Nickolas Kimura - Judo Golds!

Nickolas is currently an orange belt and he competes in the under 36kg category for senior boys (ages between 11 and 14). This year, Nickolas has won gold at the North Wellington Champs in Palmerston North, the Wellington Open in Kapiti Coast, the Waikato Bays Open in Rotorua and last week won the Auckland International Open in Auckland. Nickolas will compete in the upcoming North Island International Champs competition which will take place in Rotorua on August 7th and 8th. He holds the top national ranking in his category.

Nickolas' journey in judo began in Brazil at the age of five, and he has continued his practice since moving to New Zealand in 2017. He has been a member of the Henkada Judo Club in Hamilton ever since. 

Nickolas finds joy in judo because it allows him to cultivate strong friendships and constantly learn new techniques. His ultimate goal is to become a member of the Judo NZ national team. He dreams of representing New Zealand at the Commonwealth Games, as well as the 2028 Olympics in San Francisco and the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane. His younger brothers, Dan and Theo, also practice judo alongside him. As one of the coaches, his dad holds a 1st dan black belt.