Darren Elcock is currently ranked as the nation’s No. 1 in the martial art of Judo, and recently returned home from Kiev, Ukraine from the Cadet World Championships with Team Canada.
Elcock, who started training in Judo in 2003, calls the Airdrie Judo Club home, but with all the travelling the sport has sent him on recently, he has become an international name.
“When I was younger I wanted to start an activity so I got into (Judo) and I have stuck with it,” said Elcock. “I am a really competitive person, and I get to be in control of myself.”
Judo is a modern martial art, which consists of throws and takedowns, and the immobilization of an opponent with a grappling manoeuvre.
Elcock has been travelling all over Canada for the sport, but recently ventured over international lines by competing and winning his class at the 2010 Philadelphia Liberty Bell Classic. He then won the Canadian National Championships in Montreal, allowing him to compete at worlds in Kiev.
The Cadet World Championships in Kiev were held on Aug. 11-14, and consisted of a four-day tournament.
“We flew in three days before the competition so that we wouldn’t be jetlagged,” said Elcock. “We had tons of time to go around and experience the culture, try some food, it was really cool.”
Elcock said one of the coolest things about Kiev were the architecture.
“The churches that were around were unbelievable, they all looked like castles,” he said.
Elcock had to defeat American Tyler Chen and Ukraine’s own Darren Morgoyev before losing in his third match to Kazakh Zhakslyk Mussurmanov to take ninth overall in his first overseas competition.
The young Canadian hopes to one day break the ranks of the Olympic Judo ranks, and credits his hard work and wisdom from his coaches for his success so far.
“I had to work hard to get where I am,” said Elcock. “My coach always says when you win and you are the best in Canada, you are only the best in Canada for that day. The day after you have to work that much harder cause there is always someone else to compete against.”
