June 2022 Coach of the Month: Gary Sova – Winnipeg | Globalnews.ca

Those familiar with mixed martial arts know that there are countless disciplines in which athletes can specialize. For over forty years, Gary Sova has chosen judo. He is now being recognized by Sport Manitoba as the coach of the month for June 2022.

“Helping young people learn self-defense, a healthy Olympic sport, so they can learn discipline and camaraderie. Our club is like a family,” said Sova, the head instructor of the Inner City Judo Club.

It is a family that helped raise numerous athletes both in and out of the gym, from the moment they decided to play the sport as children.

“He was always very committed. He would pick me up from practices and bring me to provincial practices, always rooting for me,” May Baldo-Oduca said.

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April 2019 Coach of the Month: May Baldo-Oduca

Baldo-Oduca has a fourth degree black belt. He first started learning Judo from Sova in fourth grade.

“My father passed away when I was young and I always called him dad, even when I was a little girl,” she said.

“I’m much older now, so it’s Mr. Sova and he always hits. He’s never going to be Gary. He is always Mr. Sova, because that is the respect I have for him.”

Sova spreads mutual respect among all age groups that he trains at St. Augustine Church on River Avenue.

“There are different goals like getting fit, self-defense, working to go to the Olympics, or the national tournaments or just judo in Manitoba and Western Canada,” continued Sova, who has amassed a seventh-degree black belt in judo.

Only a handful of his athletes go on to compete at the national level, but his love of the sport and attention to detail shine through no matter who is on the other end of his instructions.

“I’m looking for skill, attitude and seeing how they get along with other athletes,” he said.

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80-year-old Sensei still teaching judo in Winnipeg