The Rotary Club of Portage la Prairie heard a unique request for support at its regular lunch meeting on Tuesday, as Sensei Brian Case of the Portage Judo Club presented the need for funding to replace the club’s failed training mats.
The local Judo club, which focuses on building character in young athletes, is facing an unexpected financial challenge after the Velcro seams on its specialized mats failed prematurely, creating a potential safety hazard.
This marks the first time in the club’s history that it has actively sought financial support from the community.
The mission of Portage Judo
Judo is a modern martial art focused on throwing or taking down an opponent. The local club emphasizes personal development alongside physical training. Brian Case describes the club's philosophy as a focus on making better people, not just better athletes.
The club is known for its accessibility, offering a full season of training from September to April for an annual fee comparable to the cost of a single hockey stick, training outfit included. Members range from age seven to individuals in their seventies.
A critical safety concern
The request for funding is driven entirely by safety.
The current mats, purchased for their Velcro-seam technology to prevent injuries, are no longer staying connected.
"The Velcro has failed prematurely, so they no longer hold whatsoever anymore," Case explains, "The only way you can hold them together now is special mat tape, and it's a very expensive tape. To do that every night would be cost-prohibitive."
This failure creates a direct risk to club members.
Case outlines the inherent physical demands of the sport, where practitioners can perform up to 100 throws in a single session.
"The focus of the whole sport is to throw a person with speed force flat on their back. And when you do that, it happens quite often with an awful lot of force," he says.
Without properly connected, shock-absorbent mats, participants are at risk of knee injuries, ankle rolls, and dislocated toes.
A history of self-sufficiency
The club’s decision to ask for help was not made lightly.
For years, the organization has prided itself on being financially self-sufficient, even ceasing to solicit local businesses for prize donations to avoid adding to community pressure.
"We've tried to be self-sufficient that way," Case states, "Because over ten years, we probably could build up enough money to replace mats if they were ordinarily wearing out. But because these ones have failed within the first four years of use, we're caught not having enough money to replace them."
Compounding the issue is the current exchange rate, which makes purchasing replacement mats from a preferred U.S. supplier prohibitively expensive, forcing the club to look overseas.
Despite the challenge, the club remains open and welcoming. Case encourages anyone interested to experience the sport firsthand.
"We offer two weeks of free lessons to anybody who shows up," he adds, "I've tried almost every martial art in my life and I've always come back to judo. I am biased, but there's a reason for that because I enjoyed it the most."
The Rotary Club of Portage la Prairie will consider the request at a future meeting as part of its ongoing community support initiatives.