A decision to try a new sport in Grade R set local martial athlete Luca Kyriacou on a decade-long path that recently culminated in a gold medal performance.

He fell in love with the sport immediately, and more than 10 years later, he continues to compete, learn, and push for the next level.

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“I first discovered judo in Grade R when I was five years old through a friend,” Kyriacou said. “I instantly fell in love with the sport and have done it ever since.”

Winning the National Championships represents a step towards something greater for him, proving that years of consistency and commitment are beginning to pay off. Kyriacou views judo as a sport where every competition provides another opportunity to climb the rankings and challenge himself.

“Personally, it shows my consistency and time spent with my coaches, Sensei Neo and Koketso, here at NeoKo is paying off.”

Rather than choosing one particular fight as his favourite, Kyriacou is proud of the entire competition because each match showed a different part of his development.

“I can’t put more emphasis on one match than another. Each match had its own moments that I really enjoyed. Overall, I’m happy with all of my matches, as they all show my improvements and level.”

Mental battle on the mat

His biggest battle, however, has not always been against an opponent.

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For years, Kyriacou struggled with pre-fight nerves and the fear of losing, which sometimes affected his performance. Through conversations and guidance from his father and his coaches, he has learnt how to manage those emotions.

A piece of advice from his coaches has stayed with him: “If you are scared of losing, you are not focusing on winning.”

That change in mindset has become an important part of his growth as an athlete.

Life outside the dojo

When he is away from the dojo, Kyriacou enjoys fishing, spending time with his family, and eating good food. He sees those moments as an important way to reset before returning to training.

His advice to anyone considering judo is simple: give it a proper chance.

“For anyone looking to start judo, the advice I would give is to just pop into NeoKo Judo Club and give it a go. If you don’t try it, and I mean really involve yourself, you’ll never know if it’s for you or not.”

For Kyriacou, that willingness to try something new at five years old has turned into a journey of discipline, self-belief, and competition.

“Judo is a very stylistic sport, and anyone can make it their own,” he said.

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