In addition to the football, volleyball and dragon boat sections, the judoka are one of Jarmen’s sporting flagships, as are the other disciplines integrated into the Club Blue-White 21. Head coach Marco Lüdemann is in charge of this department. And right from the start, the main focus was on selecting and training new young talent.
One gold, three silver and one bronze
After he was able to develop several young people into successful athletes internationally – his own daughter Jessie, for example, is now a German champion and in the Bundesliga squad – the number of interested parties has anything but decreased. “We currently have 36 children between the ages of five and twelve training with us and they are hungry for success,” says the Bundeswehr soldier. Some of them have already attracted attention at major tournaments.
The relay team has just returned with five medals from the second edition of the RBS Cup tournament in Altentreptow, in which 428 fighters from 32 clubs, including Berlin, Hamburg, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and also a Polish team took part. In other words, all five Jarmen starters were called onto the winner’s podium. Eight-year-old Tamme Grulig became tournament winner in the weight class up to 35 kilograms, Franz Schulz (eight years/up to 38 kg), Konrad Witt (eight/over 40 kg) and Milene Olsowski (ten/over 42 kg) won silver medals. Eight-year-old Nils Riedel also won bronze in the weight class up to 42 kg.
Successfully back from Altentreptow (from left): Konrad Witt, Tamme Grulich, Nils Riedel and Milene Olsowski proudly show their medals and certificates from the most recent tournament. (Photo: Ralf Scheunemann)
Peene Cup postponed to May
Those responsible in Jarmen would also like to hold a judo tournament of this size in their city. However, the space available at home severely limits such planning, especially at this time of year. “The logistical challenges of managing the competitions in the many weight classes with up to 500 judoka, the club officials and the expected rush of visitors are far too big for our Jarmen hall capacities,” explained Marco Lüdemann in an interview with the Nordkurier.
That’s why the renewed organization of the competitions for the Peene Cup has been postponed to May 25, 2025 in order to be able to use the outdoor area and move some of the surrounding things outside. According to him, around 320 athletes have already registered for this event.
The next generation of judoka is growing up in Jarmen, head coach Marco Lüdemann (right) and his colleague Oliver Karrasch want to build on their previous successes with them. (Photo: Ralf Scheunemann)
The head coach made it clear that the successes of the Jarmen judo children are the result of training hard work, discipline and the children’s love for this sport. An assessment that some of his protégés supported with their words. Tamme Grulich, for example, explained: “I have been doing judo for two years. I played football before, but that wasn’t really my thing. Mom said I should try judo and I liked it from the start.”
Sport is no longer a given as a hobby
At the competition in Altentreptow the opponents were very strong, which makes him even more pleased with his victory. With his interest in mat sports, Tamme also inspired his five-year-old sister Merle, who still goes to the Jarmen daycare center and has only been coming to training since September. “I do judo because Tamme does it too. Otherwise, I really like dancing and doing handicrafts,” said the young lady with a laugh. “We are proud of our children, these days it is no longer a given that children stay involved in sports and have fun,” noted Mama Theresa, who watched the training.
Eleven-year-old Milene Olsowski, meanwhile, is at home in Kartlow and is studying in the sixth grade at the Jarmen regional school. “I’ve been doing judo for three years. Before that, I played handball and danced, but I didn’t enjoy that. I came to judo after taking part in a self-defense course in Demmin,” she reported. Her sports friend Konrad is at home in the motorway town and has been part of Lüdemann’s team for two years now. “My eleven-year-old brother is also a judoka, so I’m taking part. “I really like it here and I would like to win more medals,” he says, leaving no doubt that this will continue.
The boys and girls always help with setting up and dismantling the mats. (Photo: Ralf Scheunemann)
Support for the trainer
Nils Riedel lives in Neuendorf and goes to school in Greifswald. But that’s not a problem for regular training, because those responsible in Jarmen and parents organize the journey via carpooling. “I wanted to see what people do in judo and I liked it, I’ve been there for a year now,” said the eight-year-old. “In Altentreptow I won my second medal, which I am very happy about. Next year my goal is to get a gold medal.” He really enjoys the sport, but the best thing about Jarmen for him is that there are games after training, says Nils.
Incidentally, the department has not only seen an increase in young talent: 37-year-old Oliver Karrasch has been new to the team since September to support the head coach. As a former national champion, he has a lot of experience that he now wants to pass on to the judo children in Jarmen. After all, Karrasch is a holder of the 1st Kyu brown belt.
Head coach Marco Lüdemann (right) has had support from brown belt holder Oliver Karrasch since September. (Photo: Ralf Scheunemann)
