Judo enthusiast to represent Gauteng at the Nationals.
WELTEVREDEN PARK — Tyler Aylward (8) fights his way to the top in judo championships.
Grade 2 pupil at Welridge Academy, Tyler Aylward, is all set to represent his school at the National Judo Championships, an impressive feat considering he only began participating in the sport in May this year.
The eight-year-old took part in his first competition in July in the white, yellow and orange categories, and took home the gold medal.
He did not stop there.
He went on to compete in the South African school trials, where he was selected to compete for Central Gauteng in the novice division.
His mother Sydney Aylward says the upcoming judo master is looking forward to the championships taking place on 4 and 5 October.
“He has been practising very hard since last month; he is really looking forward to the tournament. He practices once a week at Welridge and twice a week at the Hajime Dojo, where he first got into the sport.”
The sport may have put Tyler in a league of his own, but the discipline that comes with the sport has served him particularly well as his mother adds, “He learns a great deal of discipline and with that he has learned to respect everyone around him.”
Tyler is a true sportsman at heart and enjoys fishing, playing football and cricket when he is not winning belts on the mat.
