Ethan Fincham returned from the 2026 National Schools Judo Championships with medals in two different parts of the sport.

The Grade 3 learner from Curro Krugersdorp won gold in the U9 Novice Under 42 kg division on 6 July. A day later, he and kata partner Lourens Brits earned bronze in Nage-no-Kata.

The results came during the national judo programme in Nelson Mandela Bay/Gqeberha, where Ethan competed as a member of Doryoku Judo Academy.

Gold in novice competition

Ethan’s gold medal came in the National Schools Novice competition, where he won the U9 Novice Under 42 kg division.

For a young judoka, success in this format depends on match awareness, balance, grip work and the ability to respond under pressure. Ethan’s national title gave him the strongest result of his competition weekend.

Curro Krugersdorp congratulated Ethan on a performance that brought national recognition to the school community.

Technical medal in Nage-no-Kata

The bronze medal on 7 July added a different achievement.

In Nage-no-Kata, two judoka perform formal throwing techniques, with judges assessing timing, posture, control and correct execution. Ethan and Lourens placed third in their category, giving Ethan a medal in a technical discipline as well as in competitive judo.

That combination matters. It shows that Ethan’s weekend included both contest performance and disciplined technical work.

National stage in Gqeberha

The championships formed part of a broader national judo week, with schools, kata and open events taking place in Gqeberha.

Doryoku Judo Academy sent 15 judoka to the wider programme. Ethan’s gold and bronze added to the academy’s medal results and gave Curro Krugersdorp a Foundation Phase learner with national honours in judo.

For Ethan, the weekend brought a national title, a kata medal and early experience at one of the country’s main school judo events.