For Jackson Minnick, judo is about improving yourself.

B次元官网网址淚 like how itB次元官网网址檚 an individual sport; you can control the outcome entirely,B次元官网网址� he said.

Next week in Penticton, Minnick, 15, will compete for a second time in the B.C. Winter Games, a scenario he said puts him at a slight advantage since heB次元官网网址檒l know what to expect.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 really competitive and I like to win all the time,B次元官网网址� he said, noting that he isnB次元官网网址檛 taking the competition lightly.

The Highlands resident hits the mat four or five days a week with weight training three times a week and usually competes once or twice a month.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a physical sport. ItB次元官网网址檚 fun for me. ItB次元官网网址檚 hard on your body B次元官网网址� ThereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of stuff to learn on how to improve.B次元官网网址�

Equally important to the physical training is the mental aspect of the sport, Minnick said, adding that he is preparing by using visualization exercises.

While judo is an individual sport, the support of others B次元官网网址揺specially coaches B次元官网网址� is crucial, he said. B次元官网网址淵ou rely on your teammates in the club to improve. I wouldnB次元官网网址檛 go anywhere if I didnB次元官网网址檛 have the people to teach me.B次元官网网址�

The Grade 10 Belmont student is one of 18 judoka competing for the Vancouver Island-Coastal zone at the Winter Games,  six of whom are from Greater Victoria.

Colwood resident Jake Grant, 14, is a first-time Games competitor. He is B次元官网网址渓ooking forward to the trip to Penticton and seeing a lot of people from B.C.B次元官网网址� Half the fun of competing, he said, is catching up with peers from different areas. While making new friends adds to the experience, itB次元官网网址檚 also about seeing different competitors grapple and learning new styles of fighting.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 really care about winning or losing. IB次元官网网址檓 just really excited to go against a lot of people from across B.C. and have a lot of fun,B次元官网网址� he said.

Grant trains two to three times a week and takes part in additional training clinics whenever possible. He called qualifying for the Games an B次元官网网址渆mpoweringB次元官网网址� experience and agreed about the importance of being supported while on the mat.

SaanichB次元官网网址檚 Jeremy Grant, JakeB次元官网网址檚 older brother and the father of team member Max Grant, joins the group as an assistant coach for the Island team.

B次元官网网址淥ften in judo we have a very diverse age group,B次元官网网址� he said. This competition gives the athletes a chance to train and compete against peers in their age groups, which can sometimes be a challenge, he added.

A former Island team head coach at the Winter Games, Jeremy is gearing up for the competition by watching videos and working with athletes on their strategies and training plans.

But those plans donB次元官网网址檛 end after the Games. B次元官网网址淭he Winter Games actually sits within a larger competition series leading to the national championships.B次元官网网址�

The Games might be the experience needed to push some of those athletes towards B次元官网网址渃ompeting at that higher level,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 interested to see if the light bulb goes on for some of the younger athletes.B次元官网网址�

katie@goldstreamgazette.com