Issue 151

AU Player's Locker

29th January 2007

For the first Player's Locker of the year, Leoni Munslow came to talk to Waterfront about all things Martial Arts. Leoni is a third year English Literature student and the Judo club captain, as well as being on the AU committee as Treasurer.

Originally from Worcester, Leoni started doing Jujitsu at age six, as she wanted to copy her older brother, but carried on after he had finished. She took up Judo when she started here at Swansea to improve her range of Martial Arts, and was part of the medal winning BUSA squad that did so well in April last year. In recent months she has taken up Brazilian Jujitsu, which she told me was different to traditional Jujitsu in the fact it has a "lot more floor work, and you can wear anything you want, rather than a Gi (judo suit) in Traditional Jujitsu, which is more about strikes and throws."

When asked about her proudest sporting moment, she said she had to have two. "My first has to be getting my black belt in traditional Jujitsu in 2003," before going on to add, "My second has to be winning the International Championships for Jujitsu in 2004 which were held in Barbados." Leoni went on to say how to get to this event she had to get sponsorship to afford the flights and the accommodation while she was there. She ended up doing an internet diary with the BBC asking for money to help her compete, which was featured in local newspapers and radio and on the BBC website, but it all paid off in the end as she came away with the gold medal and the title of International Women's Jujitsu Champion.

As well as her third year studies Leoni is now the Judo club captain. Leoni said, "It is very different being club captain for something like Judo rather than football, as Judo is not a team sport, so it is just a lot more organisation." She spoke of how she is looking forward to picking the team for the upcoming BUSA championships in March, from the 30 or so members of the club. A team of five men and three women is needed for the weekend event, with a team event on one day, and an individual on the other. She specifically highlighted Kate Jenkins for big things this year, as she was unlucky to win a medal last year as she broke a rib in one of the early fights, but is in good form this time around.

Leoni herself has big hopes for the future; with a great deal of training she hopes to qualify for the Jujitsu national championships, which would allow her to be selected for the Great Britain squad for the World Martial Arts Games in 2008 in Islamabad, Pakistan. She also mentioned the fact that she could be selected for the Games in Germany this summer off the back of competitions she has already fought in this year, but there would no time to get sponsorship, or fully prepare with her upcoming finals and graduation.

As well as competing, training and her degree Leoni is also the on the AU committee with the position of Treasurer. She said, "It is going really well, and given me a chance to see more of how the AU is run, as well as meeting loads of people. I am specifically looking forward to helping organising Varsity this year, although I will have to be sober which is a shame as I have really enjoyed the social side of the event for the last two years." Leoni would also encourage people to run for AU committee roles, "it's not as much work as you think and looks really good on your CV, as well as being a good idea if you are thinking of running for AU president after you finish studying as it gives a good insight into what the job actually involves, which is a lot!"

Away from the AU Leoni has been known to enjoy an odd night out, mainly Time on a Monday, Play on a Wednesday and Divas on a Saturday, along with the odd Thursday in Jacks. Leoni has been known for her lack of balance after a beverage, which has been likened to seeing Bambi on ice skates. This is probably not the best character for someone whos chosen sport relies on good balance. Leoni's fondest memory (or lack of) of the social side of the AU was the Committee meal just before Christmas. Where after a nice meal in Wind St for lunch with free flowing wine from 3pm, before moving on to shots at around 6pm, and she says it all started to get a bit blurry about eight, with no memories from about nine till one, I don't think she felt very well the next day from the faces she made at the recounting of these events.

All in all Leoni is a lovely girl who is completely committed to both her chosen sport and the AU here at Swansea, as well as her degree and strongly believes in the "work hard – play hard" attitude. If you want to get involved with the Judo club they train on a Tuesday from 7-9 and a Saturday from 12-2 in the Pavilion by the University Gym. Each session costs £2 and it's a good idea to wear loose clothes.

Matt Cannon