There are children who are born with bread under their arms. Others, like Bernardo Romay (Ribeira, La Coruña, 72 years old) come into the world wearing a kimono. The veteran black belt, pioneer of Spanish judo, founded the Judo Club Coruña 48 years ago. Champion of Spain, his daughter Noemí replicated the achievement in 1991 and his grandson, Daniel, has just won the youth championship of Spain this same year.
This morning, the first of this saga of champion judokas will give a masterclass to the youth of the Avilés Judo Club summer campus, coinciding with the celebration of the “Villa de Avilés” tournament.
–None of the twenty-two editions of “Villa de Avilés” have been lost. What does it mean to you to come back here?
–It is a pleasure to come to Avilés to be with the children. It all started about 30 years ago. We did an exchange between judokas from Avilés and Coruña… and until today. I am very happy for everything we have achieved and the enormous growth of “Villa de Avilés”.
How did the idea of organizing the tournament come about?
–At first we wrote down the qualifying rounds on a sheet of paper! This is a story of feelings, and the feelings are not explained. We need passion to do things.
–How do you assess the current state of “Villa de Avilés”?
-In my opinion, it is the best championship organized in Spain. So much so that the president of the Judo Federation, who is not a fool, has copied the same format for the Pamplona tournament.
–Is there a shared philosophy between Judo Club Coruña and Avilés?
-Yes. Our philosophy is that it is not worth winning in any way: you have to win like a gentleman, doing good judo and enjoying what we do. The most important thing is education and respect for the students. A criminal could not do judo, because our sport requires order, discipline and work; this is how good judokas and good people are forged.
-When you started, judo was hardly known in Spain.
-Nothing nothing! I have been in judo for 55 years. The beginning was very nice. I loved playing the guitar, and I had a musician friend who taught me. At that time, the conservatory and the first judo gym in Coruña were in the same building. One day, I went to the wrong door and entered the judoka gym. There I met another friend, who encouraged me to try, and he left me my first kimono: it was made from sacks of sugar!
How was your rise in judo?
-I got hooked quickly, and a year after starting I won the Galician championship that was held in the wedding room of a hotel party. He weighed little, but had good technique. Later, in the military, I gave self-defense classes to Army officers and won the Spanish military judo championship. At that time, in the 70s, my friends went to a party, while I went to train.
-Your history with Asturias began shortly after…
-That’s how it is. I went to the Shu Taira trophy, in Oviedo, where I faced the best in Spain, and I won. I have a lot of love for Asturias, for everything.
–His daughter Noemí and his grandson Daniel are also champions of Spain. How does it feel to see your achievements?
-It is very nice that the three of us are champions of Spain. For a teacher, that his daughter and his grandson are champions is an absolute pride. These achievements have been due to the healthy and working environment that we have in the club, where humility prevails: nobody is champion of anything.
