity to compete,” he recalls. He then practiced cycling, running and swimming.

Training in the Judo temple

It was in April, during a trip to Japan to visit his son, that he decided to reconnect with sport. Stéphane Turmel went to train at Tokyo International Judo Center, the Kodokana dream location for all enthusiasts.

“It was a trigger, which means that I will be looking for a club for a senior career,” he underlines.

It was a pleasure to be able to share training moments with Japanese people, they do not seek to win during training, but to improve, to find the perfect gesture.

“The Kodokan is the reference in terms of judo, all judokas dream of it and many champions go to train there”, adds Stéphane Turmel. “I thought it was an inaccessible place when I was young.”

He took advantage of the seventh floor of the Kodokan and its 420 tatami mats, a place where the judo founder Jigorō Kanō gave his first lessons.

“To participate, you only had to have a good level and a sports passport proving that you had obtained your black belt,” says the enthusiast.

“I thought, after a few years of absence, to lack bearings and feelings in the fights, but it was the opposite, I have the feeling of having lost practically nothing”, develops Stéphane Turmel. Putting the kimono back on, 24 years after leaving it, was a real emotional moment for him.

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